Tim Bertling is seeking second term as Boundary County commissioner for District No. 2

Tim Bertling’s grandfather moved to Boundary County in 1949, living in the Curley Creek area. He later moved to Moyie Springs and welded for the Copeland Ferry at Meeker’s machine shop in Bonners Ferry.

Bertling grew up in Moyie Springs and graduated in 1987 from Bonners Ferry High School. He enjoys bowhunting, fishing, mountain biking and raising a garden with his wife of 33 years. Bertling grew up in a logging family and started his own business in 1989 where he contracts mechanical felling to other loggers.

Bertling served on the Boundary County School Board from 2000 to 2011 before running for commissioner.

“I know how it is to hold a public office where there are budgets to look over and policies to follow,” he said. “As a commissioner, I feel we need to keep our community as rural as possible. We need our agriculture land as well as timberland to be a priority.”

When it comes to the growth of the county, Bertling said growth needs to make sense close to resources.

“I support our law enforcement, as our population grows, so does crime,” he said. “With the southern border open, the drugs are moving at an alarming rate.”

He said as commissioner he is continually trying to make it a priority to update road and bridge department trucks and equipment to improve road access in the summer and winter months.

Bertling wants to keep Boundary County moving forward in an unbiased official capacity as commissioner, he said.

“I only want what is best for the county and its residents,” he said.