Jail could use open book

Review editors praise (May 7) Kootenai County Clerk Cliff Hayes for “posting all county expenditures online.” While it would be eye-opening if the Pentagon did the same for its spending sprees, editors say nothing about how Spokane County fails the transparency test.

Thanks to Hayes, Kootenai County taxpayers know they paid $62.22 for “pizzas for lunch at daylong meeting.” Wouldn’t it be good to know what Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich, commissioners and staff spend each day on their courtship junket with the Molasky Group of Companies in Las Vegas?

Realizing they don’t have public support for building a new jail, commissioners and sheriff have turned to the dark side for ways to circumvent voter approval in 2012. Irwin Molasky is assuring county officials how he can build what they want under a lease-to-own plan. If built by this Vegas bunch, the jail would be privately owned and leased to Spokane County.

Perhaps Molasky is buying lunch for everyone in Vegas. But if not, how much is being spent daily by commissioners on this misadventure into privatizing a new jail that’s not needed, wanted or affordable under any economic model? Voters need Clerk Hayes in Spokane County.

Chuck Armsbury

Colville