Benewah County Town Hall Meeting – October 8, 2026

A well-attended Town Hall meeting was held Thursday evening, October 8, led by Tim Grubham, with an appearance by Kim Schwanz. Grubham and Schwanz are running unopposed for the Benewah County Commissioner seats in Districts 1 and 2, respectively.

The evening opened with public comments, and attendees wasted little time raising concerns about county government and offering suggestions to the incoming commissioners.

One attendee suggested that the regular Commissioners Meetings be held at a different time and in a larger venue to make them more accessible to the public. Grubham responded that meeting accessibility is among the issues he intends to address and said he plans to propose holding at least one evening meeting each month, possibly in the Federal Building.

Roads, Equipment, and County Employees

Several attendees raised concerns about the Benewah County Road and Bridge Department.

One Road and Bridge employee told the audience that much of the department's vehicle and equipment fleet is aging, outdated, or becoming increasingly inefficient. He also noted that the county has only one mechanic responsible for maintaining the equipment, and that mechanic provides service to other county departments as well.

The employee also raised the issue of compensation, suggesting that higher wages may be necessary if the county hopes to retain experienced employees and attract qualified new workers.

Another attendee expressed frustration with road maintenance in his area, saying residents along his road were upset after a county grader pushed gravel from the roadway into a ravine.

The comments reflected a broader challenge facing a growing rural county: maintaining roads, equipment, staffing, and services while trying to keep costs manageable for taxpayers.

Representation and Public Accountability

Other comments focused on how the incoming commissioners approach their responsibilities.

One attendee pointed out that although commissioners are elected by district, the decisions they make affect residents throughout Benewah County. He encouraged both incoming commissioners to consider the interests of the entire county when making decisions.

Another attendee expressed the hope that commissioners would be able to answer more questions from the public without requiring an attorney to be present. Another argued that county employees should live within Benewah County.

One resident offered a particularly direct reminder about the pressures facing taxpayers: property owners, he said, are not "ATM machines."

Collectively, the comments reflected a recurring theme throughout the evening—the desire for accessible government, fiscal restraint, transparency, and greater communication between county officials and the people they serve.

Growth and the Cost of Government

Following the public-comment portion, Grubham began a structured presentation addressing some of the challenges facing Benewah County.

He noted that inflation has risen approximately 29.4% over the past six years and discussed the county's rapidly growing population and the pressure that growth places on local government services.

A county employee attending the meeting added that approximately 100 new homes are being built in Benewah County each year.

Growth brings new residents and economic activity, but it also increases demand for roads, emergency services, public safety, county employees, facilities, and other infrastructure. Much of the evening's discussion centered on how the county can meet those increasing demands without placing an unreasonable burden on existing taxpayers.

Benewah Community Hospital

Benewah Community Hospital (BCH) was another major topic of discussion.

During the conversation, an attendee stated that BCH has had 17 CEOs over the past 20 years.

Grubham said he would like to see stronger and more effective oversight from the hospital's trustees, along with greater fiscal discipline. At the same time, he emphasized that the hospital is an essential part of Benewah County and that the goal should be to work together to find solutions to the challenges facing BCH.

The discussion reflected the difficult balance involved: recognizing the hospital's importance to a rural community while also asking serious questions about its finances, management, and long-term stability.

A Look at the 2026 County Budget

Grubham also presented figures from Benewah County's 2026 budget.

The total budget was reported at approximately $15.09 million, consisting of roughly $12.73 million in levied funds and $2.35 million in non-levied funds. Year-to-date expenditures were reported at approximately $10.28 million, representing about 68.1% of the approved budget.

Revenue figures presented during the meeting included approximately $5.07 million from property taxes, $3.65 million from state revenue sharing and highway funding, and $3.45 million from user fees, enterprise rates, and other fees.

The figures provided an important backdrop to many of the concerns raised earlier in the evening. Roads, equipment, employee compensation, hospital services, and the demands created by population growth all ultimately intersect with the county's ability to manage a finite amount of public money.

An Encouraging Level of Public Participation

The Town Hall continued beyond 6:30 p.m. Although we were unable to remain for the rest of the meeting, the majority of the audience was still present when we left.

Perhaps the most encouraging part of the evening was the level of citizen participation.

Residents came prepared with questions, concerns, suggestions, and firsthand knowledge of issues affecting the county. Grubham and Schwanz, in turn, appeared willing to listen and engage with those concerns.

With both candidates running unopposed, the evening was less about campaigning against an opponent and more about giving residents an opportunity to hear from two of their incoming commissioners and, equally importantly, giving those commissioners an opportunity to hear from the people they will represent.

The challenges facing a growing Benewah County are substantial. Roads must be maintained, employees retained, emergency and medical services supported, budgets balanced, and taxpayers considered as the demand for county services increases.

But the turnout at Thursday's Town Hall offered an encouraging sign. Good local government depends not only upon the people sitting behind the commissioners' desk, but also upon an informed and involved public willing to show up, ask questions, offer ideas, and hold its representatives accountable.

If the level of engagement seen Thursday evening continues, Benewah County should have no shortage of voices helping to shape where the county goes from here.