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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Huckleberries Online

My 2 Cents: Compromise On McEuen

Councilman Ron Edinger now has two seconds to an expected motion at the Coeur d'Alene City Council meeting to put proposed changes to McEuen Field to a discussion and vote Jan. 17. I suspect that the vote will be 4-3 against an advisory vote with the council splitting Edinger/Gookin/Adams in favor and Kennedy/McEvers/Goodlander against -- with Mayor Sandi Bloem breaking the time. I'm not sure that would be the end of the matter either. I can see the motion coming up again and again. I'd rather see the council find areas in which they can compromise re: changes to McEuen Field than see this issue continue to split the community. Two things are obvious. A McEuen Field upgrade is supported by most residents. But the size and expense of the Team McEuen proposal adopted by the council is opposed by a solid minority if not a majority of the town. Maybe it's time to consider keeping the boat launch, moving the American Legion field, and putting parking on the other side of Sherman Avenue. Or at least something different from the plan now in play -- DFO.

Question: Would you rather see the City Council reach a compromise on McEuen Field? Or do you want the slim majority of the new council to push ahead with plans for a pricey overhaul?



D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

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