Airport shouldn't qualify for emergency bid process

As a dedicated reader of the Bee, I feel a newspaper has a dual function, i.e. provide news and, when staff and time permit, investigate controversial items that are vague or appear somewhat politically incorrect.

Such as, why would the board of county commissioners say the thorofare at Priest Lake was an emergency, and therefore, it was OK to bypass the bid process and, in the same article (Feb. 4, Spokesman Review) state that nothing can be done right away because of other agencies' input.

Why would letter after letter in the Bee be negative in regards to the rec center for the legitimate reason of increased property tax yet the massive expansion of the airport (planned for the near future) will have the same effect on taxes due to increased maintenance, with few taxpayers ever getting any use of it? Surely, no emergency exists as far as the airport is concerned yet the competitive bid process will probably be bypassed here as well.

Will the Bee do a little probing on these two questions?

JAMES A. BLAKE

Sandpoint