ATHOL - A request to recall two Timberlake Fire Protection District commissioners will go to that district's voters on Nov. 2.

Commissioners David "Rudy" Rudebaugh and Marty Fish declined to resign after 469 signatures were gathered and certified on the petition - 354 were needed for the proposals to advance - sending the issue to the voters with the commission's approval.

The district includes the Athol, Bayview, Chilco and Careywood areas in Kootenai and Bonner counties.

"We're pleased to send this to the voters," said Sue Damon, among those who collected signatures. "We feel very passionate about this. We're mostly upset with the way things have been done behind our backs. We want open and transparent government."

Rudebaugh said he's disappointed that taxpayers will have to fund the election, but made the motion at a special meeting to send the issue to voters in November rather than wait until March. He said the commission has done nothing illegal.

"I think it's a disservice to the citizens to have to pay more than $2,000 to conduct the recall election," Rudebaugh said. "I'm saddened that a group of people would do this based on lies and misunderstandings.

"I ran to make responsible decisions based on taxpaying citizens. I'm standing true to that. But let's waste taxpayer dollars and go to an election."

Damon said that she and others are upset that the board approved a contract with Northern Lakes, the fire district that covers Rathdrum and Hayden, to oversee the daily operations of the district without citizen input. That decision came after former Chief Jack Krill was fired for financial reasons.

Damon said Krill did a good job of trying to improve the district and she respects Northern Lakes, but believes the management contract is only a "band-aid." The biggest issue, she said, is the lack of citizen input before major decisions.

"It seems like they choose to allow which meetings there will be public comments," she said. "This isn't about Chief Krill and Northern Lakes."

Rudebaugh said the board has followed the law.

A complaint filed by Commissioner Jon Guinn against Rudebaugh and Fish alleging open meeting law violations was recently dismissed by Kootenai County Prosecutor Barry McHugh.

In the recall election, a simple majority (50 percent plus one) and one more vote than each commissioner received in their last election will be needed for the proposals to pass. It would take 500 votes to oust Rudebaugh and 411 for Fish.

Meanwhile, Chuck Hansen has been reappointed to the board after his board member status was in limbo due to him not originally being a registered voter in Kootenai County. Hansen has since become a registered voter. Hansen is replacing Chris Wiese, who resigned after Krill's contract was not renewed.

Barney Phillips is serving as Commissioner Kirk Quillin's alternate through the November election due to work conflicts. Quillin will not seek re-election and Phillips plans to run for the seat.