County construction holds steady despite national recession

Construction in Whitman County fell off last year’s record pace in the second quarter of 2009, but still came in around average, according to a report by Dan Gladwill, county building official.

Gladwill presented his quarterly report to county commissioners Monday morning.

“Why haven’t we seen a downturn?” Commissioner Michael Largent asked after reviewing the report.

Gladwill said the county has a unique economy that tends to avoid national trends.

“Whitman County is kind of its own micro-climate,” he explained.

He said the downturn hit harder around Pullman, where recent strong economic growth was based more on construction and services.

Because Whitman County’s growth rate is normally low, the county does not have a much building to lose.

County Commissioner Greg Partch credited recent rural residential zoning revisions for maintaining home building.

He later said that only six permits were issued for single-family dwellings. Home permits were down two from the second quarters of 2007 and 2008.

Total valuation for the second quarter permits was just under $3.1 million. While that number is down from the 2008 second quarter total of $5.1 million, it is near the four-year average for the same period from 2004 to 2007.