***Monday, October, 14, 2019, Commissioners did not meet due to the Columbus Day Holiday.
***Tuesday, October 15, 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., Road and Bridge Department Co-Superintendents Renee Nelson and Randy Morris joined the meeting to give the departmental report. A written report was provided. Commissioners were informed that Road and Bridge received information from the engineer that Trout Creek North Bridge can be widened. Mr. Morris spoke of taking the deck off and widening this bridge to 16 feet from 14.6 feet. Mr. Morris added that there should be no load restrictions according to the engineer. Ms. Nelson said this deck has to get done and she can get bid documents ready to go for the bridge deck. The project would consist of a two week closure with one weekend in the middle. It was said that the bid may be listed this way in order to be a more attractive project and there will be a detour route. Commissioners stated they were okay with that. The hope is to do the bridge work this fall, according to Ms. Nelson.
Those present discussed a concern raised by a resident off Camp Nine Road regarding speeding. Ms. Nelson stated that speed limit signs are posted on this road. The resident voiced concern as at times kids are getting off the school bus when drivers are coming around the corner.
Ms. Nelson said she asked Western States Equipment about an extended warranty for the CAT 309 excavator and learned that it comes with a two year government fail safe warranty. It was said that a lot of warranties for smaller equipment only covers the drive train and not the computer. Commissioners mentioned adding the warranty at a later date. Chairman Dinning said for clarification that the county would be looking at financing $109,000 and that this equipment meets the tasks that Road and Bridge wants it to do. The finance option of $11,000 has the balloon payment at the end of the term. It’s a five year term, but the first year has no payment owing. Chairman Dinning asked if the interest would equate to $11,000. Ms. Nelson said yes, for the term that has the balloon payment due at the end. Those present reviewed financing options. Ms. Nelson said it seems to save money if we can budget $20,000 per year to go with the $30,000 plan. The county would have to budget $80,000 if Road and Bridge went that route. It’s an extra $20,000 per year or $80,000 all at once, according to Ms. Nelson. Commissioner Cossairt asked if a payment was made on the existing machine. Ms. Nelson said yes, $10,000 in the last fiscal year and the machine was paid off. Clerk Poston said she thinks it would be better to save interest.
Those present reviewed various financing options. If the county paid for the excavator out of the Road and Bridge budget and then we come to June and July and we see where the budget is, at that point we could borrow what we need to from the landfill account.
County Civil Attorney Tevis Hull joined at 9:30 a.m.
Those present discussed the matter of a resident who lives at the end of Sierra Lane, off of Mountain Meadows Road to the south. This resident had commented that she had a list of documents saying this road in question was as county right-of-way and she wanted to know why there was a locked gate at the county right-of-way. Ms. Nelson asked Attorney Hull how to handle this matter. Mr. Morris said this is not a county road. Attorney Hull said he talked with Ms. Nelson and suggested asking the county mapper to pull documents to find out what the road, right-of-way and easement status is. Chairman Dinning mentioned there being a similar situation up near Feist Creek and just because the access is a public right-of-way doesn’t mean it’s a county right-of-way. Those present reviewed a map that was presented and Mr. Morris briefly explained where Road and Bridge trucks turn around. Ms. Nelson said in looking at the mapper’s notes, it looks like the road was deeded to the county, but that doesn’t mean the county accepted it. Attorney Hull said he would review the document associated with the instrument number listed and talk to the mapper about it.
The meeting with Ms. Nelson and Mr. Morris ended at 9:40 a.m.
9:44 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, and 71-206(1)f, to communicate with legal counsel for the public agency to discuss the legal ramifications of and legal options for pending litigation, or controversies not yet being litigated, but imminently likely to be litigated. Commissioner Cossairt second. Commissioners voted as follows: Chairman Dinning “aye”, Commissioner Cossairt “aye” and Commissioner Kirby “aye”. Motion passed unanimously. The executive session ended at 10:12 a.m. No action was taken.
The meeting with Attorney Hull ended at 10:12 a.m.
