***Monday, March 16, 2020, 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., Road and Bridge Department Co-Superintendent Randy Morris joined the meeting to give the departmental report. A written report was presented. Mr. Morris said Road and Bridge is doing more brooming this week and will do some grading if the weather warms up. Mr. Morris mentioned wanting to do a bit of logging and building a fence around the pit in Moyie Springs. Mr. Morris said he would check to see if the no trespassing signs are still posted.

The meeting with Mr. Morris ended at 9:17 a.m.

Commissioners canvassed the ballots from the March 10, 2020 election. A true and accurate representation of all votes cast.

Commissioner Cossairt moved that Commissioners of the county and state aforesaid, acting as a Board of Canvassers of Election, do hereby state that the attached is a true and complete abstract of all votes cast within this county at the Presidential Primary Election held March 10, 2020, as shown by the records now on file in the County Clerk‘s Office. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.

9:30 a.m., Commissioners contacted County Civil Attorney Tevis Hull via telephone.

Chairman Dinning informed Attorney Hull that Commissioners would like to postpone the continuation of tomorrow’ public hearing to consider Planning and Zoning Application #19-177. Attorney Hull said the only issue is the moratorium on urban subdivisions. Commissioners can just make a motion regarding that topic.

Commissioner Kirby moved, due to evolving events of the coronavirus (COVID 19), to continue the public hearing to consider Planning and Zoning Application #19-177 to April 14, 2020, excluding the portion of the ordinance addressing urban subdivisions, which will be discussed tomorrow in Commissioners’ Office at 10:00 a.m. Commissioner Cossairt second. Motion passed unanimously.

Chairman Dinning informed those present that the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare has ordered the Restorium to close to the public. Commissioners decided to postpone all non-essential meetings.

Those present discussed various matters Attorney Hull is working on.

Chairman Dinning spoke of the concern of the future lack of sales tax so the county needs to look at unnecessary expenses.

The call to Attorney Hull ended at 9:44 a.m.

9:45 a.m., Chief Deputy Clerk Tracie Isaac joined the meeting to discuss a matter pertaining to job descriptions.

Chief Deputy Clerk Isaac left the meeting at 9:59 a.m.

10:00 a.m., Boundary Ambulance Service Chief Jeff Lindsey and Boundary Ambulance Service Board Chair Person Nancy Russell joined the meeting.

Commissioner Kirby moved to recess as the Boundary County Board of Commissioners and convene as the Boundary Ambulance Service District Governing Board. Commissioner Cossairt second. Motion passed unanimously.

Those present discussed matters pertaining to COVID-19 to include Panhandle Health District reporting, etc.

Chairman Dinning said the state legislature is going to do something to the counties having to do with property tax. Those present discussed matters regarding increasing the homeowner’s exemption, Medicaid expansion and sales tax revenue. Chairman Dinning said after this winds down we will need to sit down and look at budgets.

Chief Lindsey spoke of just trying to keep Boundary Ambulance Service personnel healthy as they cannot afford to have them get sick. Commissioners asked Chief Lindsey about Boundary Ambulance’s financial situation and Chief Lindsey said Boundary Ambulance Service is now doing fine financially.

Commissioner Kirby moved to approve the minutes of the Boundary County Ambulance Service for February 24, 2020. Commissioner Cossairt second. Motion passed unanimously.

10:19 a.m., Commissioner Cossairt moved to adjourn as the Boundary County Ambulance Service District Governing Board and to reconvene as the Boundary County Board of Commissioners. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign the Certificate of Residency for Cory Clairmont. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Cossairt move to sign the CTEL Agreement for the Sheriff’s Office for an inmate messaging system. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.

Commissioners tended to administrative duties.

11:03 a.m., Restorium Administrator Karlene Magee and Assistant Administrator Diana Lane joined the meeting. It was said there will be abnormal expenses as a result of the Coronavirus. Ms. Magee discussed measures in place at the Restorium as well as how this is affecting their incoming supply shipments. Chairman Dinning recommended Ms. Magee order from more than one supplier and for her to let Commissioners know if she needs anything.

