***Monday, July 18, 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.
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 his departmental report. Mr. Kimball presented a written report and commented that the last week was business as usual. Mr. Kimball discussed having an issue with a truck so he is trying to fix the problem before chipsealing. Road and Bridge will finish Durapatching on Copeland Road and Porthill Road before starting to chipseal.
Mr. Kimball said work for mowing, sign work, access and GPS points, and paving the fairgrounds parking lot is ongoing.
The Boundary Area Transportation Team (BATT) meeting is coming up this week.
Mr. Kimball said he has documentation from County Civil Attorney Tevis Hull approving verbiage on the lease agreement for sand storage in Copeland and Naples.
Mr. Kimball and Commissioners spoke of a weekend incident in which two logging trucks hit the bridge in Naples off Deep Creek Loop and the county does have enforceable information for this. Mr. Kimball spoke of potential dangers for a driver behind a log truck on this bridge if a truck loses its logs. Those present also discussed issues with the turn lane from the highway to School House Road in Naples.
Commissioner Pinkerton said he was informed that the bridge on the highway near Robinson Lake dips down on one side so he questioned if it was on the schedule for improvements. Mr. Kimball said that bridge may be scheduled for repairs next year.
Commissioners and Mr. Kimball discussed matters pertaining to overweight/length trucks.
9:43 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 Pinkerton second. Commissioners voted as follows: Chairman Dinning “aye”, Commissioner Pinkerton “aye”, and Commissioner Kirby “aye”. Motion passed unanimously. The executive session ended at 9:58 a.m. No action was taken.
Mr. Kimball left the meeting at 9:58 a.m.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to amend today’s agenda in order to include a motion to sign the Idaho Department of Lands 2015 Community Fire Protection Program Reimbursement Request Form for Grant #14HFR1-Boundary totaling $5,888 as it is time sensitive. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to authorize the Chairman to sign the Idaho Department of Lands 2015 Community Fire Protection Program Reimbursement Request Form for Grant #14HFR1-Boundary totaling $5,888 as it is time sensitive. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to sign the Certificates of Residency for Auburn Burt, Trevor Pew, and Karee Williams. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Kirby moved to approve the minutes of June 27 and 28, 2016 and July 4 and 5, 2016. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.
10:00 a.m., Boundary Ambulance (BVA) Chief Jeff Lindsey, BVA Medical Director Dr. Stu Willis, and BVA Board member Nancy Russell joined the meeting.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to recess as the Board of Boundary County Commissioners and convene as the Boundary County Ambulance Service District Governing Board. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Kirby moved to approve the Boundary County Ambulance Service District meeting minutes of June 20, 2016. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Lindsey and Commissioners discussed details from last month’s meeting. The current contract is with the county’s civil attorney in order to draft a new contract.
Clerk Poston informed Chief Lindsey that the county will have a payment for BVA by August 1st. Those present discussed inserting language into the new contract pertaining to an automatic renewal every two years as well as discussed details and answered questions pertaining to the levy process. Chairman Dinning asked Chief Lindsey what amount he would like to set aside for a new building. Chief Lindsey said setting aside $25,000 per year is $50,000 over two years so at least that is a start.
Clerk Poston reviewed L2 levy information with Chief Lindsey.
Chief Lindsey said he has been working on the mass casualty trailer to make sure all prior missing equipment was returned. Panhandle Health District came up to inspect this trailer and it passed with flying colors, according to Chief Lindsey.
10:33 a.m. Commissioner Pinkerton moved to adjourn as the Boundary County Ambulance Service District and reconvene as the Board of Boundary County Commissioners. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Chief Lindsey, Dr. Willis, and Ms. Russell left the meeting.
10:33 a.m., Patty Perry with the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho and Kootenai Valley Resource Initiative (KVRI) joined the meeting.
