County Planner Goes To Court To Stop Machine Shops

Dismayed by a decision that he thinks could threaten the region’s source of drinking water, one of Kootenai County’s own planning commissioners is taking the county to court.

George LaValley is appealing a vote by elected leaders to allow machine shops to be built on 150 acres near the Coeur d’Alene Airport. Citizens Network for Responsible Growth joined him in the appeal, filed Thursday.

The appeal will be heard by a district court judge.

County Commissioners Dick Compton and Dick Panabaker in February voted to allow developer John Pointner to set up the shops. They didn’t require him to sign an agreement to hook up to a sewer system. That’s been a standard practice that previous boards used to protect the Rathdrum Aquifer.

Both commissioners have said they stand by their decision.

Commissioner Bob Macdonald, the veteran on the board, voted against the plan. Without the agreement, he said, there was no guarantee the ground water would be protected.

LaValley threatened to quit when he learned of the vote. He and fellow commissioner George Nadler maintained the action violated the comprehensive plan.

“The decision they made was wrong,” LaValley said Thursday. “Mr. Macdonald voted no because we can’t do it. Over his objections, the two new commissioners voted to pass it.”

Compton Thursday maintained his position and said the Panhandle Health District won’t allow the shops to exist if it threatens the aquifer.

Health District officials have said the decision was poor planning by county leaders.

Planning commissioners had met with the board earlier that month to explain why a sewer agreement was important.

“Somehow they (county commissioners) missed it, didn’t understand it or ignored it,” he said.