POST FALLS — Some big changes are taking place at the Post Falls Urban Renewal Agency this month with the replacement of one board member and the executive director.

Tom Lien, executive director of the Post Falls Urban Renewal Agency, is retiring June 10 after seven and a half years with the agency.

“I’m looking forward to the change in lifestyle but at the same time I will miss the activity and involvement in the community,” Lien said. “I’ve worked with a lot of different people and created a lot of good relationships and I will miss seeing those people on a day-to-day basis.”

Diane Fountain, who has been with the URA for six and a half years will be taking Lien’s place as interim executive director.

“I’m excited about it,” she said of her new position. “I’ve learned a lot from Tom and worked closely with the commissioners. I feel like I can carry on at this point.”

One of her first orders of business will be to help the board come up with a recommendation for a new board member to replace Paula Rehrmann.

Fountain said the URA’s personnel committee met this week to discuss the selection process in light of some new changes that were made to Idaho’s Urban Renewal laws that go into effect on July 1.

Under the new rules, if a board member resigns before the end of his or her term, the mayor has the duty to appoint a new commissioner to the board, Fountain said.

“So we are going to go through the screening process to come up with a recommendation for the mayor,” she said, adding the board doesn’t want to appear as if it was trying to subvert the new changes in the law. “We don't want to appear like we are jumping the gun.”

Fountain said they hope to come up with a recommendation for Mayor Ron Jacobson June 16.

The agency is accepting applications to fill Rehrmann’s unexpired term ending December 2018. It is a volunteer position.

Applications will be accepted through the close of business on June 7 and reviewed at a Commission Workshop on June 8. Those interested in applying can contact the URA office on the second floor of the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce building at 201 E. Fourth Ave.

For an application, interested candidates can call (208) 777-8151, email [email protected] or visit the www.pfura.com website.

Interviews will be scheduled prior to June 14. Interviews will be conducted by two board members and the executive director. A selection will be made during the regular commission meeting on June 16.

Other than that, Fountain said the URA is finishing up some projects but doesn’t have any big plans for the future right now. With no big projects and some districts that will expire soon, the URA will be focusing on maintenance and working with developers on their own projects.

Larry Carstensen, vice chairman of the URA, said the interim executive director will be a part-time job. If the URA decides to take on any bigger projects or new districts, the commission will consider creating a full-time executive director position. It’s on an as-needed basis, he said.

The Post Falls URA will be hosting an open house to celebrate Lien’s retirement on June 10 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce building at 201 E. 4th st. It is open to the public.

Staff writer Jeff Selle contributed to this article.