***Monday, March 31, 2025 at 9:00 a.m., Commissioners met in regular session with Chairman Ben Robertson, Commissioner Tim Bertling, Commissioner Lester Pinkerton, and Deputy Clerk Stephanie Sims.
Commissioners said the Pledge of Allegiance.
Commissioner Bertling moved to recess as the Boundary County Board of Commissioners and convene as the Board of Equalization. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioners reviewed the Property Tax Exemption applications that were submitted.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to approve the Property Tax Exemption applications under Idaho Code 63-602B for parcel #’s RPB0160001010FA, RPB0160001011AA, RPBD160001007BA, RPB0160001009CA, RPB01600010090A, RPB0160001010BA, RPB016000101EA, RPB028000000FAA and Idaho Code 63-602F for parcel #’s RP64N01E069440A, RP65N01W095560A and Idaho Code 63-602C for parcel #’s RP65N01W142550A, RP65N01W118390A and RPB0020003011AA. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioners signed the documents presented.
Greg Lamberty entered the meeting at 9:07 a.m.
Commissioner Bertling moved to recess as the Board of Equalization and reconvene as the Boundary County Board of Commissioners. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.
Fay Almond entered the meeting at 9:15 a.m.
Clerk Glenda Poston entered the meeting at 9:24 a.m.
Civil Attorney Bill Wilson entered the meeting at 9:34 a.m. to update the Commissioners on legal issues he has been working on. It has been relatively quiet and business as usual. He will follow up on a couple projects he has been working on.
Commissioner Pinkerton asked him about a probationary period for new employees. We are hiring skilled labor and when they don’t work out, it is a process to let them go. Mr. Wilson responded that Idaho is an at will state so you have the right to take protective action at any time.
Commissioner Robertson stated because of our relationship with ICRIMP, we are not at will and it is a process to work through which then causes issues with unemployment. Ms. Poston agreed that is the problem and suggested a conversation between ICRIMP, IAC and State Unemployment. Mr. Wilson will work on that discussion.
The meeting with Mr. Wilson ended at 10:07 a.m. and he left the meeting.
Solid Waste Superintendent Richard Jenkins entered the meeting at 10:08 a.m.
Commissioner’s discussed the household and commercial fee schedule, as well as the comments and concerns that have been received from residents. They also reviewed the door revenue from 2022-23, 2023-24 and to date for 2024-25.
Ms. Poston asked what was budgeted for the current fiscal year and have they met that. Mr. Jenkins responded that he will reach the budgeted amounts.
Commissioner Robertson stated that to make it simple we could remove the door fee for daily household over the allotted which would ease the tension.
Mr. Jenkins suggested an audit to look at the results. Commissioners agreed that it would be good to review those figures and the assessed amount as that is also likely too low.
Commissioner Bertling moved to suspend the door fees for household residential. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.
The meeting regarding solid waste fees ended at 10:19 a.m. and Mr. Jenkins left the meeting.
Mr. Lamberty and Ms. Almond left the meeting at 10:22 a.m.
The appointment at 10:30 a.m. with the Coroner Chad Workman, was rescheduled for the following week. Commissioners attended to administrative duties until their next appointment.
Thomas & Darla Fletcher entered the meeting at 9:48 a.m.
Ms. Poston left the meeting at 9:50 a.m.
Dave Wenk entered the meeting at 11:00 a.m.
Dr. Fletcher stated that he was there to extend an invitation to Panhandle Health District’s strategic planning meeting on Saturday, May 10th in Coeur d’Alene. He also wanted to get their opinion on format for the meeting.
Commissioner Bertling asked if he had contacted Seth Grigg with IAC to attend. Dr. Fletcher responded yes, he is facilitating.
The time and length of the meeting had not yet been set, but Dr. Fletcher was considering a meeting that was several hours long. Commissioner Robertson stated that the window was too large for a virtual option or questions. Commissioners agreed that questions should be submitted in writing before hand so they can be addressed.
Dr. Fletcher suggested a variety of items for discussion such as the mission statement and areas to potentially expand services. He also had concern about the low numbers of people visiting the clinics. He hoped that historical data can be provided to help shed light on that.
Commissioner Bertling stated that the PHD board should look at what they are doing and fix things internally rather than expand into other areas. He also felt a lot of people assume PHD’s rolls, but are not aware of all of the services that are available to them.
Dr. Fletcher asked about solid waste management. Commissioner Pinkerton stated no, that is handled by DEQ.
Dr. Fletcher asked about testing water and soil systems. Commissioner Bertling stated that is already done by other entities. Municipal water is already monitored, private wells are left to the owner to monitor. River’s and lakes are again periodically tested by other entities. That is their roll, not Panhandle Health.
Commissioner Robertson stated soil also falls under the Department of Agriculture. He then added that the meeting would be a PHD meeting and as the chairman, Dr. Fletcher was responsible for keeping the meeting on topic.
The meeting with Dr. Fletcher ended at 12:04 p.m. and he and Mrs. Fletcher left the meeting.
Mr. Wenk stated that he wanted to express his appreciation to the Commissioners for their work for the County and the benefits they provide. Mr. Wenk left the meeting at 12:07 p.m.
Commissioners recessed for lunch at 12:10 p.m.
Road and Bridge Superintendent Brad Barton and Assistant Superintendent Adam Ryals entered the meeting at 1:25 p.m.
Commissioners reconvened for the afternoon session at 1:30 p.m.
