Luttmann hits the road for private sector

SANDPOINT — Ryan Luttmann is resigning as Bonner County’s Road & Bridge director to take a job in the private sector.

Luttmann’s resignation takes effect on April 2.

“There was an opportunity for professional growth and I put my name in the hat,” Luttmann said of an opening at J-U-B Engineers in Coeur d’Alene.

Luttmann was hired by J-U-B as a senior project manager and transportation team leader, a position that involves working with municipalities in developing roadway designs, in addition to transportation and pavement management plans.

Luttmann, 37, began working for the county in 2004. He’s departing with a work plan for the coming construction season and said most of the bidding has been completed.

“They’re ready to go for this year,” he said.

The Road & Bridge director oversees 36 full-time employees and a $6.4 million annual budget. The job description posted by the county wisely omits the tendency for department heads to serve as human dart boards for the public.

Road & Bridge crews have been hustling the past couple of weeks to keep roads passable in the wake of last week’s unrelenting rains and this week’s slushy snow.

Serious washouts have stricken Talache, Geenan, South Sagle and Merrill Martin roads.

“We put the effort into getting the roads open so that they are useable, but more work will be done to repair them once the roads can handle the heavier loads and the weight limits come off,” said Luttmann.

Luttmann hopes his new job will bring him in contact with public projects in Bonner County.

“I’ve always enjoyed public service and I don’t think not working for the county is going to stop my opportunities to be involved in some form of public service,” he said.