RATHDRUM — After years of planning, Rathdrum's new $13-15 million City Hall project is moving forward, with infrastructure work possibly beginning this summer on the 30-acre Lancaster Road site.

"Our goal is to have the architects, construction manager, and city work on a design project that keeps the budget down and provide a high-quality facility," said city administrator Leon Duce.

The city purchased the land in 2015. The parcel is located across from the North Idaho College Parker Center and KTEC. Last month, officials issued a Request for Qualification seeking a construction manager and general contractor, with the aim to fill these positions by the end of January.

The project will be fully funded through municipal savings, addressing a key concern among residents about potential tax increases. 

"We're not looking at bonding or anything that we'd have to go to the voters to ask for an increase in taxes. That's why we've been saving for so long," Duce said. "I learned a long time ago that the public would rather you save."

The city began setting aside funds in the early 2000s, anticipating future growth would require expanded facilities. 

"We've gotten to the point that our current facility just does not have the capacity for the staff and the work we need to do," Duce explained.

The new complex will house not only City Hall but also the Rathdrum Police Department and Parks and Recreation. Its design, featuring a distinctive slanted roof echoing Rathdrum Mountain's silhouette, was chosen through public voting at community events between 2022 and 2024.

The development plan extends beyond the municipal building. Portions of the Lancaster Road frontage will be zoned for commercial development, while another section will become a park. 

The site will include 118 parking spaces serving both facilities, with a fence along the property line to prevent neighborhood access via Harmony Street.

"We've learned in other areas that the street will otherwise become a parking lot," Duce noted.

If the weather cooperates, construction could begin this fall, with an anticipated move-in date of summer 2027. The existing City Hall, Police Department and Parks and Rec buildings will likely be sold or repurposed.

"It's an exciting time, and it's not a quick turnaround," Duce said. "We want the public to know that this is still going on, and we're finally at the phase where we'll see some action."