Optional form of govt

["Bert Cross" <bcross@uidaho.edu>]

I've read the full report and listened to arguments pro and con and 
have decided to vote against the optional form of county government.  
The thing that bothers me most is still having only three 
commissioners.  We have seen what havoc only two commissioners can 
cause (look at Bonner County).  I would opt for at least five.  And 
since their work load would be diminished, salaries should be reduced 
to help pay the county administrator's salary.  We also might 
consider making the commssion offices non-partisan.  The commission 
would then be a policy-making body with the adminstrator carrying out 
its policies.

The ironic thing in the current election is this:  If I vote for 
assessor, county clerk, and county treasurer and then vote FOR the 
optional form, I am then voting to rescind my three prior votes.  

I agree we need to fine-tune our county government and make it more 
efficient and effective.  The county manager concept is generally a 
good one.  More officers should be appointed rather than elected. But 
we need to work out some of the bugs before we jump to this rather 
drastic and sudden change.  

I also must plead guilty to failing in my own civic responsibility 
when the study commission was seeking public input, as many of us 
did.

Bert Cross
1448 Borah Ave.
Moscow, ID 83843
Phone: (208) 882-7660
email: bcross@uidaho.edu