On the ground level of growth

POST FALLS - When Terry Werner listened to a forecaster 25 years ago say Post Falls would someday be larger than Coeur d'Alene, he thought the prediction was outlandish.

"I thought, 'What is he talking about?'" Werner said. "But when he explained that Post Falls has more vacant land, it started to make sense."

Watching Post Falls grow during his 23 years as a city employee and six as a city councilman has further substantiated that prediction for Werner.

When he retires Oct. 3 as the city's public services director overseeing the planning, building, engineering, street, water, wastewater, fleet and facility maintenance departments, Post Falls won't be quite as large as Coeur d'Alene.

Coeur d'Alene had 46,402 residents in 2013 (No. 7 in the state), according to the U.S. Census Bureau, while Post Falls had 29,357 (No. 10).

But Werner said he knows, with ample vacant land both inside and outside Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene being landlocked, it will only be a matter of time before the River City catches its neighbor to the east.

Werner started at the city as a meter reader in 1984 as a temporary employee for six months. He then served on the city council from 1985 to 1991.

Werner went back to work at the city as a meter reader in 1991 and was promoted to water superintendent in 1993. He took on more responsibilities - and departments - over the years until he was tapped as public services director in 2009 during the city's latest reorganization.

"It's kept my career interesting," Werner said of the added responsibilities. "There's always something going on to keep your mind active."

Werner said he has been fortunate to have strong division heads to help ease the workload.

"My job became more managing people and ensuring that projects continue to move through the system," he said. "But I've also let staff know that I'm available to pick up a shovel or drive a snow plow."

As a meter reader, when Post Falls' population was around 5,000, Werner recalls having to enter yards, kneel down, wipe off the glass and write the data into a log.

"I'd always carry dog biscuits for protection along the way," he said, referring to barking dogs. "At one house, I'd have to throw the ball a dozen times for a dog just to get to the meter."

Today, meter readers generally don't even have to get out of their rig thanks to an automated meter reading system.

Being on the ground level of growth hasn't come without some controversy, Werner said.

Several years ago, when Post Falls was looking for land to purchase on the Rathdrum Prairie to apply treated wastewater to, some neighbors opposed the proposal. They brought bottled water to a press conference and re-labeled it as "Werner water."

Meeting stricter water quality standards as a result of discharging wastewater to the Spokane River has been a seemingly never-ending battle, Werner said.

Post Falls' discharge permit expired in November, 2004, so the city has been operating with a temporary permit since. With two states sharing the river and local, state and federal agencies involved in the process, bureaucracy was multiplied, Werner said.

"I just received an email (on Monday) stating that a final decision is finally expected to be made by Dec. 1," Werner said.

When it comes to sewer spills, Werner said Post Falls learned the hard way when it comes to proper notification of such an incident. Just before he arrived, a judge handed down a decision.

"The city was fined $30,000, but we were allowed to use those funds for training and education," Werner said. "We had to make some changes at the treatment plant to get back to the good graces of the EPA."

Werner said he plans to stay involved in the community after he retires.

He lost his bid during the May primary to win the Republican nomination for a state legislative seat which will be contested in November, but he's not ruling out another run in two years.

Werner, 61, has also served on the Post Falls Highway District board since 1995. He said he'll seek re-election for a sixth term in May. He'll also continue to own Frontier Grocery in Post Falls with his wife, Cathy, and may become more active in the Post Falls Lions Club.

Werner said his years at the city have been rewarding.

"I've told the people who work for me that we spend more time together than we do with our families, so let's make it fun and still get the work done," he said.

• Werner sendoff

There will be a retirement open house for Terry Werner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, at Post Falls City Hall, 408 N. Spokane St. The public is invited.