Idaho Won’t Force 911s To Merge Attorney General’s Office Will Stay Out Of Post Falls, Kootenai County Dispute

The Idaho Attorney General’s Office will not force a politically charged merger of Kootenai County’s two 911 centers.

The state will continue to let the county and Post Falls city leaders fight the years-old battle amongst themselves, according to an April 25 letter from Deputy Attorney General William Von Tagen.

While city and county officials say they’ve been working together in recent months, the dispute continues.

Sheriff Pierce Clegg in March urged the state to shut down Post Falls’ emergency dispatch operation, claiming it was illegal and wastes taxpayer money by duplicating a county service.

Residents voted in 1991 to adopt a single county-run 911 system. State law requires others to merge with that system.

Post Falls Mayor Jim Hammond maintains the Post Falls center serves residents better. Since his system has been around more than a decade, it does not have to comply with the 1991 vote and is not subjected to the merger law.

Von Tagen refused to grant a legal opinion unless both local governments requested it.

The long-running dispute centers on control, money and safety.

The Post Falls center takes calls from Rathdrum, Post Falls and Hauser Lake. All other emergency calls are fielded at the county’s 911 center.

Sheriff’s Capt. Ben Wolfinger said Thursday the county didn’t want to take Post Falls’ center away by force, but added that consolidation is still the goal.

Post Falls Police Chief Cliff Hayes said he would continue to cooperate with county leaders, but may upgrade his emergency system rather than merge with the county.