BONNERS FERRY — The Bonners Ferry City Council unanimously approved the hiring of a building official to review building plans and perform inspections for any new construction in the city. 

City staff said that this would help the city enhance customer service as it relates to building permits by hiring an hourly employee as a building official. The official would likely work anywhere from 24-40 hours per week, with staff saying the person hired could also be involved in other duties, such as site plan reviews. 

“I am requesting that the Council allow staff to advertise for the position and authorize the mayor to hire an individual when the person is selected, for $30 to $32 per hour,” city engineer Mike Klaus said in a memo to the council.    

Currently, Bonners Ferry uses the Idaho Division of Professional Licensing for building permits.  

However, with the city hiring a building official, the fees that would go to the state for their review will now stay with the city, funding the new position, with that individual doing the inspections and reviews.  

Three builders who attended the meeting supported the city’s decision to hire someone for building permits, with one noting that DOPL took months to resolve issues that could have been handled in weeks. The same individual stated that it felt as if they were dealing with the IRS.  

“We want to provide a better service to the community,” Klaus said. 

The council also unanimously approved a quote from AGE Heating and Cooling for $5,401.70 to replace the heater at the Bonners Ferry Visitor Center bathroom. It failed around two weeks ago and is currently out of service. It had been in use since 2007. 

In other news, the Bonners Ferry Police have decided to pump the brakes on the purchase of a police motorcycle, due to Idaho State Police training for the year already finished.