Come, let us reason together

Bonner County has a history of making very poor real estate decisions. These decisions have been made at the expense of the Bonner County employees for as long as I have lived here.

I am opposed to the idea that it is necessary to pit one department against another in order to solve a problem. It is especially important in the case of the “courthouse debacle.” Solutions should never involve innocent parties the way some are suggesting — we should never balance someone else’s problem on the backs of valued personnel.

I believe that it is time to do the following things:

1. Repent for the poor decisions from the past.

2. Hire a project manager to oversee major projects.

3. Always prepare the budget with the people in mind first.

After those three things have happened, real decisions can be made and a long-range plan can be made to pay for those decisions. “Pay-as-we-go” should be our motto. Financial guru Suze Orman says, “It is people, then money, then things.” She is right.

There are several reasonable solutions to this problem that the commissioners are aware of that will not harm or unnecessarily embitter our valued employees and judges. Come let us reason together!

DARYL WHEELER

Hope

Bonner County Sheriff