Councilman changes job

Bonners Ferry City Councilman David Sims will be wearing a new hat come January.

Sims today is expected to be named assistant city administrator.

On Tuesday, he resigned from city council. Sims was elected in November 2007.

“I’m really happy,” he said. “I’m excited to work full time with the issues I’ve been faced with on council.”

Sims replaces former city engineer Mike Klaus. After Klaus resigned to pursue private work, the city changed the job description.

“The council went through and decided what they wanted the new hire to do,” said Kris Larson. “With this one, we needed someone that could do computer administration as well as some of the other projects out there. It is a good opportunity for David. I think he will be a great asset to the city.”

Sims, scan coordinator for seven years at Boundary Trading Co., will start with the city on Jan. 2 and make $54,000 a year.

The 1982 Bonners Ferry High School graduate received a Bachelors in science degree in materials engineering from Rennselear Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.

“It was hard to leave (city council), but I’d like to help the city more than just being on council,” he said. “I can be more involved with the issues than I can on council.”

Sims’ father, Harold Sims, served as mayor of Bonners Ferry for 26 years.

Mayor Dave Anderson will suggest a name for a new city council member and the council will have to approve the appoinment. That person would have to run for election in November if interested in keeping the position.