Two Democrats Focus Criticism On Problems In County Government
Bonner County commission
Bonner County government is in crisis. That’s plain to see, say two Democrats who are vying for a commissioner post.
Brian Orr and Chuck Lipari want to change the county’s dysfunctional reputation. To do that, they say incumbent Republican Larry Allen must be ousted.
The antics of Allen and fellow Republican Bud Mueller have marred the county’s reputation, making it difficult to bolster the economy and attract new business, both said.
“What we have seen the last few years is a slide into deconstruction under the guise of saving tax dollars,” Lipari said.
Allen and Mueller abolished the building department last year and fired its eight employees. Lawsuits followed costing the county thousands of dollars. The county’s insurance company threatened to drop them, partly because of the bevy of lawsuits. Instead the county’s insurance premium skyrocketed by $250,000.
“Our county government is pretty unstable and volatile. Nobody is really sure which way our board is going at this moment,” Orr said. “There is no true vision to do anything constructive in Bonner County.”
Orr’s been trying to set up a small industrial park in Oldtown, where’s he’s been mayor eight years. When businesses find out the park is in Bonner County “it’s almost like you’ve told them you have the plague,” he said.
After Allen was elected he passed out a position paper that suggested the planning department be closed along with the building department. He tried to reform the planning commission’s duties but that effort failed.
Lipari has no love loss for the building department after battling a citation in court. But he said he never favored disbanding it or eliminating county planning functions.
“My stand is we have to plan for the future. If there is a problem with the planning and zoning process we need to deal with that. To eliminate it is foolish in my mind.”
After talking with residents and contractors, Lipari said there’s a sentiment the county needs some form of a building department. The old department had problems but was fixable. Lipari said he would revisit the issue if elected.
Orr’s view is a little stronger. He wants the building department reinstated. It will be there to help residents and the county plan for growth and not be overly “onerous.” “The building department needed to restructured not eliminated,” he said.
Both candidates say little is getting done under the current administration. There is no planning or budgeting for future needs, instead it’s “knee-jerk” management. Orr’s main thrust is to attract some new industry to the area. That means working with cities to find commercial locations and upgrade water, sewer and road systems. The growth should pay for improvements, he said.
“We don’t want to give the county away. We need to make sure when things come in they are done correctly. That’s not going to happen in the current political climate.” Orr wants the county to pursue state and federal grant money for projects and set up its own recycling program.