Commissioners reviewed claims for payment. Fund totals are as follows:
Current Expense $ 37,226.38
Road & Bridge 353,535.14
Airport 14,550.79
District Court 16,761.23
Justice Fund 25,561.69
911 Funds 4,067.11
Indigent & Charity 11,558.05
Parks and Recreation 887.18
Revaluation 118.06
Solid Waste 11,845.85
Veterans Memorial 47.26
Weeds 398.46
County EMS 515.67
Restorium 17,095.42
Snowmobile 500.00
Waterways 32.05
Grant, Airport 21,591.49
Grant, Boat Safety 149.47
Grants, Fire Mitigation 12,825.00
TOTAL $529,266.30
Trusts
Driver’s License Trust 9,034.50
Indigent Reimbursements 4,675.00
Motor Vehicle Trust 146,176.97
Sheriff’s Trust Fund 339.50
Tax Deed Sale Trust 5,759.23
Playground / Ice Rink Trust 1,678.02
Odyssey Court Trust Account 28,345.84
Odyssey Restitution Trust Acct 720.54
TOTAL $196,729.60
GRAND TOTAL $725,995.90
Citizens are invited to inspect detailed records on file in the Courthouse (individual claims & Commissioners’ allowance & warrant register record 2019-2020).
10:12 a.m., County Snowmobile Board member Dave Wenk, Sheriff Dave Kramer, Eric Lederhos with E.L. Automation, and Olivia Drake joined the meeting.
Mr. Wenk asked if Commissioners are aware of closure of Stimson lands. The Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) has put up the closure signs for Stimson Lumber. It was said that if there is one track found off of the agreed upon trail, IDL will force the closures due to the conservation easements. Chairman Dinning said the county is to be negotiating that contract. In year 2011 IDL paid Stimson and then the land went into a conservation easement. The county pays $500 per year as per the agreement for snowmobile grooming. Mr. Wenk commented that he’s hoping the trails could be open to ATV use as it had been in the past, but he had talked to Jim Kibler with IDL and nothing is going to happen there. Mr. Wenk said the Snowmobile Board has a meeting next month. It was said that Boundary County doesn’t know what Bonner County wants. Mr. Wenk said the Snowmobile Board would love for everything to run through Bonner County.
Those present discussed matters pertaining to groomers.
The meeting with Mr. Wenk, Mr. Lederhos and Sheriff Kramer ended at 10:24 a.m.
10:25 a.m., Deputy Clerk Nancy Ryals joined the meeting.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to accept payment of $21,918.46 in full for indigent case 2009-19 and to write off the remaining balance. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign the certificate of denial for indigent 2019-28. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Deputy Clerk Ryals left the meeting at 10:28 a.m.
10:30 a.m., Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3622 Commander Benjamin Apo and Vice Commander Michael Spurgeon joined the meeting.
Mr. Spurgeon informed Commissioners of the issue with the furnace at the VFW Office and the cost to replace the current furnace is approximately $3,900. The VFW is looking to see if they can obtain funds to defer that cost. Chairman Dinning said Commissioners did some research to see if the county is able to contribute and he explained that the county levies for Memorial Hall, which is a building the county owns. Information was pulled from the Clerk’s Office to see if the county can legally help, but at this point Commissioners don’t know how they can do that without first speaking with their civil attorney. Chairman Dinning said information found consisted of a lease agreement between the Seniors Hospitality Center and the VFW and the lease states that $50.00 per month was supposed to be deposited by both parties into an account for building maintenance, etc. Mr. Apo said they cannot use those funds as for years nobody was putting funds into that account so the balance was zero. Mr. Apo added that they’ve since spoken with Barbara Kovacs with the Seniors Hospitality Center about bringing the account up to date so now both parties are making deposits into this fund. What is in the account now is probably nothing. It was said the county uses one office space and the VFW has never asked for funding for that. Commissioner Cossairt said this is difficult and Commissioner Kirby said the county needs to dig a little bit and see if we can come up with something. Mr. Spurgeon explained that the furnace’s control board is not working and it will cost $2,900 for a new control board and an additional $1,000 to replace the entire unit. Mr. Apo commented that the current furnace has been in this building since year 1994 and parts are no longer made for this model. This particular furnace heats the side of the building used by the veterans and the Seniors Hospitality Center has a furnace for their own portion of the building. Chairman Dinning said Commissioners cannot react very quickly to his matter, meaning they won’t have any new information until the next week most likely. Chairman Dinning added that Commissioners will look into what they can do as the VFW allows the Veterans’ Service Officer free use of office space.