Ms. Perry said tonight’s KVRI meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. Mitch Silvers, Representing Senator Mike Crapo’s Office will attend this meeting. Kootenai Tribe Fisheries and Wildlife Department Director Sue Ireland will present an update on the Kootenai River Habitat Restoration project. Ms. Perry said as far as committee updates, the Forestry Committee and Ree Brannon with the Natural Resource Conservation Services (NRCS) will present on their Joint Chief’s project. Also at this meeting will be fair booth planning and preparation for the fair in August.
Ms. Perry said on July 28th Senator Risch and staff will hold their annual retreat in Bonners Ferry and he would like a tour of the Twenty Mile Community Forest Landscape Restoration (CFLR) project before he heads out of town. Ms. Perry said there won’t be many decisions needed for tonight’s meeting as it is more of an informational meeting.
Commissioner Pinkerton asked about the Joint Chief’s project. Ms. Perry said this project allows the NRCS to work with the Forest Service on adjacent private lands in cooperation with fuels reduction work. Ree Brannon with the NRCS is working with Forest Service Fuels Specialist Jennifer Anderson on this project so she will provide an update.
Ms. Perry left the meeting at 10:40 a.m.
10:41 a.m., Commissioner Pinkerton moved to go into executive session pursuant to Idaho Code 74-06(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 Kirby second. Commissioners voted as follows: Chairman Dinning “aye”, Commissioner Pinkerton “aye”, and Commissioner Kirby “aye”. Motion passed unanimously. The executive session ended at 10:46 a.m. No action was taken.
Courthouse Maintenance John Buckley joined the meeting at 10:48 a.m. and discussed people living or staying at the boat launches and fairgrounds parking lot for extended periods of time.
Mr. Buckley left the meeting at 10:52 a.m.
Those present discussed matters pertaining to the Personnel Classification Committee, job positions, job ratings, and corresponding rates of pay.
There being no further business, the meeting recessed until tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.
***Tuesday, July 19, 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.
9:00 a.m., Commissioners held an elected officials/department heads meeting. Present were: Chairman Dan Dinning, Commissioner LeAlan Pinkerton, Commissioner Walt Kirby, Clerk Glenda Poston, Assessor Dave Ryals, Treasurer Sue Larson, Courthouse Maintenance John Buckley, Extension Office Educator Kate Painter, Road and Bridge Department Superintendent Clint Kimball, County Noxious Weeds Department Superintendent Dave Wenk, Veterans Service Officer John Tucker, Head Court Clerk Della Armstrong, and Prosecutor’s Office Manager Tami Goggia.
Chairman Dinning said department budgets have been submitted and we are getting close to finishing the budget for next fiscal year. Chairman Dinning commended those present for being conservative in their budgets while still providing a good service.
Chairman Dinning said Commissioners were provided with a pay equivalent to the cost of GEM Plan insurance coverage for an employee who is single and for an employee with a family. The cost of insurance for an employee and family equates to $10 per hour for the employee and $8 per hour for an employee who is single. Clerk Poston said GEM Plan only increased 4% this year for Boundary County so we have been very fortunate.
Chairman Dinning reminded everyone that all employees who drive a county vehicle need to limit the amount of personal use in these vehicles as he is seeing a bit more of that kind of use right after work.
Commissioners asked for an update from other departments.
Mr. Kimball said Road and Bridge is very busy. The grader patching is taking place in preparation of chipsealing Porthill Road, Copeland Road, and a portion of Farm to Market Road and Roosevelt Road. Various other projects are in the works. Mr. Kimball said he is hoping to have an agreement signed for sand storage facilities at Gypsy Lane in Naples and possibly another site in Copeland the following year. Mr. Kimball listed various projects Road and Bridge is working on to include bridge work, filling potholes, working on repairing road signs, obtaining a conceptual drawing for the Myrtle Creek Bridge, and the county purchase of the Tihonovich property next to the gravel pit in Moyie off Highway 2. Mr. Kimball said he is also working to acquire some right-of-way on Ruby Creek Road, which will allow for better alignment for the bridge and provide for room to place a temporary bridge during construction.
