Who runs Kootenai County, and how their meetings work

Three people run Kootenai County government, and their meetings are open to anyone. Here's who they are, what they decide, and how a meeting works.

Who they are

The Board of County Commissioners, or BOCC, is the county's governing body. It has three elected members, each from a district: Marc Eberlein (District 1), Bruce Mattare (District 2) and Leslie Duncan (District 3).

What they do

The county describes the board as its taxing authority, its contracting body and the chief keeper of public money. In plain terms, the commissioners set the county budget and property-tax levy, approve contracts and pay the county's bills, and pass county ordinances and resolutions. They also hold hearings and make decisions on county land-use cases, like zoning and subdivisions outside city limits.

They don't run the cities. Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, Hayden and the other cities have their own councils.

When they meet

Business meetings: every Tuesday at 2 p.m. This is where official votes happen: contracts, bid openings, bills, resolutions and ordinances.

Land-use deliberations: two Thursdays a month at 10 a.m., on building, planning and code-enforcement cases.

Other meetings, like status updates and public hearings, are set as needed and posted on the county's meeting calendar.

All meetings are at the county Administration Building, 451 N. Government Way in Coeur d'Alene. You can watch live or later on the county's YouTube channel. Agendas go up at least 48 hours before each meeting.

How a business meeting goes

The posted agendas follow the same order almost every week:

1. Call to order, a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance.

2. Changes to the agenda, by vote. Idaho law bars the board from acting on surprise items except in an emergency.

3. Public comment. Anyone can speak to the board about a county issue.

4. Approval of past meeting minutes.

5. The consent calendar: routine items, like treasurer's reports and assessor adjustments, approved in one vote.

6. The payables: the county's bills for the week.

7. Business: contracts, purchases, appointments to advisory boards and resolutions, each with its own vote.

8. Public comment again, then adjourn.

Why it matters this month

The commissioners put the Citylink bus question on the Nov. 3 ballot, and voters said no to the county running the system, 57% to 43%. The vote was advisory, but commissioners have said it could inform their decisions. Coming business meetings are Tuesdays Nov. 10, 17 and 24 at 2 p.m.

How to reach them

Call the commissioners' office at 208-446-1600 or use the contact form on the county's Commissioners page.