***Monday, June 6, 2016 and Tuesday, June 7, 2016, Commissioners did not meet due to the Annual Idaho Association of Counties Commissioners and Clerk’s Conference in Burley, Idaho.
***Monday, June 13, 2016, at 9:00 a.m., Commissioners met in regular session with Chairman Dan Dinning, Commissioner LeAlan Pinkerton, Commissioner Walt Kirby, Clerk Glenda Poston, and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser.
Blue Sky Broadcasting News Reporter Mike Brown was in attendance of the meetings on and off throughout the day.
Commissioners gave the opening invocation and said the Pledge of Allegiance.
9:00 a.m., Road and Bridge Department Superintendent Clint Kimball joined the meeting to give the departmental report. Mr. Kimball presented a written report. Mr. Kimball said Road and Bridge has been applying rock to Perkins Lake Road and Curley Creek Road. Road sign work continues as does dust abatement and work in general. This week will continue with dust abatement, hauling rock to the fairgrounds as well as working on drainage issues there, and finish clearing brush along Porthill Loop Road. Mr. Kimball said he will rent a chipper for a week and feed the brush into it to apply to sloped areas.
The Boundary Area Transportation Team (BATT) meeting is to be held on June 22nd.
Mr. Kimball said he has hired a part-time employee at Road and Bridge and he added that he had to choose from a lot of good applications. Mr. Kimball explained that one of the applicants for this job was already a Road and Bridge employee so all positions have now been filled. Road and Bridge currently has a vacant full-time position, which he hopes to fill after the next budget year begins.
Mr. Kimball said he needs to start widening on the Cow Creek Guardrail project, do some work in Pleasant Valley, and move the crusher to the District 15 pit.
Clerk Poston said as it stands now, Mr. Kimball is planning to add a full-time equipment operator and do away with a part-time office position to create a full-time office position, then retitle those positions, and she asked if that is correct. Mr. Kimball explained that a current employee is retiring, but prior to that retirement he had talked about hiring a part-time employee. Mr. Kimball said he had filled the part-time position and then another employee announced their retirement so the new part-time employee applied for the full-time position. Mr. Kimball said he offered someone else the part-time position until the next budget comes through in October at which time he will advertise for a full-time position, not created by a retirement. Chairman Dinning informed Mr. Kimball that Secure Rural Schools (SRS) has not been reauthorized just yet so he urged Mr. Kimball to take that into consideration when thinking of his budget such as filling a vacant position created by another retirement, then filling a part-time position followed by a full-time position. Commissioner Pinkerton said this is not increasing historical numbers.
9:18 a.m., Commissioner Kirby moved to go into executive session pursuant to Idaho Code 74-206(1)c, to acquire an interest in real property which is not owned by a public agency. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Commissioners voted as follows: Chairman Dinning “aye”, Commissioner Pinkerton “aye”, and Commissioner Kirby “aye”. Motion passed unanimously. The executive session ended at 9:25 a.m.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to sign the Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreement for the purchase of the Phillip and Myrna Tihonovich property. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to approve the Certificates of Residency forms for B. Wallace, S. Kath, A. Henslee, N. Henslee, and V. Thomas. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to approve and sign the Findings and Decision for Planning and Zoning Application #16-089, by Max Schnuerle and Phil Schnuerle for a short plat rural subdivision to be known as Wild Horse Canyon. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Ed Minden briefly stopped by Commissioners’ Office to show Commissioners the easements that he now has in place near his property. Commissioners said they just signed the Purchase and Sale Agreement with the Tihonovichs. Mr. Minden said he has all the easements in place and will have them recorded today so it is okay to shut the gate in that vicinity.
Mr. Minden left the meeting.
