With all due respect to Sandpoint officials, a proposal to lease a deteriorating Memorial Field to the Lake Pend Oreille School District is about as ill-conceived as something gets.

I guess I don't understand the thinking behind trying to pass the responsibility onto someone else.

"We could put this burden on the taxpayer, but working out a long-term lease with the school district seems like a better way to go," Sandpoint Mayor Ray Miller said recently.

Just who do city officials think that district officials would approach to pay for repairs?

Yup, those same taxpayers that the city doesn't want to tap.

If anything, the district's "to do" list is longer and more pressing than the city's — and may soon include a request for a new high school.

Instead of passing the buck, how about we all work together.

In growing up, my folks told me about how the Kennewick Lions got their football stadium built. Alumni, local businesses and everyone pitched together to build it. Folks donated time, supplies or manpower — whatever they could afford.

Look what we accomplished with the skate park and the City Beach tennis courts. Why can't we do the same thing here?

Caroline Lobsinger is the managing editor of the Daily Bee.