***Monday, September 12, 2022, at 9:00 a.m., Commissioners met in regular session with Chairman Dan Dinning, Commissioner Wally Cossairt, Commissioner Tim Bertling, 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 Co-Superintendents Renee Nelson and Randy Morris joined the meeting to give the department report. A written report was provided. Mr. Morris reviewed work being done as listed in the report.
Ms. Nelson informed Commissioners that the bid documents for the Skin Creek Bridge replacement project have been approved so she will look into setting a date for the bid opening.
Commissioner Cossairt 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 Bertling second. Commissioners voted as follows: Chairman Dinning “aye”, Commissioner Cossairt “aye” and Commissioner Bertling “aye”. Motion passed unanimously.
9:30 a.m., County Civil Attorney Tevis Hull joined the meeting via telephone.
The executive session ended at 9:37 a.m. No action was taken.
The meeting with Ms. Nelson and Mr. Morris ended at 9:37 a.m.
9:37 a.m., Commissioner Cossairt 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 Bertling second. Commissioners voted as follows: Chairman Dinning “aye”, Commissioner Cossairt “aye” and Commissioner Bertling “aye”. Motion passed unanimously. The executive session ended at 9:42 a.m. No action was taken.
Commissioners reviewed various matters with Attorney Hull.
9:51 a.m., Solid Waste Department Superintendent Claine Skeen joined the meeting to give a department report.
The call with Attorney Hull ended at 9:52 a.m.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign the Certificates of Residency for Heather Kunsky and Hailey Kelsey. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to approve the meeting minutes for the week of August 29, 2022. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to approve and sign the Catering Permit for the Kootenai River Inn. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Clerk Poston informed Commissioners that the agreement with Harris Group/Computer Arts is ready to be signed and the county will receive a reduction of 20% from the initial agreement for the indigent program.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign the Harris Group/Computer Arts Inc Agreement for 2023. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign the Findings and Decisions for Planning and Zoning Files #22-0156 for Silvertip Holdings LLC, #22-0165 for Joel & Julia Majeski, and #22-0029 for John Poland & Lisa Aguilera once the documents have been prepared. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign the signature page for the Boundary County FY2023 Indigent Defense Financial Assistance Agreement. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign the Independent Contractor Agreement with High Road Enterprises for concrete work for the Landfill Office addition. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Skeen met with Commissioners to give a departmental report.
Mr. Skeen informed Commissioners that the quote he received for a roll off container is approximately $12,000.00 or $14,594.00 for the container including freight. Four or five containers can be transported on one truck so the cost of freight wouldn’t change. Those present discussed the dump trailer and its value as well as the trade-in cost for a gooseneck trailer and Mr. Skeen said he would have to pay $3,550.00 for another trailer. Mr. Skeen explained that if he transferred his department’s trailer to Road and Bridge, that is approximately $7,000.00 that he would be giving away. Commissioners said that Road and Bridge was going to check if they could fund the purchase of the trailer from the Solid Waste Department. Clerk Poston questioned if the cost of roll off containers could be covered by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
Mr. Skeen said the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is going to come up to do the five-year plan so they can get the landfill operation plan buttoned up. Mr. Skeen asked if a commissioner would be available to meet with him and DEQ at the landfill on the 30th of this month. Commissioner Bertling said he could be available that date.
It was said that County Civil Attorney Tevis Hull is still working on drafting language for an ordinance pertaining to materials accepted at the landfill and monitored sites.
The meeting with Mr. Skeen ended at 10:15 a.m.
10:18 a.m., Sheriff Dave Kramer joined the meeting.
Commissioner Cossairt 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 Bertling second. Commissioners voted as follows: Chairman Dinning “aye”, Commissioner Cossairt “aye” and Commissioner Bertling “aye”. Motion passed unanimously. The executive session ended at 10:27 a.m. No action was taken.
Sheriff Kramer left the meeting at 10:27 a.m.
10:30 a.m., Restorium Administrator Karlene Magee joined the meeting to give a department report. Ms. Magee informed Commissioners that the Restorium is still at 32 residents and she explained that she is a bit hesitant to take in more new residents due to be being short-staffed.
The meeting with Ms. Magee ended at 10:46 a.m.
