Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (KMPO) executive director Glenn Miles stated, “I think working with the public over the last two years, listening to their concerns and trying to respond to what people want has been good.” Then he goes on to say, “Now we will start planning for more congestion and more delays and let people know what they’re going to have to deal with in the not so distant future.”

How can one “plan” for more congestion and delays? Exactly what is Glenn Miles going to do to “plan” for this? The people clearly voted NO. Perhaps Mr. Miles really isn’t listening to our concerns at all.

Many people voiced their opinions and suggestions in The Press. To plan for something like this, KMPO should be planning a moratorium on new housing developments. They should be planning for a growth tax on all out-of-state people who are coming here en masse. Developers need to be taxed as well. KMPO should have had the insight, innovation and common sense to do this long ago.

Another quote, “…it’s tough asking people to pay for something they use every day.” The fact is Mr. Miles we all don’t use these areas every day or in some cases not at all. Local people already pay taxes for upgrades and have been doing so for many years. New laws for new growth should be in the planning stages. Perhaps we need some new thinkers in our planning organization.

JoANN LOKKEN

Coeur d’Alene