Eve Knudtsen and her family have been selling and fixing cars in Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls for almost 70 years.

The Knudtsens watched Coeur d’Alene grow from a sleepy lakeside town into a tourism destination with multimillionaire developers falling over one another to transform old mill sites and ranches into luxurious homes, golf courses and planned unit developments. They have seen the down times when jobs were tight. They have been involved in the economic surge that boosted wages and created the demand for skilled workers.

And there’s the rub.

The Knudtsens and other community leaders have been so successful that they can’t find good mechanics to service their customers’ vehicles. Or good framers and roofers to build their houses. Or skilled heating and air conditioning workers. They looked to North Idaho College for help, but when they didn’t find it, Knudtsen and dozens of other business people signed a letter expressing a lack of confidence in NIC President Michael Burke. College trustees responded defensively and angrily, at first.

Perhaps the letter was over the top. But it certainly got attention. Sometimes, extreme problems or frustration require extraordinary steps. After tempers calmed, the letter from about 100 business leaders had the desired effect of creating a dialogue between them and the college. If that dialogue leads to a closer working relationship, then the flap was worth it. NIC needs the support of the business community. Business leaders need the college to tailor programs to meet their needs.

Each side learned from the high-profile exchange. Words of conciliation have been spoken:

“They’ve gotta quit accusing us and we’ve gotta quit being defensive,” NIC spokesman Kent Propst told The Spokesman-Review. Ron Nilson, president of the North Idaho Manufacturing Consortium, which helped draft the letter, is satisfied that his organization has been heard and “We don’t need any more of this gang-up on Michael Burke at this point.”

The manufacturing consortium now realizes that a community college can’t sacrifice academic programs to meet professional-technical needs without suffering funding repercussions. NIC officials understand that the slow progress they have made in expanding voc-tech programs – such as welding, outdoor power/recreational vehicle repair, landscape technology and human resource assistant – isn’t enough. Other programs are needed as soon as possible.

Also important is an ongoing discussion that outlives the current controversy and market conditions.

The college and the business leaders should also consider involving Spokane Community College as a partner. There may be some cross-border tuition and turf issues, but SCC lent a hand to Harpers in Post Falls in the past. Providing workers with opportunities and filling jobs are regional goals that may have efficient regional solutions.

It would be foolish to tear down one institution’s offerings, if another’s existing offerings can substitute just as well.