Commissioners reviewed claims for payment. Fund totals are as follows:
Current Expense $ 53,387.69
Road & Bridge 53,909.17
Airport 9,880.83
District Court 5,516.74
Justice Fund 75,032.27
911 Funds 4,245.91
Health District 13,746.50
Indigent & Charity 15.28
Parks and Recreation 4,676.55
Revaluation 224.40
Solid Waste 9,464.57
Tort 237.50
Veterans Memorial 3,393.03
Weeds 1,819.88
Restorium 13,086.09
Waterways 160.05
Grant, Selkirk Coop Weed Mgmt 3,500.00
Grant, Boat Safety 154.45
Grants, Fire Mitigation 11,155.20
TOTAL $263,606.11
Trusts
Auditor’s Trust $ 394.50
FEMA 1102 Disaster Fnd 2,655.00
Driver’s License Trust 15,983.50
Magistrate Trust 22,912.15
Motor Vehicle Trust 162,793.10
Sheriff’s Trust Fund 581.10
Tax Deed Sale Trust 11,125.46
Parks & Recreation Trust Fund 1,976.94
TOTAL $218,421.75
GRAND TOTAL $482,027.86
Citizens are invited to inspect detailed records on file in the Courthouse (individual claims & Commissioners’ allowance & warrant register record 2015-2016).
Chairman Dinning said Commissioners received correspondence from Washington County Commissioner Tom Anderson. Commissioner Anderson states that State Representative Ryan Kerby from District 9A has been working to get the threshold of Idaho Code Statute 63-602NN (property exempt from taxation) reduced from $3,000,000 to $500,000 to help new businesses in the smaller counties consisting of a population of 20,000 or less. Commissioner Anderson is requesting a letter of support from other counties. Commissioner Pinkerton said he thinks this is a good thing.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to draft a letter voicing Commissioners’ support to reduce the threshold of Idaho Code Statute 63-602NN reduced from $3,000,000 to $500,000 to help new businesses in the smaller counties consisting of a population of 20,000 or less. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioners tended to administrative duties.
10:00 a.m., Greg Hoffman, Fisheries Biologist for the US Army of Engineers/Libby Dam Operations, met with Commissioners to provide a brief update on Kootenai River flows. Mr. Hoffman said the Libby Dam flows for the rest of the summer will be at seven cubic feet per second (CFS). The forecast has increased to 110% for the inflow and its thought the cooler weather contributed to that. The Corps is still looking at 2,448 for the rest of the summer, which is within 10 to 11 feet of full pool. On the U.S. side the recreationalists will be pleased, but the Canadians would like it as full as possible, but levels are 15 to 20 feet down on the Canadian side. Chairman Dinning asked if the 7 CFS will be reduced after October. Mr. Hoffman said the flow will decrease to 6 CFS in September for the Kootenai Tribe’s restoration project. Flows will decrease to 4 CFS unless we get a lot of rain again. Mr. Hoffman said he has been hearing about a La Nina this year resulting in cooler and wetter winter conditions.
The meeting with Mr. Hoffman ended at 10:14 a.m.
Commissioners tended to administrative duties.
10:20 a.m., Solid Waste Department Superintendent Claine Skeen and Assistant Superintendent Monica Tompke joined the meeting.
Commissioner Kirby moved to go into executive session under Idaho Code 74-206(1)b, to consider the evaluation, dismissal or disciplining of, or to hear complaints or charges brought against, a public officer, employee, staff member or individual agent, or public school student. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Commissioners voted as follows: Chairman Dinning “aye”, Commissioner Pinkerton “aye”, and Commissioner Kirby “aye”. Motion passed unanimously. The executive session ended at 10:33 a.m. No action was taken.
10:33 a.m., Commissioners held a bid opening for a year 2016, 40 foot x 11 foot low profile (above-ground) scale for the county landfill with new site installation. Present were: Chairman Dan Dinning, Commissioner LeAlan Pinkerton, Commissioner Walt Kirby, Clerk Glenda Poston, Chief Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser, Solid Waste Department Superintendent Claine Skeen and Assistant Superintendent Monica Tompke. The bid opening was recorded.
Chairman Dinning said two sealed bids have been received. The first bid opened was from Unitec Corporation. Included in this bid was a bid bond totaling $2,670, which is 5% of the total amount bid. Chairman Dinning stated for the record that the Clerk’s Office staff had accidentally opened the bid envelope when it was received, but then had immediately resealed it. The total amount bid from Unitec Corporation was $53,400.