Commissioners reviewed claims for payment. Fund totals are as follows:
Current Expense $ 62,036.40
Road & Bridge 461,396.34
Airport 30,883.10
District Court 4,444.52
Justice Fund 51,576.65
911 Funds 3,512.53
Indigent & Charity 16,396.02
Parks and Recreation 10,590.48
Revaluation 759.87
Solid Waste 39,758.24
Tort 512.88
Veterans Memorial 13.34
Weeds 691.67
Restorium 21,834.25
Waterways 180.16
Grant, Airport 43,485.47
Grant, Boat Safety 337.63
Hospital, Supplemental Levy 589.36
Grant, Emergency Communication 1,140.14
Grants, Fire Mitigation 45,380.64
TOTAL $795,519.69
Trusts
Auditor’s Trust – *Misc 1,152.84
Boundary Co. Drug Court Trust $583.89
Driver’s License Trust 11,898.00
Motor Vehicle Trust Acct 202,648.60
Insurance Reimbursement Trust 883.12
Sheriff’s Trust Fund 517.55
Tax Deed Sale Trust 45,366.35
Odyssey Court Trust Account 27,472.35
Odyssey Bond Trust Account 5,700.00
Odyssey Restitution Trust Acct 1,341.50
TOTAL $297,564.20
GRAND TOTAL $1,093,083.89
Citizens are invited to inspect detailed records on file in the Courthouse (individual claims & Commissioners’ allowance & warrant register record 2021-2022).
11:00 a.m., Courthouse Maintenance Squire Fields joined the meeting to give a department report.
Mr. Fields informed Commissioners that the sprinklers will be blown out on October 17th. The bid for the first phase of the sidewalk project should be available tomorrow. North Idaho Lock and Key will come this Friday to look at the front doors of the Courthouse, but more than likely the existing doors will need to be replaced with new doors. The bathroom floor remodel in Veterans Memorial Hall is on hold right now. Mr. Fields explained that the boiler for the Courthouse is operating, but the condensation pump is still not kicking in so he pulled the pump and wrote down the serial numbers to send to Atlas Boiler. It will be hard to repair this issue, according to Mr. Fields. The boiler is working, but it is wasting a lot of water. Commissioner Bertling said we need to get a quote for a new boiler and we could also include the plumbing needed for the heated sidewalks. Chairman Dinning said we will probably need more than one quote. Clerk Poston asked Mr. Fields if he could replace the flags at the County Annex. Commissioner Bertling said to make sure the new flags are American made. Mr. Fields said the banners for the community shred day are eight-feet long and he and Clerk Poston discussed various locations to hang the banners for good visibility.
11:30 a.m., Boundary Economic Development Council (EDC) Director David Sims met with Commissioners to provide an update on EDC projects and Wally Jacobson and Nancy Mabile with Panhandle Area Council (PAC) joined the meeting to discuss services offered by PAC.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign the Fiscal Year 23 Economic Development Professional (EDPRO) grant agreement for the amount of $30,000.00. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Sims informed Commissioners that the EDC advisory board meeting will be held on Monday 19th. At this meeting discussion will take place with the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho and Dennis Weed regarding the travel plaza. Mr. Sims said he is still looking into the border crossing and the ability to extend the hours the Porthill/Rykerts border crossing is open. Mr. Sims commented on the meeting with Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) about two local projects at the south end of the county and both projects are expected to start in year 2025. The bid for the McArthur Lake project should go out this fall.
Mr. Sims spoke about a company that conducted a survey via artificial intelligence using cell phone information that calculated the number of visitors that went to the fairgrounds during fair week. Last year the number of visits to the fairgrounds during fair week was 16,800 and this year the number of people going to the fairgrounds was 21,600. Mr. Sims explained those figures include people both coming and going.
Ms. Mabile provided a brief grant update for the Alta Forest Products project. Ms. Mabile added that the funding agency had wanted to do a grant for job creation as opposed to retention. Mr. Sims added that the way the grant is written now states it is for both job creation and retention. Ms. Mabile explained that she worked on a grant project with the City of Moyie Springs which was job retention related. Alta Forest Products may propose to engage PAC for grant administration and if the county were the grantee, would the county want PAC involved as well? Ms. Mabile mentioned the need to seek requests for proposals for grant administration so she will send Commissioners procurement documents.
Ms. Mabile said that Idaho Department of Commerce Director Tom Kealey had come up to discuss the Naples project and he felt it was a good project.
