***Monday, May 22, 2017, at 9:00 a.m., Commissioners met in regular session with Chairman Dan Dinning, Commissioner LeAlan Pinkerton, Commissioner Walt Kirby, Clerk Glenda Poston, and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser.
County resident Marty Martinez and Blue Sky Broadcasting Reporter Mike Brown were in attendance of the meetings off and on throughout the day.
Commissioners gave the opening invocation and said the Pledge of Allegiance.
9:00 a.m., Road and Bridge Department Superintendent Clint Kimball joined the meeting to give his department report.
Chairman Dinning said he wanted to state that during the meeting with Kennon McClintock about an application for a conservation easement last week, only one private property owner was identified, but he has since learned of another property owner involved in this application and it happens to be a relative of his. Chairman Dinning said had he known at the time of the meeting that his relative was involved, he would have excused himself from the discussion.
Mr. Kimball reviewed his department report with Commissioners and he informed them that Road and Bridge employees completed their first aid training last week. Mr. Kimball said work was done to Meadow Creek Road and Moyie River Road. There is a slough on a hill located between Turner Hill and Deer Park in the area of Krause Road. Mr. Kimball said Road and Bridge also did some work near Moravia on Deep Creek Loop. Mr. Kimball said he had met with a retired state geologist who is now working with the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council (LHTAC) and this geologist is not expecting Deep Creek Loop to have a total failure so Road and Bridge will be laying rock and trying to get traffic through by the end of this work week. A representative from the Idaho Counties Risk Management Program (ICRMP) is comfortable with the verbal report from the engineers.
Mr. Kimball said Road and Bridge is just continuing on, but he is still concerned about funding for his department.
When putting together the notice for the current job vacancy, Mr. Kimball said it should have said “one or more positions” and as of now he has two job openings so Mr. Kimball inquired if he can use the applications that have come in? Commissioners said they were okay with that.
Mr. Kimball mentioned scheduling time to get to Bill Irwin’s property regarding matters pertaining to a pond and looking into culvert issues. Mr. Kimball said drainage is not working well on Grouse Hill Road. A pond has flooded one house and is causing septic tank issues for another residence.
The county has logs laying in its right-of-way on Meadow Creek Road that need to be picked up, according to Mr. Kimball. One option is to share the project with a self-loader, such as finding someone who would be interested in hauling and cutting the logs to length for a percentage. Road and Bridge would normally cut the logs into dump truck lengths, but Mr. Kimball said he needs advice on how to either sell the logs or get them moved and getting a share from the mill, etc. Commissioner Kirby said if Mr. Kimball used a self-loader, wouldn’t that take care of it? The logs are a mixture of various species with some cedar, but not enough cedar for a load. It was mentioned that Mr. Kimball could get a price from Alta and Idaho Forest Group for mixed species. Chairman Dinning said for Mr. Kimball to do what he needs to do.
There has been another large slide event at Atkins Canyon. It is a sizable amount of ground that slid, but it occurred higher up the hill this time. Some spots of this road have been reduced to four or five feet wide. There are logs in the way that need to be moved, and some logs are in the county’s right-of-way while other logs are on Ervin Madson’s property.
Those present discussed the slide off Highway 95 by Mountain Meadows Road. Mr. Kimball said the hillside slid a bit again and it was cleaned up, but the hill slid more. More equipment is being brought in, according to Mr. Kimball. Mr. Kimball said he heard last week that the slide is moving horizontally and since it is drying up, it is now stacking up horizontally.
Work to District Five Road was briefly discussed.
Chairman Dinning asked if Kerr Lake has been graded. Mr. Kimball said yes and he added that the person who wanted to meet with him and Commissioners last week about Kerr Lake had the opportunity to stop by and talk about that, but the individual chose not to stop and discuss it.
