Asphalt plant gets county OK

At long last, a decision.

After a remanded hearing and several deliberations, the Kootenai County commissioners voted 2-1 this morning to uphold their original decision on the permit for the controversial asphalt batch plant in Rathdrum.

The plant can operate one year with a possible one-year extension. And since the plant has already been operating a year since the commissioners' initial decision, the officials asked Coeur d'Alene Paving to apply for an extension right away.

The only difference in the permit this time is a list of conditions to ensure there are no loopholes for the company to remain on the site permanently.

"This permit is valid a maximum of two years," said Commissioner Todd Tondee. - Alecia Warren