Accusations Fly At Hearing On Highway District

If Tuesday’s public hearing was any indication, the proposed dissolution of the Sandpoint Independent Highway District could get a little ugly.

Bonner County commissioners are expected to decide next week whether to put the matter to a public vote.

During the hearing, highway district Commissioner Larry Glahe accused Mayor Paul Graves of lying, and district employees took shots at City Clerk Helen Newton’s salary.

District officials also displayed a panel of photos, which showed asphalt caving in where city crews patched over utility jobs.

“The biggest abuser of city streets and non-compliance of best management practices and Idaho standards of public works construction is the city of Sandpoint,” Glahe said.

The district’s legal counsel suggested that the issue could get tied up in court if voters approve dissolution.

Graves countered the attack on his honesty with evidence to the contrary and an accusation that Glahe was less than up-front with him about district budget matters.

He also said that comparing the city clerk and finance director salaries to that of the highway district administrative assistant was like comparing apples to oranges.

“If they were only doing highway administration, then their salaries would be excessive. But they oversee the entire city’s tasks,” Graves said.

As for violations of engineering standards, “every one of those repairs was done to Sandpoint Independent Highway District BMPs (best management practices),” said Sandpoint Public Works Director Kody VanDyk.

City Council member Sue Haynes took offense at an earlier comment made by county Commissioner Brian Orr, who said he was concerned about being a party to a “boondoggle” if he were to support a public vote on dissolution.

“The boondoggle is what we have right now,” Haynes said. “Allow the people of this community to put this issue to a rest once and for all.”

While the tone of the debate was civil, the acrimony didn’t go unnoticed.

“It’s embarrassing that we have two taxing districts throwing stones at each other,” said Sandpoint resident and businesswoman Susan Johnson, who also urged the commissioners to let the public vote.

Much of the testimony zeroed in on the financial risks of dissolving the district. The city acknowledged that it would be giving up significant revenue sources by taking over streets, but argued that it could be made up in increased grant eligibility (the city has a grant-writer on staff), better planning, and savings realized by eliminating duplication and administrative overhead.

City Treasurer Sandy Lamson identified more than $200,000 in overhead costs that would disappear if the district were dissolved, while Glahe said the administrative savings would only be $41,319.

The city plans to run a street department for about $300,000 less than the highway district, with minimal tax increases.

The highway district presented a letter from former city Finance Director Larry Chapin that indicated the city could not afford to take over streets. Lamson pointed out that Chapin has a lawsuit pending against the city.

Bonner County Planning Director Marty Taylor suggested that the commissioners have a financial analysis done by a neutral party to address the discrepancies between the city, county and district’s revenue projections.

It’s uncertain whether commissioners will have time to do that if they intend to get the issue on the primary election ballot. They’ve scheduled a meeting for 10 a.m. April 13, to make a decision.

Aside from Johnson and a couple of other city residents, most of the testimony on whether to eliminate the highway district came from city and district officials and employees. About 60 people attended the hearing.

The district’s attorneys suggested that the moderate turnout indicated a lack of passion for the issue. One resident, who was disgusted that his street isn’t paved, said it’s likely many people couldn’t attend the 10 a.m. meeting because of work obligations.

This sidebar appeared with the story: WHAT’S NEXT Vote possible

Bonner County commissioners are expected to decide April 13 whether to call an election on dissolving the Sandpoint Independent Highway District. If they do approve the election, it’s possible it could be held in conjunction with the May 23 primary election.