Wait times are the target

By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

POST FALLS — Grab a number with just a little less dread.

Kootenai County opened the doors to its new DMV office in Post Falls on Wednesday with expectations of reducing wait times there and in Coeur d'Alene.

The remodeled building, formerly occupied by Daughters of Rebekah and Independent Order of Odd Fellows, has eight work stations compared to five at the county's former DMV office in Post Falls next door on Railroad Avenue.

The new location also has 26 more parking spaces than at the previous office. An acre directly east of the building will be paved next spring so vehicles can be inspected without owners having to park on the street and jeopardize inspectors' safety.

"It all equates to getting in and out quicker and taking pressure off of the downtown Coeur d'Alene location," said Shawn Riley, the county's building and grounds director. "Both locations will still be busy, but the flow should go a little faster."

The county's new Post Falls driver's license office, meanwhile, is expected to open in mid-August in the former DMV space. The driver's license bureau, which is part of the sheriff's office, closed in 1997 after being open for three years.

Post Falls' Ed Schofield was one of the first residents on Wednesday to receive vehicle registration stickers at the new DMV office.

"Everybody's nice; no problems," he said while leaving the office.

As for how much it will reduce wait times?

"You can't judge that right now," he said. "There's already a million — I'm exaggerating a bit — people here. I'll be doing this again in a week or so. Maybe you'll be able to tell then."

Typical for most days, about 40 people lined up outside the office on Wednesday waiting for it to open.

Shelly Johnson of Post Falls said the new location should help some, but she wonders if it will be enough to steer some residents from driving to Sandpoint, St. Maries or Wallace to conduct business due to far-shorter wait times at those locations.

"Every little bit will help," she said, adding she has waited nearly three hours before being served in Coeur d'Alene. "Whether it will be enough, especially with the growth in this area, is not likely."

The hours of the DMV office will remain the same — 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Kootenai County Assessor Mike McDowell, whose department oversees the DMV offices, said two employees for the Post Falls DMV office were hired last year and trained to work at the new site. The positions were funded with a $2.50 per transaction DMV administrative fee, not property tax dollars.

He said the percentage of total countywide DMV business conducted in Post Falls has increased steadily since the office opened there in 1994.

"It was 20 percent of our business that first year and it climbed to about 40 percent last year," McDowell said. "It is now 46 percent today."

The Post Falls facility served 24,786 customers last year.

He said he may need to seek commissioner approval for additional employees next year.

"This is probably the busiest department in the county," McDowell said. "We see the wait times day after day and we're very sensitive to that."

Rich Houser, chief deputy assessor, said an automated system that allows residents with a smart phone to schedule DMV- and drivers' license-related appointments is being proposed in the budget. The system sends reminders on when to be at the office.

"That should help reduce lines as well," Houser said.

The county last year purchased the 4,015-square-foot Rebekahs/IOFF building and 41 parking stalls on .64 acres for $429,000. It was paid for with the county's existing fund balance. About a quarter of the building is being converted into a community room for training and meetings, and the kitchen will remain in that portion.

The county also recently completed a small property swap with the city of Post Falls to acquire the lot to the east of the building for future parking. The city, in turn, acquired a lot fronting Spokane Street in hopes of further developing the city center.

"We are trying to get more of our larger inspections to the Post Falls facility to alleviate the congestion at the Coeur d'Alene office on the courthouse campus," McDowell said.

Kootenai County Commissioner Marc Eberlein said he's among those who have driven to Wallace for business because he didn't want to endure the wait locally.

"I went to Shoshone County a couple weeks ago and I was in and out in 5 to 7 minutes," he said. "(The improvements in Post Falls) have been a long time coming."