Group lobbies for civic center

The 100 people crowded into the Kootenai County Administration building Thursday didn’t care that there’s no plan for spending the half-cent sales tax money.

They turned the county commissioners’ press conference into a rally for building a civic center in the middle of the Rathdrum Prairie, despite the fact that the county and North Idaho lawmakers must first convince the Idaho Legislature to change the law so the local-option tax can go toward projects other than jails.

Commissioners Rick Currie and Gus Johnson tried to corral the crowd, reminding people that the number one goal is to convince state lawmakers to expand the half-cent sales tax.

“There is no specific plan,” Johnson said after several people stood up to tell about how important it is to have a civic center for the area’s youth and elderly. “We will look at every project.”

The commission called the gathering to announce an advisory vote on the November ballot that will gauge whether local voters would support expanding the law so local option tax could pay for other projects.

Currently Kootenai County charges people a half-cent extra in sales tax, money that goes to pay off the $12 million jail expansion and property tax relief.

If residents support using the local-option tax for projects other than jails, the commission and local legislators will use the advisory-vote results to put pressure on the Legislature.

Convincing the tax-averse Legislature to expand the law is a big hurdle because many lawmakers don’t like the idea of allowing counties to control sales tax collection.

If the Legislature does agree to expand the local-option law, then the county would have another vote to see how residents want to spend that cash.

Two ideas are already on the table.

One of those is building a $32 million recreational and cultural civic center, which would have a pool, ice rink, conference and performing arts space in addition to outdoor playfields.

The other idea comes from Commission Chairman Dick Panabaker, who wants to use the half-cent sales tax to buy up to 10,000 acres of Rathdrum Prairie for open space. The plan would protect the aquifer, decrease field burning, secure large amounts of open space and ensure the region’s ability to meet its growing wastewater treatment needs.

Panabaker didn’t attend Thursday’s meeting because he had a doctor’s appointment.

Johnson tried to tell the civic center crowd they aren’t the only ones with popular ideas.

“There’s a group – that may not be represented here today – that has the same passion for open space,” Johnson said. “Just because they aren’t here doesn’t mean we don’t hear from them. I can show you the e-mails.”

Local car dealer John Robideaux has been working on a civic center plan for years but never had a way to pay for the project until now. Robideaux said he has the support of more than 30 local groups, many of whom attended the meeting. Until Thursday, Robideaux had refused to talk openly about the proposal, saying he wanted to wait for the commission to hold a press conference.

“I want to thank you guys for giving us this opportunity to vote for our community’s youth,” Robideaux said while children in hockey jerseys clapped. Senior citizens who are part of the Striders walking group waved paper signs touting the civic center.

Currie, who worked for Robideaux before getting elected to the commission, reminded people that the first step is getting state lawmakers to expand the tax. Then, he said, groups can figure out a plan for spending the money.

“We all have to work together on getting (the law changed),” Currie said.

The advisory ballot also will ask voters what type of projects Kootenai County should fund if the Legislature approves expanding the half-cent sales tax. The ballot will list two options – open space and the civic center – and voters can mark both boxes if they want. The advisory ballot does not provide space to write in other ideas.

Last week many people who attended Panabaker’s meeting on his open space plan told the commission it should keep the question simple and only ask about the expansion of the half-cent sales tax. They were worried that giving options for how to spend the cash, if the Legislature approves expanding the law, would divide people. And that could affect the overall outcome of the advisory vote.

Yet Robideaux insisted that the advisory vote also gauge how people would prefer to spend the money.

Panabaker said earlier this week that he supported leaving the options off the advisory ballot.

“If we split it off and start fighting, the whole thing can go down the tubes,” Panabaker said. “The primary goal is to get the Legislature to change the use of the half-cent for things other than jails. Don’t talk about the prairie. Don’t talk about the civic center.”