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Starting Monday, Kootenai County closing doors to public

JENNIFER PASSARO | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years, 3 months AGO
by JENNIFER PASSARO
Staff Writer | March 28, 2020 1:00 AM

Work continues on wake-zone debate

As local governments adapt to the governor’s new stay-at-home order, Kootenai County governing officials have a clear message.

“We’re still here, we’re still serving the public,” Nancy Jones, Kootenai County Commissioner Communications, said Thursday.

The county is operating in a reduced capacity, meeting basic and essential services by appointment, phone, or email only.

Beginning Monday, the county building at 451 Government Way in Coeur d’Alene will be locked to the public to protect employee and public health. Department phone numbers will be posted on the door. Jones encourages anyone needing county services to check the website, bit.ly/3buLolg, for updates and call or email to make an appointment in advance.

“The county is still very much open for business, but we have to protect our employees and the public at large,” Commissioner Chris Fillios said.

County officials say they were proactive in arranging for employees to work from home. In the Community Development Department, a skeletal crew was working in the office Thursday, as most employees worked from home. Community Development Director David Callahan said building site inspectors are still doing their jobs in the same way they have in the past.

“What has changed is the way we are meeting people,” Callahan said.

Most planning meetings occur by phone and email now. The department is also working closely with the county’s IT Department to prepare for virtual public hearings. All public hearings have been postponed for the next three weeks.

“We have a continuity of operations plan in place,” Jones said.

The Department of Motor Vehicles will provide services by mail or drop box only, at both the Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls locations. The Idaho Transportation Department announced a 90-day deferral on existing credentials expiring through May 31.

While Board of County Commissioners meetings are still open to the public, the meetings can be viewed live online and public comment may be made over the phone.

On Thursday, the BOCC met with the Parks and Waterways Department to begin drafting an ordinance, creating a no-excessive-wake-zone on portions of the Spokane River, Coeur d’Alene River, lower Twin Lakes, in addition to all other lakes within the county.

“We haven’t specified what those distances will be,” Fillios said.

The ordinance will go to public hearing. If the governor’s stay-at-home order is extended, commissioners have concerns that the ordinance won’t be in place prior to the boating season.

Fillios did confirm that the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office Marine Division will receive seven trained deputies from the Post Falls Police Department. The county will be able to run seven two-man boats, including two boats just to enforce county ordinances on the Spokane River.

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