Another blow to a district in disarray.

In step with Shoshone County, the Kootenai County commissioners decided this month not to budget funding for the Kootenai-Shoshone Soil and Water Conservation District next fiscal year, on account of inefficiency on the district board.

"We concurred with Shoshone that we feel there does need to be a change," said Commissioner Rick Currie on Wednesday.

Although Kootenai County donated $8,000 last year to the district, which pairs with outside entities on local conservation projects, the county wouldn't have been able to afford as much this year, Currie said.

"That money can definitely be used elsewhere," he said.

Joy Cassidy, chair of the conservation district board, acknowledged the board has had problems with infighting and poor office management, which resulted in the Department of Environmental Quality pulling a project it had coordinated with the district.

But Cassidy said she was surprised the Kootenai commissioners cut off funding without contacting the board itself to discuss the problems, she said.

"If I were Rick Currie, I would have gotten ahold of the Kootenai-Shoshone district board and said, 'What's going on, Joy?' Instead of taking the word of the Shoshone commissioners," she said. "This is a bit over-reactionary, if you ask me."

She added that the district board will send the Kootenai commissioners a response letter next week that explains changes the board has already made, like electing new officers and hiring a new administrative assistant.

"We are on a forward momentum, and we are going to bring this board not only to what it was before, but a much improved board," Cassidy said.

Currie said the commissioners want to see more, however.

Kootenai County will likely withhold funds until new board members are elected, he said.

"Just changing the makeup of the board (officers), we don't feel that is going to change that much direction," he said. "There needs to be a change, not only in leadership, but on the board."