County must allow a vote on project

County commissioners are about to sign off on the 60-bed work release facility for Bonner County. Daryl Wheeler and Larry Hannah, both candidates for Bonner County sheriff, have written letters asking the commissioners to back out of this debacle.

How did it come about? The county decided we needed this facility. What are the benefits to Bonner County citizens? In fact, ask your friends, neighbors and business people about it, see if you can find a supporter. I could not. If this facility goes in, it has the potential to set a statewide precedent, giving county commissioners the ability to engage in this type of project while bypassing the voters.

I support the expansion of our Juvenile Detention facility, however, I oppose the current method to accomplish it. We have never come close to filling the current 40-bed work release portion of our recently-built jail.

I encourage people to call and demand that we be allowed to vote on this multi-million dollar use of our monies.

L. SCOTT HANCOCK

Hope