Kootenai County staff seek candidates for two aquifer-related board vacancies

County staff told commissioners there are two recent vacancies on boards that represent interests tied to the county’s aquifer work.

Larry Sims reported the vacancies: one seat that represented an irrigation district (the appointee, identified as Dwayne, stepped down because he could not attend meetings) and another held by Bob Hayes, who discovered he does not live over the aquifer and therefore stepped back from the position. Sims said Hayes had signaled he might resign about a year earlier and that Hayes represented an environmental organization.

Sims said staff will reach out to organizations to identify candidates and invited commissioners to recommend potential appointees. He mentioned the Kootenai Environmental Alliance as one organization to contact and suggested Panhandle Health District could have contacts. A commissioner asked whether a private environmental cleanup business could fill the environmental-organization seat; Sims said that could be an option. Staff member Jonathan offered to make outreach contacts.

The transcript does not show any formal action taken at the meeting (no appointment or vote) and no deadline for filling the vacancies was given on the record.

Speakers on this item were Larry Sims and at least one county commissioner who asked clarifying questions; staff member Jonathan offered to contact potential candidates. No public comments on the matter are recorded in the transcript.