County doesn't need arrival of Home Depot

Home Depot! The prospect of this oversize hardware/building supply/garden center opening at our area's perimeter is sobering. "New jobs?" Let's look closely. Today we are served by four capable suppliers inside Sandpoint: Merwin's Hardware, Sandpoint Super Drug Valu-Rite, Trader's Building Supply and Alpine Lumber. Ponderay is home to Sandpoint Building Supply and the Co-op Hardware.

Profits and taxes paid by these businesses stay in the community. They contribute to community causes and compete vigorously with each other. Home Depot's profits and taxes will go primarily to Atlanta, Georgia, draining our community and state. Because it is huge and aggressive. Home Depot will probably harm or kill local businesses, undermining our home-grown entrepreneurs and their loyal, long-term employees. We can't stop "progress," we're told. Whoa! Home Depot cannot move here without a reliable, generous water supply, and Sandpoint is the only potential supplier of that liquid.

Why would Sandpoint sell water to Home Depot? It could cost the city three profitable, tax-paying businesses and the flourishing commercial zones built around each of these firms. It encourages development outside the city limits. It undermines the city's tax base.

If Sandpoint loses its commercial tax base, homeowners and renters will need to make up that loss. The city should reject undermining its business and residents. If Sandpoint continues to consider selling water, it should hold public meetings with its businesses and residents to get public input to the decision.

STEVE LOCKWOOD

and MOLLY O'REILLY

Sandpoint