***Monday, January 21, 2019, Commissioners did not meet due to the Human Rights Day Holiday.
***Tuesday, January 22, 2019, at 9:00 a.m., Commissioners met in regular session with Chairman Dan Dinning, Commissioner Wally Cossairt, Commissioner Walt Kirby, Clerk Glenda Poston, and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser.
9:00 a.m., Commissioners held an elected officials/department heads meeting. Present were: Chairman Dan Dinning, Commissioner Wally Cossairt, Commissioner Walt Kirby, Clerk Glenda Poston, Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser, Treasurer Sue Larson, Solid Waste Department Superintendent Claine Skeen, Prosecutor’s Office Manager Tammie Goggia, Chief Probation Officer Stacy Brown, Sheriff Dave Kramer, Emergency Services Director Mike Meier, Restorium Administrator Karlene Magee, Noxious Weeds Superintendent Dave Wenk, Road and Bridge Department Superintendent Clint Kimball, Extension Office Educator Amy Robertson, Courthouse Maintenance John Buckley, Planning and Zoning Administrator John Moss, Assessor Dave Ryals, Chief Deputy Clerk Tracie Isaac, and Lead Court Clerk Della Armstrong.
Chairman Dinning said the budget process will begin around March or April so please be responsive to any questions that may be asked of the elected officials/department heads.
Chairman Dinning said the Idaho Association of Counties (IAC) College Scholarship Fund is now available on IAC’s website for the kids and grandkids of county employees. Chairman Dinning said the State of Idaho has come out with new withholding forms. When the federal withholding rate reduced, the State of Idaho did not go along with that reduction. A lot of entities used the federal rate, but thankfully the county didn’t until October. It may be that the State of Idaho could be owed funds to make up the shortfall, according to Commissioner Cossairt.
Commissioners went around the room for department updates.
Chief Deputy Clerk Tracie Isaac said the Idaho Counties Risk Management Program (ICRMP) online training goal has been met for the county to receive the 10% discount.
Mr. Skeen said he recently got back from vacation and he will hit the ground running. Mr. Skeen said he is working on matters with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Panhandle Health District (PHD). Chairman Dinning said DEQ has inherited a lot of authority from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), such as wastewater and storm water information and they don’t have the staff to handle it. This is a good thing for the state to administer, according to Chairman Dinning.
Treasurer Larson said her office is working on tax deeding.
Mr. Wenk said the Neighborhood Weed Co-op Program will most likely be funded again so he will post the applications online.
Sheriff Kramer said the jail seems to be running over capacity consistently. The Sheriff’s Office is working to fix things in dispatch. Sheriff Kramer questioned if the county is going to hold a surplus property auction this spring. Commissioners suggested Sheriff Kramer contact Courthouse Maintenance John Buckley about an auction.
Mr. Meier spoke of a recent tabletop exercise and explained that the focus of the exercise was 911 calls and active shooters. It can be tough to identify the shooter in these events so that was reviewed during the exercise and it went well, according to Mr. Meier.
Ms. Goggia said the Prosecutor’s Office has been busy. Prosecutor’s Office employee Cathy Wells recently retired and Melissa Krejci has been hired to fill that position.
Ms. Brown said the Probation Office has been busy and she added that her office had been a part of Mr. Meier’s tabletop exercise and she learned that Probation can be an active part.
Mr. Kimball said it is work as usual for Road and Bridge.
Chief Deputy Clerk Isaac informed those present of the deadline in which to submit a Sick Leave Bank membership form for year 2019.
Ms. Magee said the kitchen remodel at the Restorium started yesterday and new flooring and countertops will be installed and the kitchen will be up to code. Ms. Magee added that the Restorium received a deficit free rating for fire and safety from the Idaho Bureau of Facility Standards.
Ms. Robertson listed various courses offered through the University of Idaho Extension Program such as cereal school, grafting apple trees, Master Gardeners, pressure cooking, etc.