Clerk Poston and Ms. Mabile discussed the management, reporting payments and tracking for ARPA funded projects.
Mr. Jacobson presented Commissioners with a handout referencing various projects and programs PAC is involved in. Mr. Jacobson explained that PAC is an EDC district that was formed in 1972 and they still have a number of cities, counties and private sectors as members. Mr. Jacobson reviewed what services PAC covers, such as community development, SBA 504 programs and revolving loan funds for gap financing. In year 2020, PAC secured almost $3,000,000.00 in additional funding for the revolving loan fund and they had to designate all of it within two years, and they did that with the exception of $12,000.00. In year 2021, PAC got their revolving loan fund out and stepped up their other programs. Mr. Jacobson listed funding projects for South Boundary Fire Protection District’s station, McDuff’s Brewing new building and NIC’s lease, as well as the Urban Renewal District. Mr. Jacobson mentioned that last July PAC was pursuing the small business credit initiative. This year the Economic Districts of Idaho submitted a proposal to the Governor’s Office to capitalize a $26,000,000.00 statewide revolving loan fund. PAC and five other like entities got this program through state legislature and the US Treasury has reviewed and approved it. PAC will need to partner with a credit union or bank. PAC earns an administration fee to help cover overhead so they agreed to $2,500,000.00. PAC has also assisted incubator companies, to include a brewery, winery, and aviation.
Mr. Jacobson informed Commissioners that for the last 20 years the grant department has basically carried PAC’s loan department so they’re looking for additional funds to support the entire organization.
Ms. Mabile explained that she does grant and community development planning and she would like to have more participation from Boundary County. Ms. Mabile spoke of having held a forum on housing and other programs and the first element was broadband. She has also worked on a housing module and community vitality. For the Resiliency Act, Ms. Mabile said she became the regional disaster coordinator and although the grant is done she’s still working on the plan. Labor compliance assistance is also provided.
Commissioners’ PAC handout included all grants PAC has worked on since 1982. The broadband grant was the last project PAC had assisted Boundary County with. Mr. Jacobson said PAC does appreciate the county’s membership.
The meeting with Mr. Sims, Ms. Mabile and Mr. Jacobson ended at 12:03 a.m.
Commissioners recessed for lunch at 12:05 p.m.
1:21 p.m., Commissioners reconvened for the afternoon session with Chairman Dan Dinning, Commissioner Wally Cossairt, Commissioner Tim Bertling, Clerk Glenda Poston, and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser.
1:21 p.m., Commissioner Cossairt 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 Bertling second. Commissioners voted as follows: Chairman Dinning “aye”, Commissioner Cossairt “aye” and Commissioner Bertling “aye”. Motion passed unanimously. The executive session ended at 1:32 p.m. No action was taken.
1:30 p.m., Cassie Olson and Tom Daniel with the Boundary Soil Conservation District and Katie Yoder with the Idaho Soil and Water Conservation Commission joined the meeting. Solid Waste Department Superintendent Claine Skeen also joined the meeting.
Ms. Olson informed Commissioners of a program providing funding up to $24,000.00 and with these funds the Soil Conservation District would like to put together a brochure to create awareness on waste and disposal of hazardous materials. Ms. Olson asked if the county would submit a letter of support for this program. Ms. Olson added that she had met with County Solid Waste Department Superintendent Claine Skeen to organize an educational day as that was the original idea, but that isn’t going to happen this season. The Soil Conservation District is looking for ideas to create momentum and awareness of the issues of disposal of hazardous materials, especially with so many new residents in the county. Ms. Olson said she has to apply for this grant annually and they just have some educational material to hand out in the meantime.
Ms. Yoder said she is hoping to address a few key points in the brochure, such as where do water sources come from, what materials might be hazardous to drinking water and provide a list of where people can responsibly dispose of hazardous materials. Mr. Skeen said his department doesn’t accept polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), which is oil out of old transformers or DET. Chairman Dinning said people need to know where to take certain items. Mr. Skeen listed a few materials the landfill will accept. Ms. Olson explained that printing of the brochure would be kept local.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign a letter of support for the Source Water Protection Grant for the Boundary Soil Conservation District. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
The meeting with Ms. Olson, Ms. Yoder, Mr. Daniel, and Mr. Skeen ended at 1:40 p.m.
