Kootenai County commissioners sworn in officials and select Bruce Metare as chair

Kootenai County commissioners administered oaths of office to a newly elected commissioner, the county sheriff and the prosecuting attorney and selected a new commission chair during a brief Jan. 13 meeting in Coeur d'Alene.

The meeting opened with Jennifer Locke, the elected clerk, administering the oath to the incoming commissioner. Clerk Locke also administered oaths to Robert Norris, who was sworn in as Kootenai County sheriff, and Stanley Mortensen, who was sworn in as Kootenai County prosecuting attorney. The meeting record shows the proceedings concluded with an adjournment at 10:12 a.m.

The board then addressed selection of the commission chair. Commissioner-elect Eberline nominated Bruce Metare “for the seat of chairman of the board,” and the nomination was moved and seconded and approved by the voting commissioners. The board recorded the motion as passing unanimously (yes: 3). Metare accepted the nomination.

Commissioners present at the meeting were identified in the record as Commissioner Duncan, Commissioner Matari and Commissioner-elect Eberline. The session was short and largely ceremonial, focused on oaths of office and internal leadership selection; no substantive policy votes, budget actions or ordinance hearings were recorded in the transcript.

Minutes show the chair-selection discussion included a remark that rotating the chair is a healthy practice and that the nominee was prepared to accept the position and allow transition time for future leadership changes. No additional directives, committee assignments or implementation steps tied to the chair selection were recorded.

The meeting adjourned shortly after the swearing-in and chair-selection items.