Rickel Ranch hearing continued
A public hearing on the proposed Rickel Ranch development near Silverwood Theme Park is continued until May 25.
More than 200 people attended Thursday’s hearing on two proposals to amend the county’s growth plan to allow for large housing developments in the county’s most rural areas. The commission closed the hearing on Heartland LLC’s request to change the growth plan on the east side of Lake Coeur d’Alene near Powderhorn Bay. But after 4 1/2 hours, the commission hadn’t gotten through all the people who wanted to comment on Rickel Ranch.
The commission will finish the hearing May 25 and perhaps make a decision on both proposals, Planning Director Rand Wichman said. The commission also will decide whether to approve a zone change on 68 acres off Pleasant View Road that the county wants to use for a garbage transfer station. The county commission will have the final say on all the proposals.
The developers of the proposed Chateau de Loire luxury golf community on the east side of the lake, near Moscow Bay, withdrew their request for a comprehensive plan amendment just hours before the hearing Thursday.
Chateau representatives said they can do the development without changing the growth plan.
– Erica Curless
Absentee ballots in the mail
Kootenai County began sending absentee ballots to voters Friday, two weeks later than normal.
Elections Supervisor Deedie Beard said the delay was caused because the county was waiting for Democrats in legislative District 2 to appoint a new candidate. She doesn’t think it will affect the number of absentee voters in the May 23 primary. The only problem she foresees is getting absentee ballots back in time from voters who are overseas, including military personnel.
“It was just not a good thing,” Beard said about the holdup.
People can cast their absentee ballot in person starting Monday at the county elections office, 315 W. Garden Ave. Mailed-in absentee ballots must arrive at the election soffice by 8 p.m. election night.
The deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail is May 17.
Beard said voters must choose to vote either the Republican or the Democrat ticket. That means absentee voters will get two ballots, increasing the amount of postage to 87 cents. She said that might cause more people to drop off their absentee ballots at the county office.
“But with the price of gas it could just be a wash,” she said.
For more information, call (208) 446-1030.
– Erica Curless