Hammond: Administrator keeps officials in check

SANDPOINT — There were no public comment sessions when Coeur d'Alene city administrator Jim Hammond was hired.

“It was just not even discussed,” said Hammond, who was chosen to be part of the hiring committee for the Sandpoint city administrator.

Hammond has been the city administrator for Coeur d'Alene for about a year, and spent 10 years at the same position in Post Falls from 1996-2006. He was a state senator between the positions. He makes about $110,000 per year, he said.

The Sandpoint City Council approved the hiring of a city administrator Aug. 19, after approving the budget for 2016. The salary for the position is about $101,868, and comes equally from the general, water and sewer funds. The city has been paying a penalty since 1978 for a deficit in the firefighter retirement fund. With the retirement fund almost fully funded, the city penalty has been reduced to about 5 percent. These funds will pay for the city administrator.

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