Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Planning And Public Works topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bonner County staff debate moving road-vacation processing from Planning to Road & Bridge; board asks for interdepartmental review
Summary
Bonner County planning staff asked the Board of County Commissioners to transfer processing of road vacations and road validations (Idaho Code Title 40) from the Planning Department to Road & Bridge, arguing that Road & Bridge provides the technical expertise. Commissioners requested further coordination with HR, legal and Road & Bridge before any
Bonner County planning staff proposed on Sept. 23 to transfer processing of road vacations and road validations — applications governed under Idaho Code Title 40 — from the Planning Department to the Road & Bridge Department. The Board of County Commissioners did not take immediate action and asked staff to coordinate further with Road & Bridge, legal counsel and human resources before the item is returned for consideration.
Interim Planning Director Alex Fain told the board that road vacations and validations are governed by state statute, not the local land use planning act, and that they are operational requests where the technical analysis and recommendation have consistently come from Road & Bridge. Planning staff said the department has historically managed the administrative and public-hearing process but that Road & Bridge provides the engineering and operational expertise the board needs to evaluate these requests.
Road & Bridge Director Jason Toph (speaking online) said the department currently performs much of the technical review but noted the transfer would require a job-description review and likely a reclassification and pay adjustment for the staff person who would assume the work. He told commissioners his office has four staff in its administrative unit and that the proposed shift would impose additional duties not currently within staff job descriptions.
Bill Wilson, who addressed the board during the discussion, said planning historically handled procedural noticing and public-hearing processes and had built expertise that facilitated those tasks. Several commissioners responded that they wanted the agencies to meet and clarify operational responsibilities, the staffing and HR implications, and legal oversight before any formal transfer.
No motion was made. Planning staff agreed to set up a meeting with Road & Bridge, HR and legal counsel and to return to the board with coordinated recommendations and any requested job-description or budget adjustments.