The meeting with Ms. Magee and Ms. Lane ended at 11:40 a.m.

11:40 a.m., Airport Manager Dave Parker joined the meeting.

Mr. Parker stated he wanted to bring Commissioners up to date on the airport grant, to include what the environmental assessment (EA) is about. Mr. Parker mentioned that the list of potential projects is broken down from one through nine and he reiterated that they’re potential projects, not what has to be done. Airport engineering firm T-O Engineering has put together their estimate for the EA and another company will have to do an estimate for comparison. Both companies will come up with prices and if the county doesn’t want to do all of work, the estimate can be adjusted to get a new price. Mr. Parker explained that since the county is using federal funds, we have to have comparisons. The cost to the county is approximately $400.00, according to Mr. Parker.

Mr. Parker informed Commissioners that Senator Jim Woodward commented that airports will have more funding.

Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign the Engineering Consulting Service Agreement with Century West. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Parker explained that the cost for Century West to do the independent fee estimate of services for preparing the environmental assessment for airport improvements for years 2022 through 2025 is $3,000.00 and the county has match of 5%.

Chairman Dinning said to Mr. Parker that Commissioners have no idea how COVID-19 will financially affect the county. The legislature will be taking revenue sales tax for Medicaid and the state has reimbursed the county for the loss of revenue for the circuit breaker, but that is also going to be taken away from the counties. Because the economy is declining, sales tax is going to decrease so we need to scrutinize everything. The county’s highest priority is public safety so these airport projects may just be put on hold. Mr. Parker said he understands. Chairman Dinning added that it’s nothing against the airport. Chairman Dinning said in year 2008, the county had to look at services that are not necessary to provide as they are not mandated. Chairman Dinning asked Mr. Parker to keep them informed of the results of the estimate comparisons.

It was said that overall the larger EA will be more than $250,000.00, but the county can pick and choose what it wants to have done. Chairman Dinning said if we do the full blown EA, which is good for five years or so, what is the cost to just renew it if we don’t let it lapse? Mr. Parker said he doesn’t know. Chairman Dinning commented that we need to get more than the one quote for comparison.

The meeting with Mr. Parker ended at 11:55 a.m.

Commissioners reached out to County Parks and Recreation Board Chairman Rob Tompkins to make that department aware to cancel Parks and Recreation organized activities due to the coronavirus.

12:10 p.m., There being no further business, the meeting recessed until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.

***Tuesday, March 17, 2020, at 9:00 a.m., Commissioners met in regular session with Chairman Dan Dinning, Commissioner Wally Cossairt, Clerk Glenda Poston, and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser. Commissioner Walt Kirby was out of the office tending to personal matters.

10:00 a.m., Commissioners held a continuation of the public hearing to consider Planning and Zoning Application #19-177, an application to consider proposed amendments to Land Use Ordinance 9B18LOV2. Present were: Chairman Dan Dinning, Commissioner Wally Cossairt, Clerk Glenda Poston, Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser, County Civil Attorney Tevis Hull, and Planning and Zoning Administrator John Moss. The hearing was recorded.

Chairman Dinning stated that Commissioners had postponed a majority of the discussion regarding this application due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns and directives that had been sent to them, but they will take up one item of discussion due to time sensitivity. All participants at the last hearing were notified of this change and the only matter to discuss today will be regarding urban subdivisions, Chapter 11.3.7.

Attorney Hull said it’s his understanding that Commissioners were going continue this hearing at the Valley Event Center at the fairgrounds with the exception of the proposed amendment of urban subdivisions, but most of the public was at that prior hearing to address the excess storage and junk yard issues. These members of the public were contacted and informed that today’s public hearing would only be about urban subdivisions and that Commissioners had closed the hearing to further public testimony.

