Candidates counter Sprungl's thoughts on meth

Boundary County Sheriff Greg Sprungl believes Bonners Ferry’s meth problem is decreasing. Allen Gemmrig and Jeff Ennis, who are Sprungl’s opponents in the Tuesday, Nov. 4, election, feel otherwise.

“I believe meth is rarely produced here,” Sprungl said during the candidate’s forum on Oct. 23 at the Chic n’ Chop. “There are still people using, but prescription drugs are more of a problem.”

Sprungl, a Republican, is challenged by Gemmrig, an Independent, and Jeff Ennis, who is running as a write-in on Nov. 4.

Ennis, who lost the Republican nomination to Sprungl in the primary by nearly 300 votes, is the county jail commander.

Ennis noted that 75 percent of the people he books into the jail are drug users.

Gemmrig, a Copeland resident, said he has seen first hand that drugs have been transported through this community.

Ennis also stated during the forum that he would try to change the high turnover in employees at the sheriff’s office.

“As sheriff for 11 years, I challenge my opponents to name a date and a time when there was ever a better group of employees at the sheriff’s office,” said Sprungl in a rebuttal.

The majority of the questions directed toward the Boundary County commissioners at the forum was about the county landfill.

The 18-acre landfill is running out of space. Once the landfill is at capacity, it will be closed, and garbage will be shipped out of county because the cost of opening another landfill would be astronomical.

“We have been recycling for years and we have now found a place to send our plastics,” said Republican commissioner chairman Ron Smith, who is running for re-election.

“Yes there is things being done and I agree with it, but we can do better,” said Smith’s Democrat opponent Jerry Pavia.

Pavia, a professional photographer, hopes to unseat commissioner chairman Smith, who in December will complete his 12th year in office. The winner will serve four years.

Two-term commissioner Walt Kirby faces two challengers for another two-year term. They are Democrat John O’Connor, owner of Bonners Books in downtown Bonners Ferry, and Independent John White, a retired construction and sawmill worker from Moyie Springs.

Commissioners are paid $28,400 a year.