SANDPOINT — Change is on the horizon for the Bonner County administration building as commissioners agreed on a remodel design that would maximize efficiency inside the county facility. Commissioners also discussed operation hours for county departments located in the building.  

During a Tuesday business meeting, Bonner County project engineer Spencer Ferguson presented two alternative plans for a remodel design inside the county administrative building, both of which moved the treasurer’s office to the first floor.  

Both suggested remodels move the treasurer’s office down to the building’s main floor where the road and bridge area is currently. The first alternative design pushes the road and bridge office to the back of the building, remodeling as necessary to fit the department's needs, whereas the second alternative moves the road and bridge department to the current GIS area, pushing GIS across the hall and on the same side as the treasurer’s office.  

County commissioners approved alternative one, Ferguson’s recommended design. 

The designs presented stem from a public workshop held in February, where department officials discussed how to utilize the building while accounting for public interactions with county departments. In the discussion, county officials determined that the treasurer’s office received the most foot traffic.  To minimize elevator usage, it was determined that higher-visited offices such as the treasurer’s would be moved to the building’s first floor.  

In other business news, county commissioners announced plans to facilitate county departments being open during weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to create consistency. As the decision to facilitate office hours is administrative and doesn’t need to be made in a public hearing, commissioners opted to finalize the decision privately.

    Bonner County Admin Building alternative 2