Mr. Buckley said he has been busy and he will deal with the snow as it comes. There is potentially a wheelchair ramp that could be used in the Courthouse that would be Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant, but a stair lift is not ADA compliant, according to Mr. Buckley.
Mr. Moss said Planning and Zoning is going through board member updates and other than that Mr. Moss said he has three public hearings scheduled for this month so a lot is happening. Ms. Goggia asked Mr. Moss about including physical addresses in the notices for Planning and Zoning related public hearings as opposed to parcel numbers to better help the public understand where the subject property is located.
Assessor Ryals said his office is finishing up on physical inspections and entry work. The market rate for the coming year has not yet been developed. Assessor Ryals informed those present of a program that is available to veterans who have a 100% rated disability. With an application, a veteran who is 100% disabled as a result of their service can receive $1,320 in tax assistance funded by the State of Idaho. That program will be announced via radio and newspaper to help get the word out. The deadline for filing this application is April 15th of every year. This program is similar to the circuit breaker, with the exception there are no income requirements. The veteran does have to be 100% disabled connected to their service, according to Assessor Ryals.
Ms. Armstrong said the courts are busy and the court clerks are plugging along. Ms. Brown, Ms. Armstrong and Ms. Goggia briefly spoke of the percentage of repeating offenders.
Clerk Poston said she and two of her employees attended an election workshop in Boise last week and she will leave for Pocatello this Thursday through Friday to attend a Government Employees Medical (GEM) Plan meeting to work on insurance rates. The Idaho Association of Counties Mid-winter Conference takes place this February. The school district will run a maintenance and operation levy in March, according to Clerk Poston.
Mr. Buckley informed Commissioners that he is going to install a baby changing station that is ADA compliant in the larger restroom in Memorial Hall as that restroom is also ADA compliant.
Chairman Dinning said the county’s elected officials will have the ability to meet with state officials at the IAC conference in Boise so if they need to bring up a topic, that’s the time to do it.
Mr. Meier asked what the process is when the jail is full or overbooked and Sheriff Kramer explained what takes place when that occurs. A question was asked about calling 911 and what issues can arise when calling using a cell phone.
The elected officials/department heads meeting ended at 9:30 a.m.
9:30 a.m., County Noxious Weeds Superintendent Dave Wenk joined the meeting to provide the Weeds Department report. Mr. Wenk informed Commissioners that he spoke to Department of Agriculture Invasive Species Manager Nic Zurfluh about bringing a boat check station to Boundary County, and Mr. Zurfluh would like a letter from Commissioners requesting a boat check station. Mr. Wenk informed Commissioners that he suggested a station at the Port of Entry at Three Mile. Mr. Wenk said he was told funding was not an issue to set up a station and the other questions had to do with who would man the station as it is a reimbursed position.
Mr. Wenk commented that he met with the director of agriculture for the State of Idaho and they talked about cost share funding for the Neighborhood Weed Co-op Program. The State of Idaho has $1,100,000 available for this program and the Bonner County/Boundary County Co-op should be eligible for some of that, according to Mr. Wenk. Mr. Wenk said there is a petition from a landowner in southern Idaho requesting a specific weed, Russian Olive, be deemed an official noxious weed so it may become newly listed. This weed is found along river banks, but it is not a problem in north Idaho. Mr. Wenk informed Commissioners that he was voted in as Vice Chair for the Weed Superintendents and there will be four meetings per year, in Stanley, Salmon, Lewiston, and Boise. The meetings are one and one half days long and Mr. Wenk said he has enough in the budget to attend these meetings. Mr. Wenk briefly spoke of a dinner at the conference he attended that was attended by Idaho legislators as well. He also attended a workshop for the new book listing noxious weeds. Scott Soults with the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho provided input on the book and the Tribe will pay up to $7,000 for publishing this book.
Mr. Wenk asked Commissioners about a matter regarding spraying for weeds on property located next to the Forest Service. Mr. Wenk mentioned he’s still trying to find a location in which he can park his Weed Department equipment indoors during the cold months and he added that he will be in Spokane on Thursday to attend a class for continuing education credits associated with pesticides.
