COEUR d’ALENE — After a fiery public hearing about possible changes to the county’s administrative structure, study commission members examined the concerns expressed by Kootenai County residents.

Since last May, the nine-member Optional Forms of Government Study Commission (OFGSC) has collected data to assess whether the county’s form of government should change.

The OFGSC voted 5-4 in support of increasing the size of the board of commissioners from three to five members, as well as switching to the commission manager form of government.

The study commission also recommends that the county clerk, treasurer, assessor, sheriff, coroner and prosecuting attorney continue to be elected to a four-year term.

All recommendations are allowed under Idaho Code 31-5001.

If commissioners approve changes, Kootenai County voters will make the final decision during the November general election.

In a hearing that lasted more than four hours, dozens of individuals took the podium Jan. 19 to share their views with the study commission.

The vast majority of speakers opposed any changes to the county’s form of government. Many said they don’t want the matter on the November ballot.

OFGSC member Brian Cleary analyzed the public’s recent comments during a Wednesday meeting.

The public submitted 252 comments before, during and after the Jan. 19 hearing.

Of those, 226 comments — about 90% — opposed any changes. Meanwhile, 26 people submitted comments in support of the recommended changes.

Those who supported the recommendation most commonly cited the need for more government to keep pace with growth.

Others said they believe the changed structure will allow for more qualified commissioners, as well as a qualified county manager.

Commenters who opposed changing the county’s administrative structure cited three top reasons: potential costs to taxpayers, opposition to government growth and concerns about an unelected official who is not accountable to voters.

The current board is comprised of three full-time commissioners who each earn about $90,000 per year.

The OFGSC instead recommends five part-time commissioners who receive limited or no benefits and earn about $17,000 per year each. That’s about $85,000 total for the entire board.

Cleary suggested that offering fewer benefits and lower pay may not attract highly-qualified candidates to run for county commissioner.

A green light from voters would make Kootenai County the first in Idaho to have five commissioners, rather than three.

Ada County — the most populated county in Idaho, with about 507,000 residents — has three commissioners, as well as a chief operating officer.

Across the state border, Spokane County also operates with three commissioners. The county, which has about 541,000 residents, has a chief operating officer and a chief executive officer.

About two-thirds of U.S. counties reportedly have either an administrator or elected executive.

Under the commission manager form of government, the manager is the county budget officer and has a number of administrative responsibilities, theoretically freeing commissioners to spend more time on policy.

Idaho Code outlines the powers and duties of county commissioners.

The OFGSC will work to determine which of these duties are administrative and could be delegated to a commission manager.

Phil Ward pointed out that Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Hayden and Rathdrum all have unelected administrators who work with their respective mayors and city councils to manage the day to day operation of their cities, a role similar to the one proposed by the study commission.

“If all these things are so bad, why do all these cities have it?” Ward said. “They seem to function pretty well.”

Cleary emphasized the importance of clarifying the recommendation for voters, including the specific powers and responsibilities of a commission manager.

Kristen Wing said she felt the crowd at the Jan. 19 meeting fell into a “mob mentality” that made it difficult to communicate civilly.

She said a woman approached her during a break in the meeting and apologized on behalf of the combative people in the crowd.

Emotions ran high that night, with several individuals screaming at the gathered OFGSC members.

Multiple speakers said OFGSC members who recommend changing the county’s form of government will face retribution, while others asserted that those who support the proposal are “evil” and will “burn in hell for eternity.”

“They’re good people, but they’re frightened about this change,” the woman reportedly told Wing. “They’ve come from places where it’s very liberal and they’re afraid that Idaho is going to change.”

The woman said the acrimonious words came from a place of fear and confusion — and Wing said she believed it.

“I have a feeling if I could talk one on one with you folks, you’d find we have a heck of a lot in common,” she said.

The OFGSC will meet again next week.