Chairman Dinning said the changes for urban subdivisions state it is only allowed in accordance with Section 15, Zone District Specifications, within the residential, suburban or rural community zone districts. Chairman Dinning said the applicable proposed amended sections for urban subdivision is as follows: Section 11.3.7.2. each lot created is or can be served by a water district association, approved community water system or by private well. (See 11.3.1. Definitions) Section 11.3.7.3. sewer or a Panhandle Health District-approved septic system can serve each lot. Section 11.3.7.4. electrical service sufficient for residential use can be brought to each lot. Section 11.3.7.5. will serve letters are required for each lot.

Chairman Dinning said in the discussion with the public, these are changes that Commissioners had considered and agreed to. Attorney Hull said he had no comments. Commissioners have the application to amend Land Use Ordinance 9B18LOV2 to establish a new ordinance number 9B18LOV3. By approving the changes made today, the ordinance will be amended to version #3 and once that is completed, the changes to be addressed in a public hearing that had been postponed would result in updating the Land Use Ordinance to version 9B18LOV4. Attorney Hull explained that Commissioners had voted to place a moratorium on urban subdivisions, which only lasts 180 days, but with COVID-19 Commissioners don’t know when they will actually have their next public meeting and this ordinance has to be in place or the moratorium will stop and Commissioners wouldn’t have corrected the issue.

Commissioner Cossairt moved to approve the changes read by Chairman Dinning to Land Use Ordinance Section 11.3.7., as reviewed regarding urban subdivisions.

Commissioners amended their prior motion to include the reference of changes as Exhibit A.

Commissioner Cossairt moved to approve the changes read into the record by Chairman Dinning to Land Use Ordinance Section 11.3.7., and to attach this verbiage and label it Exhibit A for the purposes of making the motion. Chairman Dinning yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.

(See next page for Exhibit A)

Chairman Dinning said that this portion of the hearing is closed and the remaining portion was rescheduled.

The portion of the hearing to consider urban subdivisions ended at 10:14 a.m.

Commissioners tended to administrative duties.

10:30 a.m., Commissioners contacted Idaho Office of Emergency Management Local Area Field Officer Jay Baker and Boundary County Emergency Services Manager Andrew O’Neel via telephone to discuss declaring an emergency due to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Mr. O’Neel had mentioned declaring an emergency and asked what the benefits are at the state level. It was said that the federal disaster has been declared and the State of Idaho has declared an emergency so counties will be reimbursed for their response to the pandemic. It doesn’t allow the county or other entities to take measures to respond beyond the normal processes and procedures. If the county is under a requirement to leave the Courthouse open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but due to this event, you want to curtail the number of people who come in to the Courthouse or have some of the staff work from home, you can use telecommunication and it would allow the county to make those decisions as to what’s best for the county. At this point, it’s not known if there’s any disadvantage. It was said that Bonner, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties and the Coeur d’ Alene Tribe have each declared an emergency already. If the county wants to propose limits on larger meetings, declaring a state of emergency would allow the county to do that.

Mr. O’Neel said a declaration also allows the county to obtain resources for preparation that we might not have in the county right now. For example, the Restorium had the requirement of having to have 12 cots available so he’s working on where to find those and if the cots need to be flat out purchased. Those costs need to be tracked for the potential of reimbursement if there is declared emergency and the county is in an emergency situation. Mr. O’Neel said secondly, he received an email regarding small business loans through the disaster loan program where small businesses can apply for a small disaster loan, but only if the county declared a state of emergency. Mr. Baker said that was correct, someone can apply for assistance, but they do have costs at different agencies. To have the potential for reimbursement an agency does not necessarily have to declare an emergency, but there is no down side to making that declaration. Chairman Dinning said if we had half of the staff at the Restorium get ill and we have to do something beyond normal expenditures, would that be covered? Mr. Baker said that is why you would want to declare an emergency. Commissioners asked if the county had an employee who did not have sick or vacation time and they needed to be off work, does the county compensate them and is that reimbursable? Mr. Baker said the county does have the ability to compensate the employee as far as he’s concerned. Mr. Baker added to get reimbursed, if there is an extraordinary response to this event, the county would be eligible for that reimbursable expense, but he doesn’t know how that would work so he hesitates to say, absolutely yes.

