County issues permit for Silverwood facility

Silverwood Theme Park will build a new sewage treatment facility, allowing the popular rollercoaster and water park to expand and perhaps build a hotel.

The Kootenai County Commission last week approved a conditional-use permit for the facility on 96 acres next to the 20-year-old park along U.S. Highway 95.

Silverwood uses large septic tanks with drainfields throughout the 380-acre park, which sees 500,000 visitors a year and employs 850 people. For the past three years, the park has generated about 30,000 gallons of wastewater a day.

The new facility will be able to treat an average of 100,000 gallons of wastewater each day.

The park will use the treated wastewater to irrigate landscaping.

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality has said the current system will “eventually create a public health or water quality problem” if not updated.

– Erica Curless

Rathdrum Prairie

Cities won’t fight church decision

The mayors of Hayden, Post Falls and Rathdrum have decided not to appeal Kootenai County’s decision allowing Real Life Ministries to build an extensive campus on the Rathdrum Prairie.

The mayors opposed the project, arguing that the county violated a 2005 agreement not to approve large projects until a $300,000 sewer master plan study for the Rathdrum Prairie is complete this fall.

In June, the commission approved the proposal on the condition that Real Life can only build a 3,500-seat worship center and public ball fields until sewer service becomes available on 116 acres east of state Highway 41.

Even though the mayors contend the county made “serious errors,” a Thursday letter to the county commission states that they are opting instead to have a meeting to “renew our joint commitment” to the sewer master plan.

– Erica Curless

Cocolalla, Idaho

Rollover sends driver to hospital

A Smelterville woman was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after she rolled her vehicle and was ejected on U.S. Highway 95, according to an Idaho State Police report.

Cheryl L. Sandquist, 42, was driving north near Cocolalla when she lost control of a 1995 Ford Ranger, crossed oncoming lanes and overturned off the side of the highway, according to the report.

She was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the truck.

Sandquist was initially transported to Kootenai Medical Center and then to Harborview, the report states.

Her condition, and the nature of her injuries, was not available late Monday.

– Nick Eaton