The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON—Despite economic challenges, building activity in Columbia County and neighboring jurisdictions is going strong, according to Columbia County Planning Manager Dena Martin.

In her department update to the Board of County Commissioners at the end of September, Martin reported that despite a temporary spring construction shut-down due to COVID 19, all jurisdictions served by the County have already met 2020 projected annual permit revenues.

“This is especially encouraging because there have been no large, commercial projects such as school remodels, Columbia Pulp, or wind towers. This has nearly all been standard permit activities such as new homes, remodels, additions, reroofs, and mechanical inspections,” Martin said.

Columbia County contracts to provide building services to Dayton, Waitsburg, Starbuck, and unincorporated Garfield County. Martin reports that Columbia County has been issued 38 permits, which is slightly less than the 43 permits issued this time last year. Of those, three are single-family dwellings/cabins with one manufactured home placement.

Dayton is right on track with last year’s permit activity with 75 permits issued, including one single-family dwelling and one tri-plex. Two permits have been issued for Starbuck, including one manufactured home placement, compared to no permits last year.

Waitsburg and Garfield County have been especially busy. Waitsburg has been issued 46 permits, up from 26 permits issued by this time last year, the city only had total of 34 for all of 2019. Twenty-one permits were issued to Garfield County compared to 16 this time last year, and exceeding 2019’s total of 23 permits. Waitsburg has had one manufactured home placement and Garfield County has one single-family dwelling permit and one manufactured home placement.

Martin said that Columbia County Health System hoped to break ground on its new dental clinic this spring, but initial bids exceeded the projects estimates and the project is temporarily on hold.

In other department news, Martin reported that she has been busy with post-flood shorelines and flood plain permitting for multiple bank stabilization projects.

She has also been working with the planning commission on the comprehensive plan annual amendment review docket item. The BOCC approved the final docket by resolution at their Sept. 21 meeting.

Martin will be attending the NORFMA (Northwest Regional Floodplain Management Association) annual conference, online, this month and Building Inspector Clint Atteberry passed a Residential Mechanical Certification test in Spokane on Sept. 29.