The second sealed bid was from Scales Northwest. Included in this bid was a bid bond totaling $2,498.99, which is 5% of the total amount bid of $49,979.70.
Commissioners continued the bid decision to today at 11:30 a.m., in order to allow Mr. Skeen to review both bids and provide Commissioners with a recommendation.
The meeting ended at 10:40 a.m.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to sign the Airport Improvement Project documents from engineering firm, Robert Peccia and Associates (RPA), upon receiving approval from County Civil Attorney Tevis Hull. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Kirby moved to approve the minutes of May 30 and May 31, 2016. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioners tended to administrative duties.
11:00 a.m., Commissioners held the continuation of the public hearing for Planning and Zoning Application #16-040; an application for a proposed mine site, referred to as the landfill extension, for the purpose of supplying traction sand for Boundary County Road and Bridge for use on county roads and to provide cover for the daily capping of the current landfill operations. Present were: Chairman Dan Dinning, Commissioner LeAlan Pinkerton, Commissioner Walt Kirby, Clerk Glenda Poston, Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser, Planning and Zoning Administrator John Moss, Road and Bridge Department Superintendent Clint Kimball, Solid Waste Department Superintendent Claine Skeen, Solid Waste Department Assistant Superintendent Monica Tompke, Planning and Zoning Commission member Marcia Cossette, Mr. & Ms. William Morrissey, Bill Dooling, Judy Dooling, Gayla Roady, Chad Argon, and Blue Sky Broadcasting Reporter Mike Brown. The hearing was recorded.
Chairman Dinning explained that Commissioners had already taken in public testimony during the last public hearing, then moved to continue the hearing as Mr. Kimball had not been present for that discussion to answer questions. Chairman Dinning asked Mr. Kimball about location plans for a berm and shrubbery. Mr. Kimball showed Commissioners a rough draft drawing showing the berm nearly encompassing the extraction site except for the access. The intent of the berm is a wind break, sound deadening, etc., and when the site is no longer needed, the berm will be pushed over the edge. Those present talked about planting trees at the north end of the site.
Property owner Gayla Roady said she did have a question for Commissioners to ask Mr. Kimball. Chairman Dinning said Commissioners cannot accept any more questions as that portion of the hearing was over and if Commissioners allow Ms. Roady’s question, they have to allow the same for everyone. Chairman Dinning said during the first hearing Commissioners questioned if they had anything else they needed to ask of Mr. Kimball. Commissioner Pinkerton said Commissioners discussed access on either the north or south end of the site. Commissioner Pinkerton wondered if there is a significant cost difference in changing access to the southeast corner. Mr. Kimball said trucks could enter from either the north or south side, but the north entrance is closest to the back gate of the landfill. If this is a future extraction site for the landfill, using the north side for access only requires crossing the county road for 22 feet so it makes a lot more sense for safety and traffic reasons. Mr. Kimball said using the north end of the property for access is essentially a stop and go situation rather than having a truck driving up and down the road, but trucks can access from either end. Commissioner Pinkerton mentioned the potential issue involving property owner Roger Miller’s water line. Mr. Kimball said he thought that water line had been abandoned. Chairman Dinning said according to testimony received the water line has not been abandoned. Mr. Kimball said if the water line is to be affected, it would be a long time before that would happen and he could help relocate the line. Commissioner Kirby asked how sand is being extracted from the current site. Mr. Kimball said you go back to the north end of the landfill property, to the west, then back.