The meeting with Mr. Spurgeon and Mr. Apo ended at 10:37 a.m.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign the Certificate of Residency for Grithcel Miller. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign the Property Tax Exemption Form for parcel #RP61N01W018260A for tax year 2020 upon the recommendation of the County Assessor. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign the Proclamation regarding the Boundary County Centennial Coin that will be given to the State Treasurer. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioners tended to administrative duties.
11:30 a.m., Boundary Economic Development Council (EDC) Director Dennis Weed joined the meeting to update Commissioners on EDC projects. Mr. Weed informed Commissioners that a business will be in the Shopko building by the end of the year, but the former Atkins Harvest Foods building is a harder situation.
11:31 a.m., Eric Lederhos with E.L. Automation joined the meeting.
Mr. Weed commented that Keller Associates is close to signing the contract for engineering as it pertains to the sewer project and the cost for engineering is $643,000. Next will be a bid for manufacturing. Chairman Dinning asked if there was something the county needed to take care of on its end. Mr. Weed said no. There is $100,000 that the county will be reimbursed and once bonds are released, the county gets that payment back, according to Mr. Weed. Chairman Dinning questioned if there was another step the county needs to take and Mr. Weed said that would be the master plan for $45,000, but that can wait a year. The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) grant is for both the county and the memorandum of understanding and that will lapse for the county this next June 2020. The county would have to pass its sewer portion and also look at the master plan. There is no cost share for the master plan so the county will need to budget for that. Mr. Weed said there is a separate sewer committee formed and the plan is for the City of Moyie Springs to utilize their Public Works Supervisor, John Nelson, where they can to conserve funds. Engineering will be done this fall and construction would probably start next spring, according to Mr. Weed. Chairman Dinning said Commissioners need an agreement prepared between Boundary County and Moyie Springs as it pertains to the treatment facility.
Mr. Weed stated that he attended the Governor’s Workforce Development Summit in Boise last week and staffing was discussed. Both local lumber mills are okay as it pertains to staffing and the same goes for the cabinet makers here. All major employers in the county are not having issues with staffing, except for the lesser wage positions as that is where there is a larger turnover rate, etc. Retail and restaurants are these types of businesses locally. Mr. Weed said he is working with Summer MacDonald with the Department of Labor on capturing the local issues. Chairman Dinning asked Mr. Lederhos about staffing for his business and Mr. Lederhos said they just hired three people in the last two weeks. The wage at E.L. Automation is between $10.00 and $15.00 per hour, but they have to train people as they come to the position not familiar with it. Mr. Lederhos said he has approximately 18 employees now.
Mr. Weed briefly updated Commissioners on who will be presenting at Monday’s EDC Council meeting.
Mr. Lederhos said when it comes to local housing, is there anything the city or county can do, such as tax benefits for building houses. Mr. Weed said there is federal tax for HUD housing, but there are a lot of stipulations with that. Mr. Weed mentioned that the city is looking into abilities for developers to build smaller homes on smaller lots. Chairman Dinning commented that one issue with trying to get businesses close to, but just outside of city limits is that the city isn’t allowing more hookups to water and sewer. Mr. Weed said in March there will be the Idaho Finance and Housing Convention and there will be information about affordable housing. There are different financing mechanisms from the state and Mr. Weed said it would be nice to have someone attend this convention and then see what can be done for contractors in building affordable housing. Mr. Lederhos said a lot of people are moving this way and rental housing is supply and demand.
The meeting with Mr. Weed and Mr. Lederhos ended at 11:50 a.m.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at noon.
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DAN R. DINNING, Chairman
Attest:
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GLENDA POSTON, Clerk
By: Michelle Rohrwasser, Deputy Clerk