Bonner County Road and Bridge flags sign technician safety, considers adding position

Bonner County Road and Bridge staff told the Bonner County Board of Commissioners that the department’s sign technician, Brian Reynolds, expects to retire in about two years and that the workload and safety risks of the position warrant evaluating a second staff position and interim safety measures.

Todd reported that Reynolds "has been here longer than I have with the county" and said the volume of permit requests and sign installations has increased with local growth. Commissioners and staff discussed safety risks when one worker performs installations using ladders or the back of a truck. One commissioner and staff recommended consulting the county risk manager to identify short-term equipment or procedural changes; options discussed included using a bucket truck or other equipment, though most field solutions still require two-person crews for safe operations.

Todd said he would include a staffing enhancement in next year’s budget proposal and also reach out to risk to identify interim measures. Commissioners asked staff to evaluate whether adding a second sign technician or acquiring equipment would be appropriate and to return with recommendations and cost estimates. No formal action was taken at the meeting.