Letters To The Editor

Take care of other needs

This letter is concerning the community center that is being planned. I feel that we have higher priorities than a community center right now. We have bad roads that need to be paved, and our schools need some things improved.

Our libraries could be bigger because if you’re making our libraries bigger then you are helping students get their education and the information they need.

I’m sure a community center would be nice for Coeur d’Alene, but why not hold off building the community center for a while and do stuff for our community that needs to be taken care of first. Everything we do here in Coeur d’Alene we do for the tourists. So when are we going to start doing stuff for the people who live here? Nicole Lester Coeur d’Alene

Smaller center makes more sense

I feel that a community center would be a good idea. Coeur d’Alene has been without a public swimming pool for way too long and many kids are missing out because of that. Gym space is so limited for park and recreation basketball teams, and the kids are having to pay unrealistic amounts of money to practice or they end up not practicing. Also, a community center would be a great idea because people of all ages could go have fun in a relatively cheap, fun place.

If the size is really such a big problem, size adjustments can be made. As far as the tax situation goes, however, they are bound to go up sooner or later because of population growth. Why not put the taxes to a good, healthy cause?

My opinion is that people in our community are being selfish and stingy. They are refusing to open their eyes to the big picture. It’s inevitable that Coeur d’Alene is going to grow and expand. With growth and expansion some changes must follow; without change, our community will slowly suffer and wither away. I feel that a community center would be the perfect start. Let’s make a new plan to get it going - a smaller center still will serve its purpose. Courtney Ade Hayden Lake

Community center plan unreasonable

Although I agree with the idea and prospect of a community center for Coeur d’Alene, I believe that the price and means of paying for it are unethical.

The project would require that only the residents of Coeur d’Alene would have to pay taxes even though all residents of Kootenai County and various travelers would be allowed to use it. This is unfair to Coeur d’Alene because not every resident would use the center.

The center would include many things that we already have in abundance. I thought that building a smaller center with a pool, conference rooms, a few activity rooms, a day care and various other areas would be an excellent and more inexpensive means of benefiting Coeur d’Alene.

I do believe that we need a center, and I would attend one if a more reasonable plan passed. Faith Tonna Coeur d’Alene

Center proposal bad

I believe a community center would be an unnecessary expense. Already we are being taxed for caring for the roads and expanding the jail. These are things that need to be done, and the community should not be spending tax money on something as trivial as a community center.

Another issue is that only people in Coeur d’Alene would be taxed. Out of those people, 92 percent would not use the facility. Because of this, the center would fall short every year, which would raise taxes even more. Coeur d’Alene always has supported small businesses. The community center would hurt businesses such as Ironwood and the World Gym. Clearly the proposal for this kind of community center is a bad idea. Shannon Reed Dalton Gardens

Center good place for kids to go

I believe a community center would be a good idea for the city of Coeur d’Alene. It could help lower juvenile crime. Kids would go to the community center instead of getting into trouble. It would give them a place to go where they and their parents would feel they are safe.

A community center would give options to people who never had these options. It would be cheaper than clubs. Yes, there might be a little more taxes, but it would be worth it. Besides it is only $25 a year for owners with homes valuing $100,000.

People should look at what’s best for our community, not what’s best for their wallet. Jennifer Clingenpeel Coeur d’Alene

Community center not a good idea

I do not think a community center is useful. The money needed for a community center can be spent on the jail improvements or on the roads in the area. I didn’t think it was a good idea when they changed the cost from $3 million to $6 million.

They said it would bring our community closer together, but it’s obvious that our community doesn’t want to be closer together. The community center is a waste of money for any health club, and, of course, they are not going to want to pay taxes to fund their own competition. The community center is a dead issue. It shouldn’t be brought up again. Nick Gant Coeur d’Alene

`No’ vote on center irresponsible

I think that voting “no” on the community center was an irresponsible, selfish act made by the voters. I also think that if voters had been better informed of the current situation of the community center and all of its details, the voter turnout might have been better. It seems to me that to vote down something that will do only good for the community and will cost only a couple dollars a year, just shows ignorance in our community. I think it should be pushed again and people should be more informed of all the views of the center.

This center is needed. It will give people of all ages a place to go and enjoy themselves for a lower rate than anywhere else. Not only will better health habits be available, but many other services as well. James Dupey Coeur d’Alene