The meeting with Mr. Kimball ended at 9:27 a.m.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to sign the Certificates of Residency for Eric Ellis, Reece Bell, Kyler Robles, Victoria Smith, Skyler Lindsay, and Jennica Branson. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Kirby moved to approve the minutes of May 8 & 9, 2017. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to approve the Catering Permit for Wild Horse Mercantile for the June 1, 2017 event at Moose Valley Farms. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioners reviewed quotes for a survey of the landfill property. Commissioners postponed making a decision until they obtain more information in the next day.
Chairman Dinning said quotes were sought for a project manager for hazardous fuels treatment work and only one company, Inland Forest Management, replied by providing a quote.
Commissioner Kirby moved to accept the quote from Inland Forest Management for project management services for hazardous fuels reduction work. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to sign the No Spray Weed Control Agreements for Aimie Feuling and Ray Sayers. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
9:41 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. The executive session ended at 9:50 a.m. No action was taken.
Commissioners tended to administrative duties.
10:00 a.m., Commissioners canvassed ballots from the May 16, 2017, Boundary County School trustees zone election. Clerk Poston confirmed that there were no errors or issues.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved, as a Board of Canvassers of Election, to confirm that the election results are a true and complete abstract of all votes cast within this county for the candidates and/or questions as they appeared at the election held on May 16, 2017, as shown by the records now on file in the County Clerk’s Office. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
10:01 a.m., County Civil Attorney Tevis Hull contacted Commissioners via telephone to provide an update on various matters.
Attorney Hull said he received the timeline of tax extensions pertaining to Ace Elder Care. Commissioners requested that Attorney Hull send a letter to the owner of Ace Elder Care, Dennis Garrett.
Attorney Hull said he is checking with the Attorney General’s Office regarding a situation involving a church. Attorney Hull said he spoke to George Brown with the Attorney Generals’ Office, who was supposed to have sent a letter last week, but it has yet to be received. In another matter involving the Attorney General, a representative was supposed to be coming up this week, but it isn’t certain when.
The call with Attorney Hull ended at 10:05 a.m.
Chief Probation Officer Stacy Brown, Boundary County Emergency Services Incident Commander Mike Meier, Sheriff Dave Kramer, and Bruce Whittaker joined the meeting to discuss plans for the armory.
10:12 a.m., Chairman Dinning said he wanted to have communication with everyone about the use of the armory. The space for the Probation Office has already been squared away. Ms. Brown said she was wondering about the ability to store urine analysis supplies in the men’s room. It was said Ms. Brown could use the lockers. Ms. Brown said her other question is if there is a place to put a couple file cabinets for file storage, even in the area behind the chain link fence. The files could go into a Probation Office, but there are a few files from the Youth Accountability Board dating as far back as 1996 and they have to be kept because the Probation Office is the originator.
It was said Mr. Meier’s office area is set and Boundary Ambulance Service may be meeting in one of the armory’s areas in the future. Each door has a different key and the neither Commissioners nor Clerk Poston has the key as of yet. Chairman Dinning said he met with Sheriff Kramer last week on the proposals for space so he wants everyone who is involved on the same page. We are all county employees so this is for the benefit of all; not just one.
Sheriff Kramer said he had originally wanted to discuss his office’s use of the armory and to review the needs they have and he added that he has nothing against other departments using the building. Sheriff Kramer said he knows this is a temporary situation so he knows the county doesn’t want to insert a lot of funds into the building at this point. It was explained that the front area of the armory has been spoken for, but Sheriff Kramer said he had hoped to use this area for his staff as it is already furnished and has a door.
Chief Deputy Sheriff Rich Stephens joined the meeting.
Sheriff Kramer said the fenced area would not be great for his use. The Sheriff’s Office has nine employees who would work out of the armory, but five of them can use one room and the other four would have separate offices. Sheriff Kramer said part of the frustration is that he had wanted to meet with Commissioners to discuss this before things were put into place, but he was not given that opportunity. Sheriff Kramer said he would eventually like to move the Driver’s License Office in order to open up more space at the existing Sheriff’s Office. Chairman Dinning said he and Sheriff Kramer talked about the fenced area and he had thought it was a good place for ammunition storage. This space was referred to as a kennel and Chief Deputy Sheriff Stephens said it would take some configuring. Sheriff Kramer said it also has to do with morale, but the finished offices have already been designated. Sheriff Kramer added that he has nothing against Mr. Meier as he knows he is working more hours than had been planned.
