Why can't we deal with issues in practical way?

Why can’t politicians and bureaucrats deal with the simplest issues in a practical manner? Joe Young and the Priest River Airport Board are prime examples of what’s wrong with government in the whole country. They spend as much tax money as they can get their hands on. After all, it’s not their money, it’s ours. They don’t care how mad taxpayers get because they have the power to do it to us.

The pilots at the Priest River Airport maintained this tiny airport at no cost to the taxpayer for many years. These pilot paid more than $7,000 a year in rents and taxes. The cost to run the airport for utilities, etc. was only about $5,000 a year. So there was about a $2,000 gain for small projects. This was because the pilots did all of the maintenance for free.

Commissioner Joe Young came along and appointed a seven-member board of community “do-gooders.” It only takes three to run the whole county. To date, they have proposed more than a $4 million plan for this little airport. They have already spent or obligated hundreds of thousands of dollars on fences, surveying, planning, engineering, etc. — none of which are necessary for the community or wanted by the users.

All grants come with strings attached. These require Bonner County to maintain existing and new facilities if they accept the grant. Get ready, Bonner County taxpayer.

Raising the rent and leases as much as whopping 150 percent  just killed the goose that lays the golden egg. Now, when the airport needs maintenance, the pilots won’t lift a finger and you, the taxpayer, will have to pay for all of it.

Fire them all and get some reason back in the thinking.

WARREN NADDEAU

Bainbridge, Wash.