Bonner County commissioners debate remote-work policy and continue comprehensive plan revisions around Priest Lake
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Summary
Commissioners discussed creating a formal remote-work policy with approval procedures and explored alternative flexible schedules; separately, the board continued deliberations on comprehensive plan map amendments around Priest Lake and proposed two new zoning districts to reconcile small residential lots and resort-commercial uses.
At the Nov. 25 meeting, Bonner County commissioners held two extended policy discussions: one on workplace flexibility and another on comprehensive plan map changes near Priest Lake.
Remote-work policy: Commissioners noted the operational tradeoffs of allowing remote work, including potential insurance and liability exposure, the loss of in-office collaboration and equity concerns among staff. Several members recommended a formal policy with an approval process and suggested exploring flexible schedules (for example, four 10-hour days) as an alternative that preserves in-office coverage while offering staff work-life flexibility. One commissioner emphasized that remote work should be an exception that is individually approved and tied to operational needs.
Comprehensive plan (Priest Lake area): District 1 commissioner delivered a detailed briefing on recent workshops about the comprehensive plan map. He described concerns raised by the public about inconsistent land-use designations (parcels with very different size minimums in the same area) and said the planning commission and board are considering two new zoning districts under the "recreational community" land-use designation: one narrowly tailored to small residential lots and another intended for resort-commercial uses. The commissioner said the board will continue workshops and move to a public hearing only after further refinements and community outreach.
Why it matters: both conversations affect county operations and land-use direction. The remote-work policy would govern employee expectations, liability and staffing, while the comprehensive plan amendments could change future zoning and development outcomes in a heavily used recreational area.
Next steps: staff and commissioners will draft a remote-work policy for future review and continue public workshops and hearings on the comprehensive plan map to seek public comment and finalize recommended code changes.