A group of concerned citizens met on Wednesday to discuss the future of the Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization (KMPO) on Wednesday. Four of the organization’s board members attended to answer questions the community had for them. The board consists of members who are appointed to the board from various other governments including highway districts, cities, and the county. Additionally, one unelected member is appointed by the Idaho Department of Transportation.
Four of the board’s members were able to attend the event: Dan Gookin (City of Coeur d’Alene), Sandra White (City of Hayden), Jeff Tyler (Post Falls Highway District), and Bruce Mattare (Kootenai County).
Members Vic Holmes (City of Rathdrum), and Jim Kackman (Coeur d’Alene Tribe) were unable to attend due to previous engagements. Graham Christiansen (East Side Highway District) said that he didn’t believe the board was far enough along in their discussions to make a town hall worth while.
Damon Allen (Idaho Transportation Department), Rod Tweed (Lakes Highway District), Corinne Jonson (Worley Highway District), and Lynn Borders (City of Post Falls) declined to respond to the invitation to the Town Hall.
The event began by showing a promotional video that displayed the supposed benefits to having a Transportation Management Center. The benefits listed were emergency response, traffic control, and environmental protections. The audience laughed when the voice on the promotional video pointed to reduced climate change as a benefit of the system.
Members of the KMPO expressed several concerns with the new system which would track traffic pattern and data in Kootenai County. Among the concerns were lack of accountability for the data which could fall into untrusted hands as well as an inability to stop the project once approved. The members also expressed that such a large decision should be voted on by Kootenai County Residents, instead of simply the KMPO board.
However, members noted that the decision to stop the federal program (a proposal which will be decided at the next KMPO meeting) could be costly. The reason that it was introduced in the first place was to receive federal road building funds. Considering the rapid growth of the County, these funds could help make Kootenai County’s roads workable.
Ultimately, attendees were asked to continue their involvement in a respectful manner by emailing, calling, and speaking to members as well as attending the next KMPO meeting.
