***Monday, June 10, 2024, Commissioners did not meet due to lack of a quorum.
***Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at 9:00 a.m., Commissioners met in regular session with Chairman Tim Bertling, Commissioner Wally Cossairt, Commissioner Ben Robertson, Clerk Glenda Poston, and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser.
Commissioners said the Pledge of Allegiance.
9:00 a.m., Kennon McClintock with The Nature Conservancy joined the meeting to discuss a conservation easement project with Commissioners. Mr. McClintock commented that this application is the same one that was not approved last year, so it’s being submitted again. The properties in this project are located east of Moyie Springs and consist of approximately 1,500 acres of perpetual working forestland. The project is called the Curley Creek Woodlands Forestry Project and Mr. McClintock provided a history on the property’s ownership and the tree species on the parcels. Mr. McClintock said the project details are the same as the prior year’s project. Chairman Bertling said he had no issue with writing a letter of support.
Mr. McClintock updated Commissioners on statistics pertaining to jobs generated by the forest products industry and year 2022 harvest information by county.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign a letter of support for The Nature Conservancy Curley Creek Woodlands Forestry Legacy project. Chairman Bertling yielded the chair to second. Commissioners voted as follows: Chairman Bertling “aye”, Commissioner Cossairt “aye”, and Commissioner Robertson “nay”. Motion passed.
The meeting with Mr. McClintock ended at 9:40 a.m.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign the meeting minutes of June 3 & 4, 2024. Commissioner Robertson second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to adopt Resolution 2024-34. A resolution increasing the Community Justice/Probation budget. Commissioner Robertson second. Motion passed unanimously. Resolution 2024- reads as follows:
RESOLUTION 2024-34
INCREASING THE COMMUNITY JUSTICE/PROBATION BUDGET
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners, County of Boundary, State of Idaho, did establish an operating budget for the Boundary County Community Justice/Probation Budget for fiscal year 2023-2024, and
WHEREAS, Boundary County has received $5,000.00 from the State of Idaho – Supreme Court, as support for programs for Drug and Mental Health Courts, and
WHEREAS, the Boundary County Community Justice/Probation Department is in need of additional budget for the expense of office supplies as it relates to this program, and
WHEREAS, the addition of this revenue/budget does not affect the tax levy for Boundary County, and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate to increase the Boundary County Community Justice/Probation budget expense Account Number 06-01-0440-0019 by $750.00 and to transfer these funds from #9104 in the amount of $750.00
NOW THEREFORE, upon motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried,
IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk is instructed to deliver certified copies of this resolution to the Boundary County Treasurer and the Boundary County Auditor.
DATED this 11th day of June, 2024
COUNTY OF BOUNDARY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
s/___________________________
Tm Bertling, Chairman
s/____________________________
Wally Cossairt, Commissioner
s/____________________________
Ben Robertson, Commissioner
ATTEST:
s/_____________________________________________
Glenda Poston, Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners
Recorded as instrument #297477
Commissioners reviewed claims for payment. Fund totals are as follows:
Current Expense $ 69,970.33
Road & Bridge 200,451.15
Airport 10,004.54
District Court 5,367.18
Justice Fund 73,321.38
911 Funds 4,199.20
Parks and Recreation 8754.89
Revaluation 2178.78
Solid Waste 41036.43
Veterans Memorial 152.79
Weeds 4734.35
Restorium 27390.73
Waterways 96783.25
Road & Bridge Tribal Fuel Fund 69.17
Grant, Airport 4618.49
Grant, Selkirk Coop Weed Mgmt 802.15
Juvenile Probation – Lottery 3030.89
Grant, Boat Safety 779.14
Grants, Fire Mitigation 27074.46
ARPA Fund 44111.57
TOTAL $624,830.87
Trusts
Auditor’s Trust – *Misc 4800.00
Boundary Co. Drug Court Trust 1197.12
Driver’s License Trust 10790.50
Motor Vehicle Trust Acct 225706.47
Sheriff’s Trust Fund 1008.65
Odyssey Court Trust Account 28794.98
Odyssey Bond Trust Account 1601.00
Odyssey Restitution Trust Acct 5088.87
TOTAL $278,987.59
GRAND TOTAL $903,818.46
Citizens are invited to inspect detailed records on file in the Courthouse (individual claims & Commissioners’ allowance & warrant register record 2023-2024).
10:00 a.m., Solid Waste Department Superintendent Richard Jenkins joined the meeting to discuss the proposed food waste composting program with the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho and provide an update on the air incinerator.
Commissioners decided to schedule a meeting with Kootenai Tribe of Idaho Environmental Program Manager Karen Schumacher next week to discuss the food waste composting program.
Mr. Jenkins informed Commissioners that Sutton Salvage is coming to start baling the metal pile tomorrow.
Mr. Jenkins discussed the air burner with Commissioners and he explained where the burner would be placed on site at the main landfill. The burner will need a 100-foot radius and Mr. Jenkins informed Commissioners that the amount of wood that can be burned per year is based on 350 days of burns at four-hour intervals. Mr. Jenkins said he doesn’t see it being an issue.