The call with Mr. O’Neel and Mr. Baker ended at 10:46 a.m.

Clerk Poston and Commissioners discussed matters pertaining to the coronavirus. It was said if the county has some offices that end up closing and other offices need help, the employees from the office that closed can help out. Commissioners and Clerk Poston commented that this is not a cart blanche situation and if a county employee stays home and it’s discovered there has been an abuse of leave, it can be cause for termination. Clerk Poston discussed promoting vote by mail.

11:00 a.m., Sheriff Dave Kramer and Sheriff’s Office Administrator Crystal Denton joined the meeting to discuss upgrades to the Zetron radio system for the Sheriff’s Office.

Chairman Dinning informed Sheriff Kramer that the Legislature is trying to do everything to counties to get money and the latest matter will cost counties $32,000,000.00. This funding will come directly out of new construction and if counties cannot cover it, it will come out of their budgets. The Legislature is also looking for funding to come out of revenue and sales tax money and the House wants revenue sharing funds. The Senate has been great, according to Chairman Dinning. Counties will have one heck of a quarter due to sales tax receipts, but going forward with a recession or depression, funding will drop like a rock. Chairman Dinning added that he understands what the Sheriff’s Office wants to do with the Zetron radio system and it’s budgeted for, but maybe not in this budget and in the next budget we need to look at everything. Sheriff Kramer said he does have budget for this upgrade. Chairman Dinning said if there is any additional staffing needed, the county doesn’t know if it can fund any of that. Commissioners are just looking at this as they have no idea about what’s going to happen.

Sheriff Kramer said it will be some time before moving the dispatch center to the armory. Ms. Denton said connectivity doesn’t worry her as much as having partial equipment in the Sheriff’s Office and more equipment at the armory. Ms. Denton said whether dispatch stays where it’s currently at or it moves to the armory doesn’t matter, but the equipment needs addressed. If the current equipment makes it one more year, that would be great, but if the equipment stops working, they would end up in an emergency situation. Chairman Dinning said if nothing were to be done today or this budget year, what is the issue? Ms. Denton said function; the equipment is functioning right now, but it has issues that come up that need to be fixed. Clerk Poston said if the county took the funds and installed a new center dispatch center at the Sheriff’s Office, it would be status quo, but if the new equipment was placed in the armory, would the Sheriff’s Office need more employees? Sheriff Kramer and Ms. Denton said no. Sheriff Kramer questioned if the additional funds saved for the radio upgrade also cover costs for EL Automation or Fatbeam? Ms. Denton said the monthly recurrence fee will double to approximately $895.00 and the speed will be much higher, whereas the cost is approximately $495.00 to $500.00 currently. Ms. Denton said she’s still waiting to hear from EL Automation about a quote. Chairman Dinning commented if the Sheriff’s Office requested a quote, but hasn’t heard anything back, don’t worry about it. Commissioners recapped that there would be no additional employee cost and it’s approximately $5,000.00 per year for connectivity. Additional costs would consist of moving out of the current dispatch center, but they would also try to move the existing desks and equipment. Ms. Denton spoke of running the cables herself before sheetrock is installed at the armory. Ms. Denton said the issue at the armory is that they don’t have emergency power. Chairman Dinning recommended putting the updated radio equipment in the existing dispatch center in the Sheriff’ Office.

Commissioner Cossairt moved to accept the quote from Valence Mission Critical Technologies in the amount of approximately $110,000.00 for upgrading the Sheriff’s Office Zetron radios, based on the piggy back bid from Idaho County dated October 9, 2019. Chairman Dinning yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.

