SANDPOINT — Bonner County Search & Rescue and the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office have found common ground.

The two organizations parted ways in an acrimonious split seven years ago, when former Sheriff Phil Jarvis opted to cease recognizing the non-profit search-and-rescue group as a resource in Bonner County. Jarvis’ successor, Elaine Savage, also declined to utilize the group during her tenure.

But Sheriff Daryl Wheeler, who took office last month, made good on a pledge to try and mend fences with the organization.

“It looks like things have been smoothed out,” Wheeler said on Tuesday.

Wheeler told commissioners an advisory council is being formed which will include all three search-and-rescue groups operating here. The board will help develop uniform standards for the organizations and make recommendations to the sheriff’s office.

“It’s been a long haul. I’m glad to see us finally getting back together,” said Bonner County Search & Rescue Commander Ron Korn.

Jarvis severed ties with the group in 2002, after attempting to implement a series of changes in the way the group operated. Some volunteers saw the changes as an assault on the group’s autonomy.

The group’s formal name was Bonner County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue, a moniker the group fought hard to keep. The county sued the group in a bid to keep it from using the word “sheriff” in its title.

The county argued that since there was no relationship with its law enforcement arm, the word should be stricken from its title. The group countered that it had spent decades building its reputation and funding sources under that precise name.

A district judge tossed out the suit, a move which was affirmed by the Idaho Supreme Court in 2006.

Korn said the group has now agreed to drop the word “sheriff” from its name at the request of Wheeler. Korn contends that prior administrations had demanded they change the group’s name.

“We were never asked,” he said.

The three groups represented on the council will be Bonner County Search & Rescue, Priest Lake Search & Rescue and North Idaho Search & Rescue, which had been based out of the sheriff’s office under the prior administration.

County Commissioner Lewis Rich expressed hope that the years of discord are over.

“My optimism is somewhat restored that we can pull that back together,” he said.

n More information about Bonner County Search & Rescue, including how to volunteer, can be found on the Web (www.bcssar.org)