County recognized for software operation
Kootenai County recently was honored nationally for its software system that keeps the county’s property and tax records.
The county was selected from about 1,300 local governments that use the ProVal system. Manatron, which makes the ProVal system, said it selected Kootenai County because it has made “exceptional progress” in operating the system efficiently.
Kootenai County was one of the first three counties in Idaho to use the software and has helped ProVal customize it to work with Idaho property assessment laws.
Assessor Mike McDowell said the company recognizes that Kootenai County is helping it make the software better.
County officials received the award while attending a conference earlier this month in Charleston, S.C.
The county will use the system for the first time next week to send out property tax bills.
– Erica Curless
Post Falls
City Council position open for applicants
Post Falls is taking applications for a new City Council member.
Residents interested in replacing Councilman Todd Tondee, who was recently elected to the Kootenai County Commission, have until 5 p.m. Dec. 1 to apply.
After interviewing applicants, Mayor Clay Larkin will appoint the new member. The council will decide whether to confirm the appointment.
The new council member would begin in January and serve through Dec. 31, 2007. If the appointee wants to keep the seat, he or she must run for election in November 2007.
Application forms are available at Post Falls City Hall, 408 Spokane St., or on the city Web site, www.postfallsidaho.org. For more information, call City Clerk Chris Pappas at (208) 773-3511.
– Erica Curless
North Idaho
Thanksgiving to affect services, close offices
The following offices and services will be affected by the Thanksgiving holiday:
“All Kootenai County city and rural garbage pickup regularly scheduled for Thursday and Friday will be one day late.
“City and state offices will be closed Thursday and Friday. Kootenai County offices will be closed Thursday and open Friday until 4 p.m.
“Post offices will be closed Thursday except for express delivery.
“State liquor stores will be closed Thursday.
“Banks will be closed Thursday.
“All area schools, including North Idaho College, will be closed until Monday.
– From staff reports
Region
Holiday travel forecast includes some snow
The holiday travel forecast calls for tricky but not treacherous weather.
For those traveling west, expect to see small accumulations of snow, up to 3 inches in the Snoqualmie and Stevens passes tonight and Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. The flurries are expected to continue throughout the weekend, but no significant amounts of snow are expected.
Traveling east might be a little slower. A winter storm watch has been issued for elevations above 4,000 feet with snow accumulations up to 10 inches by Thursday morning for routes through Idaho to Montana along Interstate 90.
– Jody Lawrence-Turner