The meeting with Mr. Wenk ended at 9:50 a.m.
9:50 a.m., Road and Bridge Department Superintendent Clint Kimball joined the meeting to give the departmental report. A written report was provided.
Mr. Kimball spoke of the upcoming Boundary Area Transportation Team (BATT) meeting.
Commissioner Kirby moved to appoint Clint Kimball as representative for BATT and to appoint Randy Morris as Mr. Kimball’s alternate. Commissioner Cossairt second. Motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Kimball said last week Road and Bridge worked on routine maintenance, filled a sink hole on Krause Road, etc.
Mr. Kimball informed Commissioners that he would like to review the county’s policy on compensatory time again. Mr. Kimball said Road and Bridge is not asking for anything, but he understands there has not been a resolution to change the Personnel Policy on compensatory time and the previous Board of Commissioners had told him he should be paying out overtime in lieu of compensatory time. Mr. Kimball said he understands that as typically work is a set schedule, but for the Road and Bridge Department weather is a determining factor and he doesn’t want employees gone in the winter, however it costs less money to operate on compensatory time. Chairman Dinning said that was put in place as Road and Bridge didn’t have the staff needed to complete jobs during the summer and projects could lose up to two or three weeks due to employees’ time off during summer so it was suggested to use overtime until budget ran out. Commissioner Cossairt asked what the time frame is for using up compensatory time. Clerk Poston said an employee can accrue up to 48 hours of compensatory time, but she is not sure if there is a sunset on when it has to be used. It was said that Road and Bridge employees can get called out any night to work overtime. Mr. Kimball said in his eyes it boosts moral having a partnership in how time is spent. Mr. Kimball said he’s not asking for anything outside of the county’s policy as it is currently written; he just wants compensatory time in lieu of overtime. It costs less and the State Idaho Transportation Department still feels it’s best. Mr. Kimball said neighboring counties do it as well and it is not a problem in scheduling work in the summer. Various people have commended Boundary County in getting work done in the summer using our own forces. Mr. Kimball said he is asking Commissioners to reconsider their decision made a year ago. Chairman Dinning said this matter was not agendized for this week in order to take action so Commissioners will need to have that conversation.
Mr. Kimball informed Commissioners that one of his employees will be retiring, which will create an opening for the crusher operator. Chairman Dinning said if Mr. Kimball promotes from within, he won’t have additional employees, is that correct? Mr. Kimball said he thinks he has all the employees he needs right now. If someone is hired from the outside, it may provide an opportunity. Mr. Kimball said to hire from within and promote an employee to the crusher foreman position, it makes sense and it is allowed. Commissioner Cossairt said Mr. Kimball can then build up the lower level.
Mr. Kimball said the form pertaining to Caribou Creek Bridge that Commissioners were to sign is still not ready and the figures need to be determined. Commissioners said they would put the matter on next week’s agenda.
The meeting with Mr. Kimball ended 10:08 a.m.
10:15 a.m., Three Mile Water District Board Member Doug Higgins, North Bench Fire Department Board Members Linda Fioravanti and Walter Burrow, North Bench Fire Chief Gus Jackson, and County Solid Waste Department Superintendent Claine Skeen joined the meeting.
Ms. Fioravanti introduced herself as the chairperson of the North Bench Fire Department and she stated that Chief Jackson has been asking for a fire hydrant to be placed near the Road and Bridge shop and county landfill. There is already a four and a six inch waterline at the west side of landfill and a six inch line is what is needed for a fire hydrant. To go from one corner of the area to the landfill is 673 feet. Just an access road hydrant would be the main thing, according to Chief Jackson. Chairman Dinning questioned how close the hydrant needs to be. Mr. Higgins explained where the two existing hydrants are located. Chairman Dinning asked how long the hose can be and Chief Jackson said 1,000 feet of hose can be laid.
Dustin Ridgley with Three Mile Water District joined the meeting.