The meeting with Sheriff Kramer and Ms. Denton ended at 11:26 a.m.

Commissioners and Clerk Poston reviewed proposed topics to discuss at this afternoon’s elected officials/department heads meeting.

Commissioners recessed for lunch.

1:30 p.m., Commissioners reconvened for the afternoon session with Chairman Dan Dinning, Commissioner Wally Cossairt, Clerk Glenda Poston, and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser. Commissioner Walt Kirby was out of the office tending to personal matters.

1:30 p.m., Commissioners held an elected officials/department heads meeting at Memorial Hall to discuss matters pertaining to the coronavirus to include: reasons for planning to declare an emergency, asking those present how they see they can adjust their office procedures such as handling business via telephone, email, etc., compensation for employees who become ill and needing to stay home, testing of potential infected individuals, penalizing employees who are discovered to have abused leave, turning in claims, installing plexi-glass shields at public counters, how long the virus lasts on various surfaces, various business related extensions offered by the Idaho Transportation Department, tracking expenses related to the virus, staff limiting time spent in offices other than their own, rethinking vacations during this time, quarantining, limiting the number of people in meetings, securing garbage in a secure bag as opposed to being loose when being disposed of at the landfill or outlying sites, etc.

Chairman Dinning spoke of upcoming legislation changes and he said the Legislature feels counties collect too much money so they tried to freeze budgets, but that didn’t occur. An increase will be given to the circuit breaker program, but the county will be responsible to cover the costs. Chairman Dinning said counties are to give up sales tax and revenue sharing and he added that almost all county offices receive sales tax. Chairman Dinning said this quarter there will probably be a phenomenal sales tax due to the public shopping as a result of the virus, but sales tax will eventually decrease. Chairman Dinning asked those present to carry over as much of their budget as possible because Commissioners don’t know what will happen.

Road and Bridge Department Co-Superintendent Renee Nelson asked if Road and Bridge should process road permits via email. Chairman Dinning said it’s not a bad idea or they can text as well, but he just wants everyone to be careful. Chairman Dinning explained how hospitals have been affected as the regular flu season hit late and now the coronavirus has occurred so hospitals are dealing with available bed space issues. Coroner Mick Mellett added that this issue is nationwide and he added that the coronavirus is far more contagious than the flu. Many people can have it and be asymptomatic. Mr. Mellett explained needing to support our community and local businesses. Mr. Mellett informed those present that there is a blood shortage and how there will be a blood drive scheduled for the locations of the LDS Church and Safeway.

The elected officials/department heads meeting ended at 2:40 p.m.

2:48 p.m., Treasurer Sue Larson met with Commissioners to review her report of county accounts as it pertains to switching accounts due to bonds and low interest accounts. Treasurer Larson said bonds are not doing well and she wanted Commissioners to be aware of what she is doing, but it is within guidelines of the resolution. Chairman Dinning said to give Commissioners time to see where this situation ends up and they can change the resolution, but to do an amendment, they will need the verbiage.

The meeting with Treasurer Larson ended at 3:00 p.m.

3:00 p.m., Commissioners participated in the Idaho Association of Counties legislative conference call for District 1. Clerk Glenda Poston, Assessor Dave Ryals, Treasurer Sue Larson; various elected officials from the remaining four northern counties; Seth Grigg and other members of the Idaho Association of Counties also participated in the call. The call ended at 3:10 p.m.

Commissioner Cossairt moved to amend the agenda to add the consideration of a possible motion to declare an emergency in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Chairman Dinning yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Cossairt moved to declare an emergency due to the ongoing evolution of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and possible future impacts of this virus as it affects public health and safety. Chairman Dinning yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.

Commissioners contacted Boundary County Emergency Services Manager Andrew O’Neel to discuss Coronavirus (COVID-19) related matters. The call ended at 3:46 p.m.

There being no further business, the meeting recessed until Thursday, March 19, 2020, at 1:00 p.m.

