Court won’t rehear Sanders Beach case

The Idaho Supreme Court won’t reconsider its September decision making Coeur d’Alene’s Sanders Beach private.

The high court denied Nov. 20 a rehearing request by the Sanders Beach Preservation Association and Greg and Shana Crimp, the only Sanders Beach homeowners who lobbied for public access to the shoreline between 12th and 15th streets. The denial doesn’t cite any specifics.

The association and the Crimps argued that the court erred when making its September ruling. One of the main disagreements is the high court’s conclusion that every lake must have the same high-water mark. The preservation group, which advocates for public access, argued that decision is contrary to other rulings in Idaho and that the high-water mark is site specific.

The court concluded that the line where private property ends and public land begins is not higher than the summer level of the lake, or an elevation of 2,128 feet. The ruling doesn’t set the ordinary high-water mark, yet it does declare that there is no factual evidence to prove that the invisible line is any higher than 2,128 feet.

That essentially eliminated all public access to the beach that has been used by swimmers for a century. The public still has access to city-owned portions that flank the beach, with entry off 11th Street and in front of the Jewett House.

– Erica Curless

Kootenai County

Brodie to manage business nonprofit

After leaving office in January, Kootenai County Commissioner Katie Brodie will become the executive director for a business group that acts as a government watchdog.

Brodie will manage Concerned Businesses of North Idaho, the nonprofit business group founded in 1994 that monitors taxing districts. The group released its 2006 Annual Taxpayer Report Card on Tuesday.

Even though property tax bills are decreasing for many people, the group wants local taxing districts to reduce budgets and give more tax relief, the report said.

“I think it’s a really good fit,” said Brodie, whose last day at the county is Jan. 5.

Brodie lost her re-election bid in the May Republican primary. Retired county employee Rich Piazza will succeed her.

Brodie will replace Kelly Richards, who left Concerned Businesses earlier this month to work for ACData Solutions in Post Falls.

Concerned Businesses President Dean Haagenson called Brodie the perfect match, especially with her knowledge of government budgets.

“She’s going to kind of know where the bones are buried and ask the right questions,” Haagenson said. “We’re not out to skewer anyone. We just want to let the public know what’s happening (with taxes).”

For more information about the Taxpayer Report Card, call (208) 762-9373.

– Erica Curless

No one hurt when car goes into lake

Four people escaped unharmed after the car they were in lost control on a slick road and crashed into Fernan Lake late Monday.

Authorities responded to the lake just before 10:30 p.m. after a passer-by spotted a Mitsubishi with its lights on, in 8 feet of water. Kootenai County Sheriff’s divers determined no one was inside the car.

According to the Sheriff’s Department, it appeared that someone had crawled out of the water and up the embankment to the road.

The car’s owner, 29-year-old Michael C. Musser, of Worley, was located at a home in Coeur d’Alene about three hours after the crash was reported.

He told officers that neither he nor his three passengers were injured. The car went down the embankment, rolled once and came to a stop about 19 feet from shore, according to the Sheriff’s Department. Musser was cited for failure to report an accident and inattentive driving.

– Taryn Brodwater