New Public Works director named

SANDPOINT — Sandpoint’s new Public Works director is a familiar face — former Bonner County Road & Bridge Director Ryan Luttmann.

The Sandpoint City Council unanimously approved Luttmann’s hiring for the position of Public Works director/city engineer during its Feb. 3 meeting. Luttmann joins the city staff Feb. 17, when he will formally be sworn in. However, Kody Van Dyk will remain the city’s official Public Work director until his retirement March 1. Luttmann will officially take over the position the following day.

“Ryan’s experience with transportation projects and knowledge of the city of Sa/Users/user/z work files/z upload files/021016 upload/luttmann.txtndpoint, our community values and priorities will allow him to hit the ground running and take a leadership role as we begin work on the Downtown Revitalization Plan,” Sandpoint City Administrator Jennifer Stapleton said. “He’s adeptly skilled to step in, take over projects and carry out the vision of our current director, Kody Van Dyk.”

Those projects include the Schweitzer Cutoff Bridge, Schweitzer Roundabout, Farmin’s Landing, among others, including a long-term plan for our wastewater treatment facility, Stapleton said.

Luttmann has been in the Sandpoint area for 15 years, starting as an engineer on a variety of water, wastewater and transportation projects.

"Through his tenure with Bonner County, he has learned the importance of developing partnerships and working with various public entities to support common goals," Mayor Shelby Rognstad wrote to the council. "He has also learned to work creatively within a budget and coming up with innovative solutions to help fund maintenance projects."

Luttmann was most recently employed by J-U-B Engineers in Coeur d’Alene as an area transportation/senior project manager. Before that, he was employed at Bonner County as the director of Road and Bridge from 2009-2012, and as the county engineer from 2004-2009. In addition, he worked as a project manager and Sandpoint office manager for J-U-B Engineers from 2000-2004.

“Ryan’s extensive experience with a wide variety of projects, excellent communication skills and knowledge of the Sandpoint community make him a great fit for this position and the future of the city of Sandpoint,” Stapleton said.

"In the city’s Public Works director position, he sees the potential to move back to the community he and his family have such passion for and to use his talents to help the city of Sandpoint grow with the next generation," Rognstad said. "Mr. Luttmann’s experience and skills will be a great asset for the city of Sandpoint and a wonderful addition to our city staff."

Luttmann was recommended for the position based on his engineering experience, which includes 18 years working on planning, design and review of public infrastructure and transportation projects in the Sandpoint area, said Stapleton.

He was one of two finalists for the position, “both of whom had excellent credentials and familiarity with our community,” she added.

Luttmann was actively involved within the community, serving as president-elect and president of the Rotary Club of Sandpoint. During that time, the clock tower in Farmin Park was built and Rotary provided matching funds for the public artwork, constructed a stairway from Bridge Street to the Sand Creek boardwalk, and refurbished the postpartum rooms and provided medical equipment for the maternity unit at Bonner General Hospital.

Luttmann said he and his family can’t wait to moving back to Sandpoint and he is looking forward “using my talents to help the city of Sandpoint grow with the next generation.”