Mr. Tucker thanked Commissioners for his opportunity to travel to Boise for Veterans Service matters. Chairman Dinning asked if Mr. Tucker could provide an estimate of the number of veterans served in Boundary County.
Mr. Wenk said he has been tending to weeds. There will be a bio workshop at the Extension Office and a member of the Nez Perce Tribe will provide weed treatment at no cost. Mr. Wenk said he will treat Deep Creek boat launch with weevils. Chairman Dinning mentioned the agreement to spray weeds in the city limits of Moyie Springs, and Mr. Wenk said he has already taken care of that.
Clerk Poston said she has been working on the budget. Boundary Community Hospital may go out for a supplemental levy for two years, according to Clerk Poston.
Assessor Ryals said his office is fairly quiet now and the valuation appeal process is over. The Assessor’s Office is working on revaluations now along the Moyie corridor.
Extension Educator Kate Painter said the fair is August 17 through August 20th and the office is deciding what to do about poultry. No waterfowl is allowed at the fair this year so she sent out notices to the Bonners Ferry Herald, the Extension Office’s Facebook page, and Newsbf.com. Chairman Dinning suggested Ms. Painter also notify the local radio station. Ms. Painter said there are a few spaces open for Camp Clover Bud. Ms. Painter said she has been employed by Boundary County for one year now.
Mr. Buckley said he has just been really busy with Courthouse and Restorium maintenance.
Ms. Armstrong said court has been busy with expedited appeals to the Supreme Court, but the court clerks can now submit the large amount of paperwork electronically so that is nice.
Ms. Goggia said the Prosecutor’s Office has been playing catch up. It has been just about once per week that there has been district law day so it has been busy, according to Ms. Goggia. Drugs and alcohol are approximately 90% of the cases.
Treasurer Larson said her office has finished the tax collection and it went well with the Treasurer’s Office collecting approximately 96% of what was billed. Now the Treasurer’s Office will work on fall billing.
Mr. Wenk said when he has been spraying weeds at the boat launches and snowmobile park people have given compliments as to how clean these areas are looking. Chairman Dinning informed Mr. Kimball of the schedule to clear the boat launches of mud and silt prior to the year’s three day holidays, such as Memorial Day weekend, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day weekend. Chairman Dinning briefly mentioned the Kootenai Tribe’s Kootenai River Habitat Restoration project and he mentioned there will be a stockpile of rock in the area north of the gas line near the Waterways boat launch, but it will not block the area. This should last approximately one month, according to Chairman Dinning.
Chairman Dinning informed those present that Boundary County owns 50% of Armory Building. The Armory National Guard will lease their half of the building to the county and Commissioners are ultimately looking at acquiring complete ownership. The Commissioners don’t have the final lease documents, but they were quoted a lease payment of $2,400 per year, plus utilities. Commissioners have all sorts of ideas for relocating offices because the county is paying approximately $20,000 per year in office rent. Mr. Buckley mentioned noticing that the yard care at the Armory has declined so the county may need to ask Green Turf to mow that location as well. Assessor Ryals questioned if anything had been discussed pertaining to storing records there.
The elected officials/department heads meeting ended at 9:32 a.m.
9:32 p.m., County Noxious Weed Department Superintendent Dave Wenk met with Commissioners to give his departmental report. Commissioners and Mr. Wenk spoke of a matter regarding the Fairfield property. Mr. Wenk said a neighbor of the Fairfield property has an infestation of weeds and it has plugged Curley Creek causing flooding to Mr. Fairfield’s property. Mr. Wenk spoke to the State of Idaho’s aquatic biologist last week and was informed that he cannot treat these weeds according to rules in place, but the landowner may be able to treat the weeds consisting of buttercup and watercress. Mr. Wenk said he has been informed by people and neighbors of Welco Mill and another local mill property that there are noxious weeds on these properties.
Mr. Wenk and Commissioners discussed a question from a landowner pertaining to a utility right-of-way on Katka and if it is the landowner or utility company who is responsible for treating weeds. Chairman Dinning said he is not sure who is responsible for the weeds, but it has usually been the landowner.