***Thursday, March 19, 2020, at 1:00 p.m., Commissioners met in special session with Chairman Dan Dinning, Commissioner Wally Cossairt, Clerk Glenda Poston, and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser. Commissioner Walt Kirby participated in the meeting via telephone.

1:00 p.m., Treasurer Sue Larson and Assessor Dave Ryals joined the meeting and Boundary County Emergency Services Manager Andrew O’Neel joined via telephone.

Commissioners discussed proposing to close all county offices to physical public access. Mr. O’Neel will post a news release that explains the limited access and also explains that the county offices will still be open to receive telephone calls and emails for the purpose of conducting business for the public.
1:02 p.m. District Court Judge Barbara Buchanan joined the meeting.

Chairman Dinning read aloud the proposed notice explaining the restriction of public physical access to the various county offices. The office telephone numbers will be listed in the notice so the public can call. Commissioners asked if anyone saw any issue with this limited access. Assessor Ryals said he did not. There would need to be some way of allowing members of the public in on a limited basis, such as for court, the Prosecutor’s Office, etc. Assessor Ryals said he’s already writing notes down to put on the website for his offices. County business can be handled by email, fax, phone, etc. Some things will require in-person attendance, but it will be by appointment only and on a case by case basis. Anybody who is sick won’t be allowed in. Clerk Poston said if someone has an appointment with a county office, they need to be at the Courthouse door promptly and a designee will let them in.

Commissioners said they received a proclamation from Governor Brad Little today and Commissioners have to make a video or conference call telephone system available to the public for their public meetings. Judge Buchanan informed Commissioners that there are no court trials for district court for another approximately three weeks. Chairman Dinning said the public will understand, but if not, Commissioners will err on the side of caution.

Chairman Dinning said if an elected official has an employee who chooses to go to the COVID-19 hot spots, such as Seattle, Washington, that employee will be self-quarantined. It was said that people need to be smart about this issue. Clerk Poston said if an employee leaves Boundary County to go out of town on their own and put the rest of the community potentially in harm’s way, should that fall on that employee as far as the employee using their own sick leave as opposed to the county covering it? Assessor Ryals suggested contacting Idaho Counties Risk Management Program (ICRMP) about that.

Mr. O’Neel informed Commissioners that there are three confirmed cases in Ada County, four cases in Blaine County, one case in Madison County and one case in Teton County. It was said that it is probably okay for travel to the Coeur d’ Alene area, but for places like Seattle, Washington, that is a different case.

Judge Buchanan asked about whether or not the Courthouse was going to be locked and if people will have the ability to pay online as Bonner County is struggling with this same issue. Judge Buchanan said she would let the Administrative District Judge know as well.

Treasurer Larson asked if Clerk Poston was going to put a voting box outside the Courthouse doors for people to deposit payments into. Commissioner Kirby questioned the lifespan of the virus on mail. It was said that without medical guidance, the plan for the drop box is to have one Courthouse staff member wearing gloves retrieve the documents and payments from the box outside and then let the documents sit in a dated box for two or three days before being handled. This goes for post office mail as well, according to Clerk Poston. Assessor Ryals said he agrees with this process.

Mr. O’Neel asked if the City of Bonners Ferry is aware the county is going to do this and are they going to follow suit? It was mentioned that Commissioners will amend their declaration due to having found a clerical error.

Commissioner Cossairt moved to approve the Amended Emergency Declaration regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.

Chairman Dinning commented that Restorium Administrator Karlene Magee needs clarity about whether or not to accept new residents at the Restorium. Commissioners said they don’t want to accept new residents at this time.

The meeting ended at 1:25 p.m.

Commissioners tended to administrative duties.

Commissioner Cossairt moved to restrict physical access of county offices to the public due to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Chairman Dinning yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned.

_______________________________
DAN R. DINNING, Chairman

Attest:

_______________________________
GLENDA POSTON, Clerk
By: Michelle Rohrwasser, Deputy Clerk