COMMISSIONERS: Power to control growth is limited

All of the County Commissioner candidates know that the hot issues are growth and density and their effects on infrastructure, so they talk as though they are going to do something to manage them. The county commissioners cannot prevent annexation and cannot deny a development that is not on county land.

The candidates for County Commissioner seem to be misleading the voters when it comes to how they can affect growth, density and the consequences that it has on the infrastructure that we all see.

The county Comprehensive Plan and commissioners have zero effect on growth and density and infrastructure related to development in incorporated cities.

The commissioners manage the unincorporated county, which limits the smallest lot to five acres and one dwelling per five acres.

The county does not manage infrastructure like highways, roads, streets, etc. ITD, various highway districts, and cities deal with that.

The county operates zero sewer treatment or water providing services.

The county cannot tell cities how to manage growth, development or infrastructure. Those are the purview of the incorporated cities.

It sounds good, but if the commissioner candidates really think that county commissioners, through the county Comprehensive Plan, can mandate anything to affect development more than their five acre lots on septic and wells, then they don’t know what they are doing.

Do your homework. Know what is fact and what is campaign rhetoric. Know what your county commissioners’ duties really are, what they are tasked with and what they really can affect.

ED DePRIEST

Hayden Citizen