Payout Not Always Commish Fault

The buck clearly stops with Kootenai County’s commissioners, who have inked settlement agreements over the past year resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in payouts to former employees. But the settlements these elected county leaders authorize — paid by the county’s insurer or directly from county coffers — can stem from the decisions and actions of other elected officials. “I think the perception is when the county does something, the county does it,” Commissioner Dan Green said. “I’m not trying to pass the buck. We make mistakes, too.” While two recent settlements were made with employees under the Board of County Commissioners, two others were paid to employees supervised by other elected officials - Prosecutor Barry McHugh and Sheriff Ben Wolfinger/ Taryn Thompson , Coeur d’Alene Press. More here.

• Also: Names of county employees who received settlement released /Taryn Hecker, Coeur d’Alene Press

Question: Will these settlements have an impact on the primary elections?