Chairman Dinning said at this point Commissioners can make a decision, but there are some things to consider, such as contingencies, if Commissioners approve the application. Commissioner Kirby said he likes the idea of accessing the new site via Chokecherry Road rather than the north entrance so the existing access can be used. Commissioner Pinkerton discussed having berms anywhere along the north and south line in order to access the landfill. Mr. Kimball said the berm wouldn’t initially be constructed all at once. Commissioner Pinkerton said the county will want to keep the access at the south end of the property in order to keep traffic away from the north side. Chairman Dinning said he had conditions to review and consider. The applicant is reasonable in relocating the water line at county expense. The sand at the new site is not necessary for use until such time it is needed for traction sand. Mr. Kimball said he can use sand at the current landfill anytime until that source is exhausted. Chairman Dinning said stockpiling can be done during normal Road and Bridge hours of 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., but he understands that if sand is needed, it could be at any hour. The berms have been addressed in the plan. Access is to be located at Chokecherry Road at the southeast corner of the property. Mr. Kimball asked about the preference of the south end. Chairman Dinning said at this point the county doesn’t need to go to the north side. Chairman Dinning asked if it needs to be stated that no inert materials are to be stored at this location.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to approve Planning and Zoning Application #16-040 with the aforementioned restrictions in place. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
The public hearing ended at 11:16 a.m.
11:19 a.m., County resident Brad Studer stopped by to request dust abatement on Smith Lake Road. Mr. Studer said Road and Bridge does a wonderful job of grading and plowing snow, but with the steady stream of cars that travel Smith Lake Road, if dust abatement can be applied to this road, it would be really appreciated. Mr. Kimball said that could be done fairly soon as Road and Bridge started dust abatement today.
Mr. Kimball and Mr. Studer left the meeting at 11:20 a.m.
Commissioner Kirby moved to approve a medical leave of absence for an employee. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioners reviewed various matters pertaining to the county personnel policy and budget.
11:31 a.m., Solid Waste Department Superintendent Claine Skeen and Assistant Superintendent Monica Tompke returned to Commissioners’ Office to continue the bid opening and decision pertaining to a scale for the landfill. Present were: Chairman Dan Dinning, Commissioner LeAlan Pinkerton, Commissioner Walt Kirby, Clerk Glenda Poston, Chief Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser, Solid Waste Department Superintendent Claine Skeen and Assistant Superintendent Monica Tompke. The meeting was recorded.
Mr. Skeen provided Commissioners with the recommendation to choose the bid from Scales Northwest, who provided the lowest bid totaling $49,979.70. Mr. Skeen said he does have budget for this. Clerk Poston said this expenditure is coming from the landfill closure account, which had been approved. Chairman Dinning said we need to establish a deadline in which to have the scale installed. Mr. Skeen said in the bid from Scales Northwest they did state the work will continue to August 15, 2016, or when the work is completed, whichever is sooner.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to accept the bid of $49,979.70 from Scales Northwest for a new 40 foot by 11 foot low profile (above-ground) scale with new site installation for the Boundary County landfill. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
The meeting pertaining to the bid ended at 11:37 a.m., and Mr. Skeen and Ms. Tompke left the meeting.
Commissioners tended to administrative duties.
Commissioners recessed for lunch at noon.
1:30 p.m., Commissioners reconvened for the afternoon session with Chairman Dinning, Commissioner Pinkerton, Commissioner Kirby, Clerk Poston, and Deputy Clerk Rohrwasser.
Commissioners tended to administrative duties.
1:49 p.m., Courthouse Maintenance John Buckley and Restorium Administrator Karlene Magee joined the meeting.
1:59 p.m., Commissioner Kirby moved to go into executive session pursuant to Idaho Code 74-206(1)b, to consider the evaluation, dismissal or disciplining of, or to hear complaints or charges brought against, a public officer, employee, staff member or individual agent, or public school student. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Commissioners voted as follows: Chairman Dinning “aye”, Commissioner Pinkerton “aye”, and Commissioner Kirby “aye”. Motion passed unanimously. The executive session ended at 2:53 p.m. No action was taken.
Ms. Magee left the meeting.
Mr. Buckley and Commissioners spoke about hiring part-time help for the summer season. Chairman Dinning said this is considered “full-time, seasonal”.
Mr. Buckley left the meeting at 3:04 p.m.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:08 p.m.
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DAN R. DINNING, Chairman
ATTEST:
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GLENDA POSTON, Clerk
By: Michelle Rohrwasser, Deputy Clerk