McEuen Work OK’d On 4-3 Vote

City Clerk Renata McLeod provides the draft minutes to the 33-minute meeting last evening in which the Coeur d’Alene City Council awarded the construction contract for McEuen Field to Contractors Northwest. Part of the discussion:

Councilman Kennedy stated that he has had the pleasure of sitting with the Team McEuen over the past months and he was very impressed with their ability to handle the moving parts and details.  He stated that the team should be thanked and applauded for the remarkable amount of work they have done.  He believes this is a legacy project and that ten years from now the majority of the people would not remember the contention of the project but that they will be enjoying the benefits of the finished park.  He further congratulated Parks Director Doug Eastwood for seeing this project through to a successful resolution.  Councilman Edinger stated that he will vote against the Contract, and that he has nothing against the design team or CNI.  He stated he was glad to see local contractors be awarded the project; however, his objection is that he believes the project should have been voted on by the people. Complete minutes here.

Question: Usually, when a major public project is dedicated, a plaque bearing the names of the elected officials in office who supported the project is placed somewhere. Should the city avoid such a plaque since Councilmen Ron Edinger, Dan Gookin and Steve Adams were so adamantly opposed to the McEuen upgrade?