COUNTY: Uses heavy-handed tactics

In 2020, a family member was diagnosed with cancer and needed a place to live after surgery, and before starting radiation and chemotherapy. We secured an RV and placed it on an existing RV site associated with our property via an Easement.

We engaged the county for permitting, making certain to let them know we had a family emergency and needed to move quickly. After two months, we ran out of time and put family before bureaucracy; installing an RV carport without a permit. Afterward, they informed us of issues with placement of the carport relative to setbacks and wanted the carport moved to a different location. We spent the next 1.5 years trying to get them to understand there was no other location within the easement area that was considered viable.

Excavating companies looked at the property, each characterizing the current location as the only viable location on which to place a carport. The county seemingly moved away from the notion that there was a different viable location and indicated that if the carport were shifted 3 feet in its current location, they could support our variance. We hired a contractor, shifted the carport and notified the county. The county reasserted that they would NOT support our variance application.

Then while gathering supporting data, the county decided to file a violation against my property anyway to teach us a lesson. Now with our application submitted; my purpose is to expose the hypocrisy and heavy-handed tactics employed by the county.

CLAYTON SAPPINGTON

Rathdrum