Commissioner Bertling moved to approve Commissioner meeting minutes from the week of 3/24. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Barton stated that they have been working on pit maintenance, fine tuning the gps of signs, placement and pickup of traffic counters, bridge work and a small amount of grading. They should also finish up the sweeping today. Weather permitting, they will start on Farm to Market this week.
Commissioners discussed the damage on some roads from hauling. Mr. Barton stated that the sheriff’s office is pulling people over and they are now sharing permits with them so the officers know what vehicles are permitted. There are a number of roads that have considerable damage due to heavy loads during spring break-up.
Mr. Barton stated that they found a Chevy ¾ ton pickup with 100,000 miles at a dealer in Spokane for $18,500. It is identical to the pickup that has 220,000 miles. Commissioners agreed to proceed with the purchase.
Mr. Ryals discussed the items in the Sunrise Rd. project Addendum and that it would need to be signed prior to the bid opening on Thursday.
Commissioner Bertling moved to sign Sunrise Rd Improvement Project addendum. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Ryals discussed the bid opening scheduled for Thursday. He believed there would be 6 or 7 bids.
The meeting with Mr. Barton and Mr. Ryals ended at 1:55 p.m. and they left the meeting.
Personnel Director Pam Barton entered the meeting at 1:57 p.m.
Ms. Barton stated that she did not have anything for an executive session this week. Commissioners discussed the options regarding a name clearing hearing and asked Ms. Barton to schedule one.
The meeting with Ms. Baron ended at 2:03 p.m. and she left the meeting.
Commissioner Bertling left the meeting at 2:12 p.m. to attend to a personal matter.
Solid Waste Supervisor Richard Jenkins entered the meeting at 2:24 p.m. to review the Solid Waste Recycling Audit from Waste Management. He stated that the recyclables are sent into Spokane to Waste Management and they have done monthly audits over a 15-month period. They recycled 94.1% of what was shipped in with the majority (70.7%) being cardboard, newspaper at 10.7% and mixed paper at 7.1%. The remaining items were 3.3% plastic and 2.3% metal. Another 5.9% were non-recyclable items.
Mr. Jenkins then shared his annual report for the 2024 Recycling Program and went over the figures in the report.
Commissioner Robertson asked how they come up with the contamination charge. Mr. Jenkins explained that is what is not recyclable.
Commissioner Pinkerton stated that your report shows the recycling program costs the County $124,716/yr. Mr. Jenkins answered yes. What is not included in the figure is the cost to pickup the recycling from the site locations around the county which would include fuel, time, etc. Mr. Jenkins estimated that the actual number was probably closer to $150,000.
Commissioners thanked Mr. Jenkins for putting together the reports for their review.
Commissioner Robertson stated that we could consider changing the recycling program to those items that do pay for itself such as aluminum. Mr. Jenkins said yes and that there are other types of recycling that we are not doing currently such as electronic waste that does have value.
Commissioner Bertling rejoined the meeting at 2:55 p.m. and Mr. Jenkins reviewed the reports with him.
The meeting with Mr. Jenkins ended at 3:05 p.m. and he left the meeting.
At 3:15 p.m. Economic Development Coordinator David Sims stopped in to discuss some recent items of discussion with Idaho Transportation Department and funding options for the new courthouse.
Mr. Sims left the meeting at 3:30 p.m.
Commissioners attended to administrative duties until the meeting ended at 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
There were no items on the agenda, therefore the Commissioners did not meet.
Thursday, April 3, 2025
Commissioners held a bid opening at 2:00 p.m. for the Sunrise Rd. project. Those in attendance were: Chairman Ben Robertson, Commissioner Tim Bertling, Commissioner Lester Pinkerton, Deputy Clerk Stephanie Sims, Road & Bridge Assistant Superintendent Adam Ryals, Wade Winkelseth Wink Inc., Loraine Johnson S&L Underground, Calicia Johnson S&L Underground, Cody O’Hare Knife River, Wayne Jessop J-7, and Emily Sanborn LaRieviere. One the phone were Brett Cummings HMH Engineering and Jessica Smith HMH Engineering. The bid opening was recorded.
Commissioners received a total of 5 sealed bids. Bid information was as follows:
LaRieviere Inc
• Base 787,475.00
• Alternate A $298,477.00
• Alternate B $33,478.00
• Total $1,119,430.00
Knife River
• Base $885,345.10
• Alternate A $301,849.00
• Alternate B $36,798.90
• Total $1,223,993.00
J7
• Base $766,235.40
• Alternate A $243,717.75
• Alternate B $30,072.50
• Total $1,040,325.65
Wink Inc
• Base $675,332.45
• Alternate A $169,587.00
• Alternate B $43,080.55
• Total $888,000.00
S&L Underground Inc.
• Base $1,254,360.30
• Alternate A $524,788.00
• Alternate B $28,855.00
• Total $1,808,003.30
All bidders provided bid bonds totaling 5% of the total amount of their respective bids and their public works contractor license and/or number.
Commissioner Bertling moved to award the bid to Wink Inc for a base of $675,332.45 and a total of $888,000.00 pending review of Road and Bridge and HMH Engineering. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.
The bid opening ended at 2:17 p.m. and the meeting adjourned.
s/________________________________
BEN ROBERTSON, Chairman
ATTEST:
s/_______________________________
GLENDA POSTON, Clerk
By: Stephanie Sims, Deputy Clerk