The hydrant at the corner near the landfill crosses over two county roads before getting to the landfill so two county roads would have to be closed down in order to use the hydrant, according to Chief Jackson. The pressure at the hydrant would need to be 70 or so pounds per square inch. At the county Road and Bridge yard there is already an eight inch line on the same side of the road.
Mr. Higgins provided estimated costs and a price per foot for a waterline. Mr. Skeen and Chief Jackson questioned the location of a proposed fire hydrant near the landfill, such as just south of the office. It was said the cost estimate of $11,000 does not include the cost of pipe, which is $4.86 per foot at 500 feet. Mr. Ridgley said the last public works project was approximately $20 per foot in labor costs so that would be another $10,000 at least. The water line and hydrant proposed for the Road and Bridge location would be less expensive, such as less than $1,000.
Mr. Burrow asked about the life expectancy of the landfill in general and he said if the landfill is going to be around for a while, it would be a worthwhile project. Mr. Higgins mentioned there will be engineering costs associated with this. Chairman Dinning asked those present to put together what they estimate total costs to be. Mr. Skeen mentioned the location of a hydrant proposed for the landfill and said the septic tank for the landfill is located on the south side of the landfill’s office building. Chief Jackson asked about Hillcrest and Chokecherry Roads. There is a six inch water line coming down the west side of the landfill, according to Mr. Ridgley.
The meeting to discuss fire hydrants ended at 10:30 a.m.
10:30 a.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 Cossairt second. Commissioners voted as follows: Chairman Dinning “aye”, Commissioner Cossairt “aye” and Commissioner Kirby “aye”. Motion passed unanimously.
County Civil Attorney Tevis Hull joined the Commissioners in executive session 10:47 a.m.
The executive session ended at 11:10 a.m. No action was taken.
Commissioners asked Attorney Hull to research Idaho Code as it pertains to a moratorium regarding motocross and tracks in the County’s Land Use Ordinance as Commissioners need to fix the process.
Attorney Hull left the meeting at 11:11 a.m.
Deputy Clerk Ryals joined the meeting at 11:13 a.m.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to deny indigent case 2019-7 based on the Clerk’s recommendation. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign Certificates of Residency for Olivia Pinkerton, Kylie Branson and Holly Ansley. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to reappoint Brandon Glaza to the Boundary County Parks and Recreation Board with a term to expire December 31, 2021. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to authorize the Chairman to sign Keller Associate’s Request for Reimbursement #3 (Invoices #7 & 8) for the wastewater planning grant for the regional sewer feasibility study project. Commissioner Kirby. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to adopt Resolution 2019-7. A resolution to establish polling sites in Boundary County. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously. Resolution 2019-7 reads as follows:
RESOLUTION 2019-7
A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING POLLING SITES IN BOUNDARY COUNTY
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners, County of Boundary, State of Idaho, has established seven polling sites within the County, and
WHEREAS, those sites are the Bonners Ferry/Kootenai Precinct, Copeland Precinct, Moyie Springs Precinct, Naples Precinct, North Bonners Ferry Precinct, Valley View Precinct, and the Countywide Absentee Voting Precinct
NOW THEREFORE, upon motion duly made, seconded, and unanimously carried,
IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that the Board of County Commissioners, County of Boundary, State of Idaho hereby reaffirms the polling sites for elections to be held in Boundary County in calendar year 2019 as follows:
PRECINCT LOCATION
B.F./Kootenai Precinct Exhibit Hall, Boundary County Fairgrounds
Copeland Precinct Mt. Hall School
Moyie Springs Precinct Moyie Springs City Hall
Naples Precinct South Boundary Fire Hall
North Bonners Ferry Precinct Exhibit Hall, Boundary County Fairgrounds
Valley View Precinct Exhibit Hall, Boundary County Fairgrounds
Countywide Absentee Voting Precinct Boundary County Courthouse
DATED this 22nd day of January, 2019
COUNTY OF BOUNDARY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
s/_____________________________
Dan R. Dinning, Chairman
s/_____________________________
Wally Cossairt, Commissioner
s/_____________________________
Walt Kirby, Commissioner
ATTEST:
s/_____________________________________________________
GLENDA POSTON, Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners
Recorded as instrument #276582
Commissioners approved Inland Forest Management Project Manager John Ailport in moving forward to apply for the Western States Fire Manager FY 2019 State Fire Assistance Wildland Urban Interface grant application on behalf of Boundary County for a dollar amount requested of $240,000.00.
