Bayview News : Residents pondering incorporation

Incorporation is the hot issue in Bayview, with people divided over whether to remain the only town of this size in Idaho – not a city – or to face the future as the city of Bayview.

Several people have formed a loose committee to learn how to form a city and to determine its advantages and disadvantages, so residents can make an informed decision.

“We don’t know whether it’s a good idea or not,” said Ralph Jones, operator of Ralph’s Internet Cafe. “We are going to get the facts and go from there.”

At last week’s town hall meeting with Kootenai County commissioners, it became apparent that Bayview residents want services beyond the level provided by the county.

“We can’t provide a rule that only fits Bayview,” Rick Currie, chairman of the commissioners, said. “Any ordinance that we pass applies to the entire county. If you want stricter rules, you must incorporate.”

An effort was made about a year ago by some members of the Bayview Community Council, an independent social group, to study the incorporation issue, but the idea floundered.

At last Tuesday’s Bayview Chamber of Commerce meeting, several people spoke in favor of incorporation, including Bob Prince, a recent “move-in” and former mayor of Hayden Lake, who firmly recommended that Bayview become a city.

Community leader Hobart Jenkins said there is merit to incorporation and urged that an objective study be done.

Jenkins was the recipient of the 2007 “Communitarian Award,” awarded by the Bayview Community Council, for outstanding contributions to the community.

Jenkins was honored for his activities on environmental issues confronting the community, was instrumental in organizing the community center, having served as chairman of the foundation board, was president of the Bayview Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the Kootenai Electric board and now serves on the Bayview water and sewer board and as chairman of the Chamber of Commerce’s Development Board, a community watchdog group.