By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

COEUR d'ALENE — Recently-elected Kootenai County officials were sworn in Monday with a myriad of challenges already on their minds to tackle in the year ahead.

A standing-room-only crowd of more than 200 watched new commissioners Bob Bingham and Chris Fillios, Sheriff Ben Wolfinger and Prosecutor Barry McHugh be sworn into office at the County Administration Building. All are Republicans.

Bingham, a political newcomer who will serve in the District 3 commission seat formerly held by Dan Green, said nerves weren't setting in during his first day in office.

"I'm focused on the job," he said. "We've got a lot of work ahead. I'm looking forward to working with Marc (Eberlein) and Chris (Fillios). Frankly, there are budget and tax challenges that lie before us.

"I admire Dan for his six years of service. I've got some big shoes to fill."

Two-thirds of the commission is new with Eberlein being the lone returner. Eberlein was chosen the board's chairman at the new board's first debriefing on Monday afternoon.

Fillios, who will serve in the District 2 seat formerly held by David Stewart, ran unopposed in the November general election. Bingham defeated Independent Russell McLain in that election.

Bingham said funding the staff for the jail expansion will be one of the first questions the board will wrestle with.

"Staffing is going to cost us some money, so collectively we've got a decision to make," he said.

Much of the additional staffing cost will be offset by the current cost the county pays to house felons outside the area. However, the board will need to decide on the specific staffing level and whether it will propose to increase taxes to pay for part or all of the difference.

"I'm a guy who has said no tax increases, yet we have pressures there that are definitely leaning that way," Bingham said, adding a review of staffing costs and scenarios is needed before a decision can be made.

Bingham said the projected $1 million in new development tax revenue will be stretched with the jail staffing needs — not to mention other needs in other county departments.

Fillios, who ran for the board in 2010 and served on the East Side Highway District, said he's looking forward to serving the county's taxpayers.

"I didn't make many promises during my campaign, but I did to listen and serve with integrity," he said.

Wolfinger, who defeated Democrat Tina Kunishige in November, is starting his second term after taking office in 2013. He said helping shepherd the jail expansion project will be a focus this year.

"We had 387 inmates over the weekend," he said, adding 327 is considered capacity and the expansion will eliminate the liability of transporting inmates to other facilities and the cost of housing them there.

Keeping competitive wages to decrease the chance of losing employees to other agencies is an ongoing interest.

"Dealing with retention, wages and benefits is always a big issue for us," he said. "When we're able to retain good people, it raises our level of performance."

McHugh, who ran unopposed in November, is entering his third term as prosecutor.

"We have a lot of challenges, but I am blessed to work with a great staff and am excited about continuing to serve," he said. "The increase in violent crimes is troubling and certainly a challenge for my office."

McHugh said there will be a learning curve between county officials, staff and the new board members of getting to know each other.

"That is just part of the process, and I have great confidence in the two new commissioners," he said.

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Liaison assignments

County commissioners serve in a liaison capacity for county departments, elected officials, local boards and committees. Here is a list of how the three commissioners will serve in that role as agreed upon and chosen by the three board members during their first meeting on Monday:

• Marc Eberlein — county commission administration, Airport, Community Development, Reprographics, Building and Grounds, conflict public defender (contract), Clerk, Treasurer, Jobs Plus, Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization, Coeur d’Alene Basin Commission, Emergency Services System Joint Powers Board, North Idaho Crisis Center, Natural Resource Advisory Board, Waterways Advisory Board, Post Falls Chamber of Commerce, Heritage Health Community Advisory Board,

• Chris Fillios — juvenile detention and probation, public defender, Grants Management Office, Veterans Services, Office of Emergency Management, Assessor, Coroner, Prosecutor, Centennial Trail Joint Powers Board, KMPO alternate, Panhandle Area Council, Coeur d’Alene Basin Commission alternate, Hayden Area Regional Sewer Board alternate, Aquifer Protection District Advisory Board, Historic Preservation Commission, Planning and Zoning, Snowgroomers (department and advisory board), Kootenai Perspectives, Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce, Local Emergency Planning Committee, Office of Emergency Management Council

• Bob Bingham — Solid Waste, Parks and Waterways, Noxious Weeds, Adult Misdemeanor Probation, Human Resources, Information Systems, District Judges, Sheriff, Panhandle Area Council alternate, Hayden Area Regional Sewer Board, Panhandle Health District, Board of Community Guardians, North Idaho Fair Board, Noxious Weed Control Advisory Board, Internal Audit Committee, Hayden Chamber of Commerce, Rathdrum Chamber of Commerce, University of Idaho Extension