Department won't end construction disputes

Realtors and builders are again making a push for a building department in Bonner County, apparently joined by R.J. Cohn, the Daily Bee's reporter. In recounting a Sagle couple's difficulties with their builder, Mr. Cohn declared that "other homeowners say they have experienced similar headaches since 1997 when county commissioners voted to eliminate the building department."

Mr. Cohn's implication is that before 1997, when the county had a building department, there were no "headaches" in the home building industry.

Disputes between builders and homeowners are common all over the country, even in the most highly regulated jurisdictions. When Bonner County had a building department, there were many unhappy results involving builders.

At that time, there was also a second problem, namely, public anger directed against the county government and its building department for its cost, corruption, and incompetence. Doing away with the department did truly end that headache.

JIM PAYNE

Sandpoint