Sheriff Kramer listed approximately five employees from the Sheriff’s Office who would have their own offices and he would also need a patrol room. Commissioner Pinkerton said this current situation is just a stop gap and once Commissioners know they will get the building, there can be a complete build out.
The meeting to discuss the use of the armory ended at 10:35 a.m.
Mr. Meier remained after the meeting to briefly discuss information on possible state funding available to repair damages caused by recent winter and flooding events. Mr. Meier said he doesn’t have any information on state funding yet, but Jay Baker with the Office of Emergency Management will be attending various meetings and learning more about federal funding. Bonner County will be combined with Boundary County for funds so Mr. Meier will meet with Mr. Baker to see how Boundary County will receive this funding. Mr. Meier said as far as the federal funding, if a culvert needs to be larger, the amount needed for that larger culvert will be funded so the amount increases. Mr. Meier said this process will take time and funds won’t be received right away as it is a four to five year project before it is cleared.
Mr. Meier left the meeting at 10:40 a.m.
Commissioners and Clerk Poston discussed matters pertaining to the office layout at the armory, permission from the National Guard to make changes, and various budget matters.
11:50 a.m., There being no further business, the meeting recessed until tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.
***Tuesday, May 23, 2017, at 9:00 a.m., Commissioners met in regular session with Chairman Dan Dinning, Commissioner LeAlan Pinkerton, Commissioner Walt Kirby, Clerk Glenda Poston, and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser.
9:00 a.m., Commissioners held an elected officials/department heads meeting. Present were: Chairman Dan Dinning, Commissioner LeAlan Pinkerton, Commissioner Walt Kirby, Clerk Glenda Poston, Assessor Dave Ryals, Solid Waste Department Superintendent Claine Skeen, Courthouse Maintenance John Buckley, Extension Office Agent Amy Robertson, Prosecutor’s Office Legal Assistant Cathy Wells, Chief Probation Officer Stacy Brown, Road and Bridge Department Superintendent Clint Kimball, Noxious Weeds Department Superintendent Dave Wenk, Sheriff Dave Kramer, Chief Deputy Treasurer Jenny Economu, newly hired Solid Waste Department Assistant Superintendent Eric Owen, and Restorium Administrator Karlene Magee.
Chairman Dinning said budget requests have been submitted to the Clerk and if someone would like to talk about their budget, they can make an appointment with Commissioners.
Chairman Dinning said the county is going to submit its annual membership payment to Life Flight so if there are any county employees who had planned on participating in this program, today is the last day to get their information and payment to the Clerk’s Office. Life Flight is not in the county’s insurance network so if an employee doesn’t want to sign up for Life Flight and does need their services, insurance won’t cover this cost. The membership cost per family is $50 if signing up through the county’s group.
Chairman Dinning said Commissioners learned that eight northern counties were approved for federal disaster monies. Boundary County has also submitted an application for state funds so Commissioners will see how that goes. Chairman Dinning said the funding that has been awarded applies to public property at this point, not private property, as Commissioners understand. The same misunderstanding occurred during last winter’s snow event in that the public thought the state’s assistance could help them plow their private roads and residences, but that was not the case.
Commissioners provided an update on the proposed new phone system. The various office requests have been submitted to Frontier. The Extension Office is not included in this upgrade as they have a newer telephone system than the Courthouse system.
Chairman Dinning said Clerk Poston has three automatic external defibrillators (AED) that are available so if someone can think of other county locations where it would be good to keep an AED, to let Commissioners know. Mr. Wenk said it would be good to have AED pads for small children in the Extension Office and at the fairgrounds. It was said the fairgrounds have two AEDs. Clerk Poston suggesting contacting Boundary Ambulance Service to obtain the child pads.
Commissioners went around the room for department updates.