Mr. Wenk spoke of the year 2013 truck that was obtained for the Noxious Weeds Department through a grant. Mr. Wenk said he would like to install the sprayer in this new truck and no longer use the older vehicle the sprayer used to be in. Chairman Dinning said Courthouse Maintenance John Buckley could use the older truck in the winter so it just requires completing the inventory transfer sheet.
The meeting with Mr. Wenk ended at 9:50 a.m.
Commissioner Kirby moved to authorize the Chairman to sign the Professional Services Contract with Panhandle Area Council for the IDL Grant #15HFR1-Boundary. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Kirby moved to authorize the Chairman to sign the Professional Services Contract with Panhandle Area Council for the IDL Grant #14COMP-LKRWR. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.
9:56 a.m., Assessor Dave Ryals joined the meeting at Commissioners’ request to discuss the request for property tax exemption for The Pearl Theater. The Property Tax Exemption Application for The Pearl Theater, parcel #RPB0240017015AA, was not received in time in order to receive the benefit for this current year.
Commissioner Kirby moved to approve the Property Tax Exemption Application for The Pearl Theater, parcel #RPB0240017015AA with the exemption beginning calendar year 2017. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to sign Certificates of Residency for Matthew Brown, Amanda Haynes, Bree Kennedy, Roxanne Brooks, and Tucker Dirks. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
10:15 a.m., Clerk Poston and Commissioners conducted a budget workshop.
10:44 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 Pinkerton second. Commissioners voted as follows: Chairman Dinning “aye”, Commissioner Pinkerton “aye”, and Commissioner Kirby “aye”. Motion passed unanimously. The executive session ended at 11:30 a.m. No action was taken.
11:33 a.m., County Civil Attorney Tevis Hull joined the meeting via telephone.
Commissioners asked the status of the Walter Merrifield real estate contract. Attorney Hull said he needs to verify a bit more information.
Commissioners clarified details for a new contract with Boundary Ambulance. Commissioners said they won’t know what the taxes will be for the next year so the contract should read, “taxes received for that current year, less penalties and interest” as well as “holding $12,500 aside each year for a building trust account.” Commissioners and Clerk Poston said the county generally receives 90% or so of the taxes billed so the contract should reflect that it is monies received for that year.
Chairman Dinning informed Attorney Hull that he contacted David Byler regarding the Commissioners’ letter of intent pertaining to a land purchase and Mr. Byler stated that he is not going to sign the letter as his entire land has been impacted even though the county offered what he wanted. It was said this is all subject to Federal Aviation Administration approval. Chairman Dinning said Commissioners will just move forward with the airport’s Master Plan.
Commissioners said the Idaho Department of Lands has a grant for fire fuels reduction work and they had a question pertaining to procuring products for this grant. The grant requires that a local business provide local tree seeds for this project, but there is only one vendor who provides these seeds. The grant award is $34,000, but only approximately $5,000 is going to be spent now, according to Attorney Hull.
Commissioners asked about the ability to restrict the number of Medicaid residents in the Restorium. Attorney Hull said he thinks the county does have the ability to restrict the number of residents on Medicaid. As far as there being any violations in having two residents share a room, Attorney Hull said he doesn’t have a problem with that either.
The telephone call with Attorney Hull ended at 11:50 a.m.
Commissioners recessed for lunch at 12:12 p.m.
1:30 p.m., Commissioners reconvened for the afternoon session with Chairman Dinning, Commissioner Pinkerton, Commissioner Kirby, Clerk Poston, and Deputy Clerk Rohrwasser.
Road and Bridge Department Superintendent Clint Kimball joined the meeting.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to sign the Certificate of Residency for Kayleigh Morgan. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
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 2:06 p.m. No actions were taken.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:10 p.m.
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DAN R. DINNING, Chairman
ATTEST:
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GLENDA POSTON, Clerk
By: Michelle Rohrwasser, Deputy Clerk