1. Start with the Rathdrum service area, not a population forecast
Rathdrum is recorded as a municipality in Kootenai County, Idaho. The 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimate records 10,874 residents, with a margin of error of 26. That fact can help you define the geography for an intake review: which inquiries are intended for Rathdrum, which are from elsewhere in Kootenai County, and which require a different service-area decision. It cannot establish demand, competition, case volume, revenue or the number of people your staff must handle. Automation should therefore be evaluated from your actual inquiry paths and operating rules, not from a population-based forecast.
Recommended approach
Bring a clear service-area rule to the consultation. Decide how an inquiry associated with Rathdrum should be identified, who reviews geographic fit, and what happens when the person’s location or matter falls outside your firm’s scope. Keep those decisions separate from assumptions about how many inquiries may arrive.
