MOSCOW, ID— Latah County took the first step by purchasing the property located at 1313 Blaine St. in Moscow. Latah County Commissioners have reached a purchase and sale agreement for the 3,633 square foot building located at the corner of Blaine St. and White Ave., formerly the Wells Fargo bank.
The purchase of the building is a strategic investment in Latah County, its departments and the services it provides to the community. As the county’s population increases, so does the need for the services it provides – and the people who provide them.
At Monday’s meeting, Latah County Commissioner Tom Lamar said, “While we are still making final decisions on the configuration of the building, County Commissioners believe this would be the ideal building. to move the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the Department of Licensing.
In 2015, the county purchased the annex building at 200 S. Almon which now houses the DMV and licensing offices. While a wise investment that saved the county from spending $62,000 per year on leased space, the annex’s location on a one-way street with a number of Limited parking is beginning to present limitations for county employees and customers.
Approximately 140 vehicle trips are made daily to the DMV alone, making ease of access a priority. Lamar said, “The building we are buying would streamline and improve DMV and licensing services.”
In addition to relocating the DMV and licensing, Latah County is reviewing the office space configuration and effectiveness of other county offices serving the public. A minor renovation is planned to accommodate three to four additional offices, freeing up more space in the county courthouse and annex building. Many Latah County departments have extremely limited space, with too many staff in too small spaces, preventing them from adding much-needed staff to serve
the public effectively.
“The purchase of this building is an important first step in meeting the county’s capital needs,” Lamar said. “To serve the public well, be good stewards of taxpayers’ money, and remain financially solvent, we must keep pace with expanding services and needs by making strategic investments.
As funds provided by the American Rescue Plan Act are applied to fund many county government departments, including government administration, staff, and public safety personnel, this property acquisition will be funded from capital funds. of the county and will not affect citizens’ property taxes or require a bond.
Final sale is subject to inspection, appraisal and allocation of funds to the satisfaction of the Stewards. If finalized, the location is expected to open in late summer or early fall 2022. Latah County will update the public as the sale and purchase progresses .