Commissioner Kirby moved to appoint Wally Cossairt as an alternate for Chairman Dan Dinning as it pertains to being a Co-chair for the Kootenai Valley Resource Initiative. Chairman Dinning yielded the chair to second. Commissioners voted as follows: Chairman Dinning “aye”, Commissioner Cossairt “abstained” and Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed.
Commissioners Kirby moved to accept the donation to Boundary County of a baby changing station to be used in Memorial Hall with the understanding the changing station becomes property of Boundary County. Commissioner Cossairt second. Motion passed unanimously
Clerk Poston left the meeting at 11:40 a.m.
Commissioners tended to administrative duties.
Commissioners updated Blue Sky Broadcasting News Reporter Mike Brown on the morning session meetings.
Commissioners recessed for lunch at 12:18 p.m.
3:00 p.m., Commissioners reconvened for the afternoon session with Chairman Dan Dinning, Commissioner Wally Cossairt, Commissioner Walt Kirby, Clerk Glenda Poston, and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser.
3:00 p.m., County Snowmobile Board Chairman Jeff Urbaniak and Dave Wenk joined the meeting.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to reappoint Jeff Urbaniak, Randy Peterson, and Patrick Atkins to the Snowmobile Board with terms to be determined. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to appoint Dave Wenk to the Snowmobile Board, filling a term left vacant by Jim Tucker. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Chairman Dinning said Commissioners would research to determine the expiration of the aforementioned appointments as he thought they were staggered terms.
Mr. Urbaniak spoke of Sandpoint’s Grooming Board and how Bonner County and Boundary County share this board. The groomer used in Sandpoint was obtained through a grant and they use a truck and trailer to haul it. Mr. Urbaniak said with volunteers it is hard to get everything groomed and Bonner County is going to hire a full-time groomer. Chairman Dinning asked if Boundary County will be a part of that process. Mr. Urbaniak said Sandpoint Parks and Recreation will offset this work when the groomers aren’t doing it so Boundary County won’t need to pay that wage, just the regular rate that is currently being paid. Mr. Urbaniak questioned applying for a grant to purchase another groomer and he explained that it only takes one person to use the groomer. Using funds in the Snowmobile budget for a grant match was mentioned and Mr. Urbaniak said $30,000 would be their grant match with Sandpoint contributing $20,000 and Boundary County contributing $10,000 for a grant totaling $90,000. The check for the match can be issued to Bonner County or the entity who is applying for the grant, according to Chairman Dinning. It was clarified that it is the Groomer’s Association that is applying for the grant, not Bonner County.
Those present discussed the Land Use Permit Agreement with the Idaho Department of Lands that permits snowmobile trail grooming over lands owned by the Idaho Department of Lands.
The meeting with Mr. Urbaniak and Mr. Wenk ended at 3:15 p.m.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to grant an extension to pay year 2018 taxes and to accept the tax amount due for parcel #MH62N02E286305A by February 11, 2019. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioners tended to administrative duties.
Commissioner Kirby left the meeting.
4:00 p.m., Property owner Art Coddington stopped by Commissioners’ Office to discuss a request to pave a portion of District Five Road. Commissioners informed Mr. Coddington that Commissioners cannot discuss a matter if it’s a topic they may end up making a decision on, if the matter has not been agendized.
Mr. Coddington set an appointment for the following week and left the meeting at 4:15 p.m.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m.
____________________________________
DAN R. DINNING, Chairman
ATTEST:
_____________________________
GLENDA POSTON, Clerk
By: Michelle Rohrwasser, Deputy Clerk