Voters of Coeur d'Alene, do not put your guard down. Our city government and the McEuen team have been hard at work with the Idaho Transportation Department the past few months to finalize a land transfer at the Silver Beach area for the replacement of the Third Street boat launch. With this transfer, the city would acquire the lake front property at the existing Centennial Trail head just east of the Armstrong Park overpass to the Beachouse property. The last I heard, the ramp would have four lanes equal to Third Street and the plan does close one more lane of traffic from the overpass to the Beachouse and move the trail to the north. This plan is designed by Coleman Engineering in Coeur d'Alene. 

Mr. Coleman was recently appointed to the ITD Board (perhaps to facilitate such a transfer?). As I understand, under the proposed arrangement, the city would take over the 5-plus miles of road and trail maintenance out to Higgins Point (all of Coeur d'Alene Lake Drive). As of now, the city limits stop at Silver Beach Loop Road. So beyond that there would not be any property taxes received to pay for this maintenance.

There could be some light at the end of the tunnel, if one of the existing council members or the mayor would admit that the election was largely a public outcry about McEuen and agree to an advisory vote. Even better, a new look at the entire McEuen plan is needed. This will only happen if current council members would demand greater transparency and accountability to their constituents.

What is really behind what is going on at Silver Beach? Who is really driving this effort? I understand that an adjoining property owner at Silver Beach wants to make a swap for that state owned waterfront land to build another condominium complex. They are willing to exchange secondary land at the Beachouse for trailer parking and thus the new ramp would move east of the Beachouse restaurant. If I were on the council, I would be asking a lot of questions. The word at city hall is Silver Beach is on hold until the new council members take their seats. Rumors are flying throughout the city; I have heard them from several sources. Why is our government so adamantly against the will of the people? What will it take to get them to listen?

KEITH PEILA

Coeur d'Alene