No conflict found in building vote

SANDPOINT – The Idaho Attorney General has found nothing illegal in a vote taken by the Sandpoint City Council May 18 on the issue of building height restrictions.

The council voted four to three in favor of relaxing building height restrictions in certain areas of downtown Sandpoint. Some citizens said that council members Cindy Elliott and Chuck Spickelmire should not vote because of possible conflicts of interest.

The new building height ordinance will benefit Panhandle State Bank, which plans to build a four-story headquarters in one of the areas approved for higher buildings. Elliott is a member of the law firm that represents the bank and Spickelmire’s wife works for the bank. The Idaho Attorney General was asked to review the matter by Bonner County Prosecutor Phil Robinson, who had been asked to investigate by concerned citizens.

The attorney general, however, sent a letter to Robinson and Sandpoint’s city attorney Monday saying the procedure followed by the council members – asking the opinion of the city attorney and disclosing the possible conflicts – complies with Idaho law.