Boundary Incumbents Stand By Record But Challengers For Commission Seats Say Changes Needed In How Things Are Run

Boundary County residents pay less taxes to run local government than they did two years ago. There are fewer county employees and the county saved thousands of dollars by fighting the federal government to keep its landfill open.

That is not a bad record to stand on, say incumbent commissioners Bob Graham and Orrin Everhart, who are both seeking another term.

“I don’t think there is a lot to complain about here as a taxpayer. As a county commission we have been efficient and successful,” Graham said.

But not everyone is happy with the way the county is being run. Murleen Skeen, who worked for Graham as the commissioners’ executive secretary, now wants his job. Kevin Lederhos, a private propertyrights advocate, is out to unseat Everhart.

“I think there is a need for a little more conservatism to keep government from growing and keep the belt tighter,” Lederhos said.

One of his main concerns is a recent 104-page subdivision ordinance commissioners passed. It’s too restrictive on property owners in this rural county, Lederhos said, saying he wants the regulations scrapped.

“I never believed in telling people what they can do on their property.”

Everhart said Lederhos is bringing up the bogeyman of big government that does not exist.

Boundary County has some of the most lenient restrictions in the state. It costs only $10 to get a building permit, which most often is issued in one day. The planning and zoning department has one half-time employee. Taxes have held steady for three years and dropped slightly this year.

“We (commissioners) have taken steps to have minimal regulations, reduce taxes and cut government,” Everhart said. “This board has worked very well together for the community.”

Graham and Everhart both brag of a successful battle with the Environmental Protection Agency, which wanted to close the county landfill. Commissioners fought to keep it operating and won, saving residents the cost of shipping waste out of state. The county solid waste fee actually has dropped about $20 this year.

Skeen doesn’t discount the commissioners’ track record, but says the county must do more to ensure its economic survival. The timber town needs to diversify its job base and form an economic development committee to attract new businesses.

“We have an industrial park with all the infrastructure in and only one business out there,” she said. “We need to be out selling this county and bring some manufacturing and other jobs here.”

Lederhos agrees new jobs are vital, and wants to fight to save the timber industry. Environmentalists and federal regulations have hurt timber harvests and cost the area jobs, he said.

“This can be done sensibly and we need to work with state and federal legislators to keep our timber industry alive,” Lederhos said.

All the candidates want county programs to help area youth with drug and alcohol problems. Alcohol-related incidents have claimed the lives of three teenagers in the county this year.

Skeen proposes the county subsidize youth counseling programs, start a Big Brothers and Big Sisters service and put pressure on law enforcement to crack down on the drug trade.

“We need to deal with the drug dealers. I don’t want to see another child in this county die because of drugs and alcohol,” she said.

, DataTimes