No Wonder School Bonds Fail
They did what? In a 3-2 vote, the Coeur d’Alene School Board on Monday approved funding for several “maintenance” projects, including $70,000 to build a Lake City High School press box. Trustees Ken Burchell and Jane Curtis correctly voted no. Why should the Cadillac of area schools get another perk when there are pressing needs elsewhere? Coeur d’Alene High School, for example, has made do without funding for secondary phases of its renovation project. As a result, sports boosters constructed a baseball/soccer complex themselves and recently staged a classic-rock concert to raise about $15,000 for new bleachers (or a tractor to drag the infield, if baseball coach Paul Mather has his way). And CHS’ needs aren’t the only ones the district has. Nonsense like this sinks school bonds. (See third Hot Potato.)
Macdonald can’t hide from this guy
Imagine tax activist Ron Rankin and blunt Chairman Dick Compton on the same Kootenai County Board of Commissioners. What fun. “Yer Ol’ Buddy” Ron is considering a primary challenge of Republican incumbent Bob Macdonald. With Rankin on the board, there’d be fireworks whenever the other commissioners tried to muzzle news or throw petition gatherers out of the courthouse. And tax appeals before the Board of Equalization would be, well, … more appealing for us news hounds. Rankin jammed the commissioners’ office last summer by telling disgruntled residents how to appeal higher property assessments. Meanwhile, Macdonald has hidden in the shadows for most of his two terms as commissioner, letting others chair the board, grab headlines and take the heat. But he won’t be able to escape the heat if Rankin runs. My guess? Rankin will go for it.
Ignorance is bliss
After voting against the unsuccessful Post Falls school bond levies Tuesday, one man said: “I don’t have the money to give them.” But how much do you want to bet that this “community-minded” citizen has money for videos, movies, fast-food restaurants, beer, bowling and 101 other “essentials”? Seems people always have an excuse for doing the wrong thing.
Time to give skaters final boost
Coeur d’Alene Skate Park promoters need a few thousand bucks more to complete their fine facility behind Memorial Field. It has been a runaway hit with skaters, who no longer congregate at Independence Point or annoy downtown shoppers and merchants. There has to be a service club or civic group out there who’ll help these kids finish the project.
, DataTimes MEMO: D.F. Oliveria’s “Hot Potatoes” runs Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can comment on the items by calling (800) 344-6718 or (208) 765-7125.