1:43 p.m., Commissioner Cossairt 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 Bertling second. Commissioners voted as follows: Chairman Dinning “aye”, Commissioner Cossairt “aye” and Commissioner Bertling “aye”. Motion passed unanimously. 2:12 p.m., The executive session was continued to tomorrow at 2:15 p.m.
Commissioners tended to administrative duties.
Property owner Bill Hayden and Realtor C.J. Tuma joined the meeting at 3:04 p.m.
Kootenai Tribe of Idaho Administrative Director Theresa Wheat joined the meeting at 3:05 p.m.
3:15 p.m., Ms. Wheat met with Commissioners to make introductions as the new administrative director for the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho and facilitator for the Kootenai Valley Resource Initiative (KVRI). Commissioners updated Ms. Wheat about KVRI updates she will put before Commissioners on the third Monday of each month along with Bonners Ferry Ranger District Kevin Knauth, who provides updates on Forest Service projects. Commissioners updated Ms. Wheat on the protocol to be added to their meeting agenda when she has matters for them to address or documents/letters to sign.
The meeting with Ms. Wheat ended at 3:30 p.m.
3:30 p.m., Commissioners contacted Dennis and Pam Sanford via telephone to discuss a matter regarding a residential placement permit. Chairman Dinning said if he understands correctly, the Sanfords had difficulty getting a building location/residential placement permit. Ms. Sanford said their application for the permit was denied. Chairman Dinning questioned the denial being based on no platted subdivision application from 2005. Chairman Dinning explained that Commissioners have been discovering some of the county’s Planning and Zoning processes from years ago had not been followed properly by the Planning and Zoning Office. Ultimately Commissioners will need to address these matters in a hearing where a date will be selected that all parcels created before that date are grandfathered; however, that will not fix the matter in time for the Sanfords, according to Chairman Dinning. Being that there are already parcels surrounding this property that were sold and have houses on them, in interest of fairness Commissioners will grandfather and approve this parcel. Normally, this takes a public hearing, but Commissioners want to be fair. The Sanfords said they’re very excited to be back in Bonners Ferry and they’re so committed to the community. Ms. Sanford said being an educator, it broke her heart when she first learned their permit would be denied. Ms. Sanford explained that between 2008 and 2012 she taught special education at the high school and she’s coming back to be the special education director.
Commissioners stated that they would meet with the county’s civil attorney tomorrow at 2:15 p.m. to discuss this further and get the proper verbiage for their motion.
The call to discuss the Sanford’s residential placement permit ended at 3:40 p.m.
Mr. Hayden and Mr. Tuma left the meeting at 3:40 p.m.
Commissioner Bertling left the meeting to speak with the Road and Bridge Department to learn what comments and suggestions were made by the State Insurance Fund representative about the Road and Bridge shop and office. Commissioner Bertling updated Commissioners on the discussion upon his return to chambers.
Commissioner Bertling left the meeting at 4:07 p.m.
There being no further business, the meeting recessed until tomorrow at 2:15 p.m.
***Tuesday, September 13, 2022, at 2:15 p.m., Commissioners met in regular session with Commissioner Wally Cossairt, Commissioner Tim Bertling, Clerk Glenda Poston, and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser. Chairman Dinning was out of the office tending to other matters.
County Civil Attorney Tevis Hull joined the meeting.
2:15 p.m., Commissioners resumed their 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. The executive session ended at 2:41 p.m.
Commissioner Bertling moved to appoint Commissioner Cossairt acting chairman in the absence of Chairman Dan Dinning. Commissioner Cossairt second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Bertling moved to accept the resignation of the Road and Bridge Department crusher foreman pending the Idaho Counties Risk Management Program’s (ICRMP) approval. Acting Chairman Cossairt yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioners and Attorney Hull discussed the matter of Dennis and Pam Sanford’s residential placement permit. Attorney Hull said he spoke to Planning and Zoning Administrator Clare Marley about this and she needs to provide him with the names of the property owners who own the properties near this parcel where houses already exist. Commissioners have to justify their decision since the ordinance to address this doesn’t exist. No motion will be made until he gets the information.
The meeting with Attorney Hull ended at 2:52 p.m.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:52 p.m.
______________________________________
DAN R. DINNING, Chairman
ATTEST:
_____________________________________
GLENDA POSTON, Clerk
By: Michelle Rohrwasser, Deputy Clerk