Many people in the Ceour d’ Alene and Rathdrum area have noticed the rapid growth in the communities.
Housing developments and suburbs have popped up in old farmlands around Kootenai County, and elected officials have come up with an act to help preserve the area.
The Kootenai County Open Space Bond has been proposed for Kootenai residents to vote Nov. 7.
This bond brings many different benefits to the community that only a few know about. If the bond passes the vote, the local government will be able to purchase the local farmland and prairies and conserve the land. The land they purchase will be used for recreational purposes, they will develop biking and hiking trails, dog parks, play areas and public gathering areas.
The Open Space bond will also protect the aquifer that sits underneath Kootenai County. Preserving open space over the aquifer is vital to the quality and cleanliness of drinking water, as well as preserving the amount of water available.
In the long run, another benefit the bond will bring is saving tax dollars. Taxpayers can save because the bond will prevent the overloading of sewer treatment plants and other costs that come from the city building new housing developments.
Many people within the community do not want this to pass because, initially, it will raise taxes. The residents in Kootenai County will have to pay twenty-eight dollars and forty-four cents more per year if the bond passes.
Many locals hear the phrase “tax raises” and immediately say no without looking at the benefits. This is a big issue for local governments trying to pass new bonds.
With all the benefits this bond can bring, it is important for residents of Kootenai County to have an open mind and look past the tax raises to see the benefits it can bring.
The Open Space bond will prevent congestion in the community, preventing extreme traffic congestion and accidents while also preventing future tax raises for road infrastructure.
There are many benefits this will bring locally to the community that can make the living experience here so much better.
Jackson Hedstrom is a student at Lakeland High School, and he cares about the community he lives in.
“I think it is beneficial because you’re not going to see any more development if you don’t have more recreational areas because that’s what builds your community,” Hedstrom said.
The city and private companies can buy land to build more and more housing developments on, but without recreational areas and green spaces, there is not much of a community.
Along with the need for more open space, land conservation is a crucial factor in the bond. Land conservation is a growing issue and controversy in America. Many environmentalists have been pushing for the benefits something like this bond will bring for years.
Green space is important to the people of North Idaho, who are proud to live in such a beautiful area, so protecting our environment should be a no-brainer, but with not enough information being sent out, many do not see this opportunity.
Shannon Matilla is a math teacher at Lakeland High School. She has been teaching at LHS for nearly twenty years and has lived in the area her whole life.
Matilla is not sure about the likelihood of the bond passing, but she is supportive of it.
“I like the idea of protecting open space above the aquifer, but I think people are going to vote no because they’re missing a lot of details on it,” Matilla said.
Concerns like Matilla’s show how much the community actually cares. It is worrying that the community has not heard enough information about this plan because there is no way of knowing whether or not it has gained enough traction or support.
“There is such a lack of detail, and that is my concern, but I really like the idea behind it, and it will really help protect the aquifer and prevent overuse of it,” Matilla said. “I’m also big on protecting our green areas, so it is important to me.”