Those present discussed what could be used as an alternate daily cover at the landfill. Mr. Jenkins said the finished module for the air burner had been submitted around June 7th and that should take approximately two to three weeks, then he can send a second submittal to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and that is where it will take six to 10 months.
Mr. Jenkins informed Commissioners that he needs more dirt at the landfill. Commissioners and Mr. Jenkins spoke of sorting the wood and Commissioner Cossairt said he still thinks the wood needs to be chipped. Commissioner Robertson said he thinks Mr. Jenkins should speak with DEQ about an alternative daily cover and it was mentioned that Title 5 states that a permit from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is no longer needed. The permit through DEQ includes biochar. Chairman Bertling questioned not being able to fill up the pit with garbage and Mr. Jenkins said the county can, but they still have to deal with the leachate issue. Commissioner Robertson said he’s researched meeting minutes going back 20 years that involve DEQ and Panhandle Health District and for that entire time, it was said the county could divert whatever is in excess over 20 tons. Mr. Jenkins said that is the EPA statute. Commissioner Roberson said it is Commissioners’ job to look at that information. If we’re looking and fighting for longevity, we need to look at an alternative cover. Even if it’s the construction and demolition pit, it’s still not using as much sand. Commissioner Robertson said this is the exact same conversation that has occurred over the last 30 years. Mr. Jenkins said since the county has the small community exemption, we didn’t have to put in ground water monitoring, because we’re under the 20-ton daily average and under 25 inches of rainfall per year. Commissioner Robertson said we have to know there is no water contamination, which is done by drilling water test wells. Mr. Jenkins said he’s trying to keep the landfill in compliance. Chairman Bertling said he agreed, but he doesn’t want to bend over backwards, because if you give in a little, then there is more. If the county is looking at using an alternate cover, we will need to come up with a plan. DEQ wants a mixture of wood with the solid waste, but it can’t be put in all at once. Chairman Bertling said he would like to chip 50% of the pile and mix it with dirt for a top cover. Commissioner Robertson said he understands that Mr. Jenkins is following DEQ compliance, but Commissioners are looking for alternatives in order to extend the landfill; not to close the landfill. Commissioner Robertson added that the county has been given a 10-year ultimatum, but he cannot accept that without looking into alternatives, and he commented on looking at working with Bonner County and hauling garbage that is over the 20-ton limit to Bonner County.
Clerk Poston left the meeting.
Mr. Jenkins asked about Frederickson’s having access to dispose of garbage at the landfill on holidays when the landfill is closed. Commissioners asked how much garbage Frederickson’s brings in and Mr. Jenkins said approximately 80,000 to 100,000 pounds per week is his guess at what Frederickson brings in from the city. Commissioner Robertson mentioned having been told the county could have the city divert their garbage to another location and that would keep the landfill open. It was said the county would like to find some way to divert garbage and find another alternative for cover and that is going to be looked into, but if the county is over four tons per day, it’s going to get tougher and tougher. It was said that the rules don’t say you can divert garbage that is over the 20-ton limit, but it also doesn’t say you can’t. Commissioner Robertson listed the cost in preparing to close the landfill and he said the county will not be able to afford that in 10 years. Mr. Jenkins said he’s aware that Bonner County has received assistance for their solid waste.
Chairman Bertling said in DEQ’s task order, we need to have chipping wood and using an alternate cover and if DEQ says we cannot put dirty wood in there, we can hire someone who can operate a loader and work through that. Mr. Jenkins said we need to get DEQ in for a meeting to discuss this before the end of the month. Commissioner Robertson said he would like Mr. Jenkins to get started working on an alternative cover.
Len Pine with the Boundary County Chaplain Corps joined the meeting at 10:56 a.m.
The meeting with Mr. Jenkins ended at 10:56 a.m.
Commissioners and Mr. Pine discussed the status of the trailer to be used by the Chaplains Corps. Mr. Pine informed Commissioners that the Sheriff’s Office has a Tahoe that would be used to tow the trailer, but it doesn’t have trailer brakes, which is a safety issue. Mr. Pine said the Chaplain’s Corps can help cover the cost to have the brakes installed and he mentioned that Sheriff Kramer had mentioned dedicating this Tahoe to the Chaplain’s Corps. Commissioners and Mr. Pine discussed how the user’s private vehicle should not be used to tow the trailer while it’s in service, but Mr. Pine can use his own truck to tow it to the shop to get work started on the trailer so it can be put into service.
Mr. Pine left the meeting at 11:04 a.m.
11:04 a.m., Commissioner Robertson 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 Bertling “aye”, Commissioner Cossairt “aye” and Commissioner Robertson “aye”. Motion passed unanimously. The executive session ended at 11:57 a.m. No action was taken.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 12:00 p.m.
___________________________________
TIM BERTLING, Chairman
ATTEST:
________________________________
GLENDA POSTON, Clerk
By: Michelle Rohrwasser, Deputy Clerk