County building permits marked decline

Whitman County issued 197 building permits for projects totaling $11,318,086 during 2014. The total marked a drop from 2013 with a decrease in ag structures and a reduced supply of rural housing sites around Pullman believed to be two of the causes.

In 2013, 233 building permits were issued by the county and the total value was slightly more than $13 million, according to Dan Gladwill, county building inspector.

Fees collected for 2014 totaled $115,548.

“When wheat prices are up, there’s more business generally,” Gladwill said.

He also said that the Pullman area is starting to run out of lots....