HOLD...MY TURN: Newcomers' lack of local knowledge causing problems

Most of us can agree that North Idaho has a lot to offer, and in reality, it feels like stepping back in time compared to big cities and blue states that are out of control and have lost common sense; that is one of the main attractions of living here. 

However, with increased migration, there is little acknowledgment of what native residents are experiencing: unwelcome changes, rising home values, density and cost-of-living increases.

Locals are watching their dreams fade because they cannot afford to live through this surge, and their children have little chance to buy a home and start their own families locally. A typical home built here in 2004 increased 95% in value by 2020 and is now up 288% from its original 2004 sale price. That is hard to swallow when the local wages have not kept up with these excessive increases. 

These communities were built through hard work and Christian and family values. One must not forget that the indigenous families created this great and beautiful environment of Idaho we refer to as the Panhandle.

To continue this topic, one must consider the local governmental positions outsiders take over with very little knowledge of local history and developments.

As most of us know, we live in a conservative state. We would therefore expect the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC) to be a reliable source for names of qualified candidates for various political and governmental positions. I know there are opposing opinions, but most locals and many newcomers were very dissatisfied with the former KCRCC leader from California. Hopefully this will change with the new leadership. 

For example, one of the KCRCC-endorsed candidates, Bruce Mattare, has now been the County Commissioner for District 2 for almost four years; he migrated here from Virginia in 2013. As commissioner, he concluded that Kootenai County was subsidizing the city of Hayden for law enforcement costs, even though the opposite is true. Hayden paid for an Enhanced Law Enforcement Service (ELES) 

As established procedure since this service began in 1971, the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department and the City of Hayden have always negotiated the details and costs of the ELES agreements. The parties again agreed to the 2026 ELES agreement, but Mattare nixed it because he interpreted it as something other than an “Enhanced Law Enforcement Service.” 

Again, this is a matter of not knowing local history and development. After personally researching public records and discussing this matter with the previous city of Hayden mayor and Kootenai County commissioners, this is an example of incorrect representation:

Kootenai County was established on 12/22/1864 and formally organized on 7/09/1881. The elected sheriff's office was also established in 1881. The cities in the county advanced as follows:

Coeur d'Alene incorporated on Aug. 3, 1887 and created the marshal's office on Aug. 29, 1887. The first chief of police position was not established until 1904. Rathdrum was incorporated in 1881, and the police department was established by 1989. Post Falls was incorporated on May 28, 1891 and established a police department by 1971. Spirit Lake was incorporated on Jan. 14, 1908 and established its own police department by 1974. The remaining cities in the county; Harrison (1899), Huetter (1905), Athol (1909), Worley (1917), Hauser (1947), Hayden Lake (1947), Stateline (1947), Hayden (1955), Fernan Lake Village (1957) and Dalton Gardens (Inc. 1960) have always relied on the KC Sheriff department for law enforcement services from the time these cities incorporated, these services paid for via the property taxes to Kootenai county.

On Feb. 3, 1956, the city of Hayden received a bid of $35 for 10 hours of service per week to fill a Marshal position; the operator would supply his own vehicle and siren to subsidize the law enforcement provided by the Kootenai County Sheriff Department. The state provided financial aid for law enforcement training. 

This subsidized law enforcement arrangement continued until March 8, 1971, when the city of Hayden and the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department agreed that the Sheriff's Department would take over this enhanced service. The initial cost for this extra service increase, one patrol deputy and the city purchase one vehicle, was $6,000 per year. 

In October 2016, the additional service for four deputies increased to $273,892 per year, increasing to $285,853 by 2021. In 2021, our city mayor and Sheriff Norris agreed that Hayden would have additional law enforcement available day and night. That increased the cost of this service to $402,354 per year. Bruce Mattare was sworn in as Kootenai County commissioner on Jan. 9, 2023. On Jan. 24, 2023, the cost for the subsidized service grew to $702,354. 

The city of Hayden’s current Enhanced Law Enforcement Agreement is costing our citizens $1,193,933 this year, and that is after the city paid for five patrol cars and provided an additional $300,000 to the sheriff's department to hire three additional officers. And Bruce Mattare still thinks Kootenai County is subsidizing the community of Hayden.

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Horst Drexler is a Hayden resident.