Mr. Kimball said Road and Bridge is busy. The highlight of the week for Road and Bridge is trying to open Deep Creek Loop to the public. Deep Creek Loop will be gravel for a while until it can be determined that nothing is going to happen, then it may receive asphalt. Mr. Kimball said out of eight counties our county’s project involving Deep Creek Loop is on the list for more funding for repairs. Four years ago this same road experienced a similar event and there should have been funding for the remainder of the chip sealing project and paving the north end, but now Mr. Kimball said he is considering a package to repair and chip seal Deep Creek Loop all at once. Mr. Kimball mentioned waiting to see if this project can happen this fall or next year. Road and Bridge is patching potholes this week. Very little chip sealing will be done this year, but dust abatement will be done as usual. The budget for Road and Bridge will be tight this year so they are operating very frugally.
Ms. Robertson reviewed a list of upcoming courses offered at the Extension Office. The Friday Friends program will have funding his year through the summer, but will take two weeks off starting the week of the fair until school starts.
Mr. Buckley said he is very busy this time of year, but he will have his helper start this Friday.
Ms. Economu said the Treasurer’s Office is working on June collections and that is going well. This office is also working with the new tax system program.
Ms. Magee said the Restorium staff are working on gardening and getting ready for the Friends of the Restorium picnic.
Assessor Ryals said property assessment notices will be going out in the mail on June 5th and everyone will see a substantial increase in assessment. This increase doesn’t mean higher taxes, but more so a higher property value. The Assessor’s Office has hired a new appraiser. This office is also involved in testing the same new computer system as the Treasurer’s Office and Boundary County is the pilot county for this program.
Sheriff Kramer said Idaho Transportation Department representatives had informed him of their plan for the mudslide along Highway 95 and it is their hope to have two-way traffic flowing by this Thursday evening. The Sheriff’s Office has offered a detention deputy position to someone pending their background check and if all goes well, this person will start June 5th. Changes in the jail have been made so the Sheriff’s Office might possibly meet the jail standards this year although he may need to request a variance for one of the conditions. Sheriff Kramer informed everyone of another drowning incident in the Moyie River. Sheriff Kramer said he is reactivating the inmate labor program and a retired officer will oversee it. The Sheriff’s Office will look into obtaining a trailer-mounted portable toilet for participants of this program.
Mr. Brown said the Probation Office has been busy. Juveniles on probation will help out with weeding at the Restorium, as well as provide help at the landfill and work with Mr. Buckley. Ms. Brown said she has orange vests for roadside work if anyone needs them.
Ms. Wells said the Prosecutor’s Office is busy with a new murder case that is an ongoing investigation.
Mr. Skeen said he has been providing training for Eric Owen, who is the Solid Waste Department’s new assistant superintendent, and he is working on finalizing the landfill operation plan. Mr. Skeen spoke of obtaining open top trailers for recycling. One trailer came from Spokane and the second trailer is still on its way from Seattle. Mr. Skeen said he has to make some changes to the monitored site at the junction of Highway 95 and Highway 1 as the Idaho Transportation Department needs to use some space to stock their salt pile.
Sheriff Kramer spoke of items he has to surplus to include boats, etc., but he is still looking into various grant programs to make sure this way of disposing of the item is allowed.
The elected officials/department heads meeting ended at 9:23 a.m.
9:24 a.m., County Noxious Weed Department Superintendent Dave Wenk joined the meeting to give his department report.
Commissioners and Mr. Wenk discussed an issue involving treating weeds as well as discussed record keeping for documents pertaining to his office, and matters associated with treating ponds and property for mosquitoes, and related costs.
The meeting with Mr. Wenk ended at 9:43 a.m.
Commissioners tended to administrative duties.
10:08 a.m., Commissioners reviewed quotes to have the landfill property surveyed. Quotes were received from North Star Surveying and JRS Surveying.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to accept the lower quote from North Star Surveying to have the existing landfill property surveyed. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:25 a.m.
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DAN R. DINNING, Chairman
ATTEST:
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GLENDA POSTON, Clerk
By: Michelle Rohrwasser, Deputy Clerk