Thoughts prompt additional musings

Kudos to Duke Diercks, I totally agree with all of his 'I think' thoughts and would like to add a few more.

I think Sandpoint's leaders should take a proactive involvement with the L.P. mill site regarding what gets developed there. If they don't we will probably have a big ugly box store.

I think the L.P. site should be developed into an attractive mix of small- to moderate-size housing, retail and office space. If done right it could be an award-winning development. Have you ever heard of Wall-Mart or Target winning awards for their stores?

I think all the small county/city fire departments should become one larger county-wide department. It streamlines training, equipment cost, operation, etc. We don't need dozens of fire chiefs.

I think that our emergency medical service should be an integrated part of the county-wide fire department. All firefighters should be certified EMTs with as many trained paramedics as we can afford. And this service needs a very close working relationship with Bonner General Hospital.

I think that our candidates for commissioner, police chief, etc. should not be affiliated with a political party.

I think we need to have over/under passes at our in city railroad crossings.

I think that Bonner County/Idaho needs a more balanced political system. One party rule as we have in Idaho is not the definition of democracy.

MARTY STITSEL

Sandpoint