Rural construction on up swing

Despite a national slump, rural Whitman County booked a solid third quarter of construction activity between July 1 and Sept. 30 of this year.

Dan Gladwill, county building official, reported Monday he had issued 71 building permits during the quarter – the same number he issued during third quarter 2008, which tied for the highest total for the decade.

Four of the permits were for new homes, the highest third quarter total since 2006, when five new homes were permitted.

Gladwill said the four houses permitted during the third quarter bring the 2009 total to 13, which is right around the average for the past few years. The high third quarter total indicated home builders started the permit process later in the year.

Most of the 13 houses this year were in cluster zones around Pullman, with two on Sunshine Road, two on Country Club Road and one on Kitzmiller Road.

With big-ticket houses being built, the assessed value of construction projects in the third quarter swung up from $1,528,717 in 2008 to $2,755,490 in 2009.

The majority of the other 67 permits issued during the quarter were for new roofs and remodeling projects.

Three permits were issued for personal wind turbines during the quarter, which was the last quarter turbines could be installed up to 40 feet with just a building permit. The new ordinance allows turbines up to 125 feet.