***Monday, November 20, 2023, at 9:00 a.m., Commissioners met in regular session with Chairman Tim Bertling, Commissioner Wally Cossairt, Commissioner Ben Robertson, and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser.
Commissioners said the Pledge of Allegiance.
9:00 a.m., Courthouse Security/Bailiff Ben Reinhardt joined the meeting to update Commissioners on quotes to update the Courthouse telephone system. Mr. Reinhardt informed Commissioners that he has received two bids so far, from Firstline Communications and Intermax Networks. Mr. Reinhardt explained that the prior telephone system was changed to a digital system, but it’s not an Internet Protocol (IP) or cloud-based phone system due to the costs to update the Courthouse. In a few years, the Mitel phone system will no longer be serviced at the Courthouse. The service providers will have to conduct a building walk through for a new system. Commissioner Cossairt suggested waiting to upgrade the phone system until a couple offices have been remodeled. Mr. Reinhardt said he’s also looking into upgrading the Courthouse security camera system and he mentioned a couple people he’s talking to about that.
The meeting with Mr. Reinhardt ended at 9:30 a.m.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign the Certificate of Residency for Aliah Bard. Commissioner Robertson second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign the Idaho Department of Lands Request for Reimbursement #2 for the Temple Deer Dawson II Wildland Urban Interface project, Grant No. 20HFR1-Boundary. Commissioner Robertson second. Motion passed unanimously.
9:32 a.m., County Civil Attorney Tevis Hull joined the meeting.
Attorney Hull updated Commissioners on matters he’s working on to include airport related leases, a proposed one-year ground/hangar lease for one of Burt Wolf’s hangars, and Planning and Zoning Ordinance matters.
Attorney Hull left the meeting at 9:54 a.m.
Commissioner Robertson moved to sign the plat map for Lapadat Subdivision, Section 12, Township 61 North, Range 1 East. Commissioner Cossairt second. Motion passed unanimously.
10:00 a.m., Boundary Ambulance Service Chief Jeff Lindsey joined the meeting.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to recess as the Board of Boundary County Commissioners and convene as the Boundary County Ambulance Service District Governing Board. Commissioner Robertson second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to approve the minutes of October 16, 2023 for the Boundary County Ambulance Service District Governing Board. Commissioner Robertson second. Motion passed unanimously.
Chief Lindsey said he hasn’t heard any news about the grant application Boundary Ambulance Service submitted for a new ambulance. The application period closed on Friday, November 17th. Other than that, Boundary Ambulance has been extremely busy. Commissioner Cossairt asked about the schedule of use of the ambulance units. Chairman Bertling commented on using $100,000.00 out of the ambulance fund to put toward a new ambulance unit. Chief Lindsey said if Boundary Ambulance Service isn’t awarded the full amount they applied for, that would be a huge help.
Chief Lindsey left the meeting.
10:09 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 Robertson second. Motion passed unanimously.
10:28 a.m., Kootenai Tribe of Idaho Administrative Director/Kootenai Valley Resource Initiative Facilitator Theresa Wheat joined the meeting to update Commissioners on this evening’s KVRI agenda topics. Chairman Bertling asked about the grant the Tribe was just awarded pertaining to solid waste infrastructure for recycling. Ms. Wheat said she heard the award amount was approximately $500,000.00.
The meeting with Ms. Wheat ended at 10:45 a.m.
11:51 a.m., Linda Hall with Bonners Ferry Veterinary Clinic joined the meeting to discuss concerns regarding feral cats in the county and possible funding to remedy the problem. Bonners Ferry Herald Staff Writer Emily Bonsant also joined the meeting.
Ms. Hall introduced herself and explained the reason for wanting to meet with Commissioners. Ms. Hall explained how she and Dr. Hall acquired their cat, Buddy who has since passed away. She spoke of setting up the Buddy Hall Memorial Fund to help with funding the cost of spaying and neutering feral cats. This program has been advertised through 9B News and the newspaper and the support the program has received has been phenomenal, raising between $8,000.00 and $10,000. The fund began November 16, 2023, and in the last two weeks 35 cats have been spayed. Currently, Bonners Ferry Veterinary Clinic spays or neuters two feral cats per day. The cost for this program is $20.00 per cat and additional money is taken out of the memorial fund to help offset the cost of anesthesia, etc. The schedule is one Saturday per month. Ms. Hall said people who participate in this program are required to sign a consent form in that the cat is feral, its ears will be clipped once it’s had surgery, and if the animal is too ill, it can be euthanized. The veterinarian would like to see this be a permanent program and Ms. Hall said she is letting everyone know that when she passes away, this program will be in perpetuity. Ms. Hall read aloud the high number of litters produced by cats and she said to multiply that by the number of cats in the county. The number of unwanted pets is over 1 million per day. 71% of cats that enter a shelter are euthanized. Ms. Hall provided more history on feline pregnancy and kitten cycles. Spaying and neutering is the only method that is 100% effective. Intact male cats living outside live less than two years on average per research, according to Ms. Hall.
Ms. Hall explained that she would like to see a coalition established involving different entities that are experiencing this problem. There is a tremendous issue with strays at the landfill, fairgrounds, and people all over the county who are cat hoarders with the issues not being addressed to them. Ms. Hall said constituents are saying this has been a problem forever and it’s not been addressed, but she is taking on the challenge. She feels every animal should have the opportunity to live a decent life. It’s not fair to these animals. Ms. Hall said she’s here to ask Commissioners if there is any way to set aside funding to help alleviate some of these problems county-wide and together we can make a difference. Chairman Bertling commented on residents reaching out about feral cats and how to get help in dealing with them and he explained that there are different places down the road from him with a lot of cats. Ms. Hall said the vet clinic provides live traps and volunteers who will set and monitor the traps. Ms. Hall suggested having a booth at the fair for their coalition that could addressing this. If more people know this program is available, they will think of the neighbors they can help. Chairman Bertling said it would be good to bring this issue up at the next joint city/county meeting. The next meeting is to be held sometime in January of 2024.
The meeting with Ms. Hall ended at 11:26 a.m.
11:30 a.m., Boundary County Undersheriff Rich Stephens joined the meeting. Undersheriff Stephens mentioned researching the ability of the Sheriff’s Office to trespass people within city limits and enforcing county ordinances within incorporated jurisdictions.
11:32 a.m., County Civil Attorney Tevis Hull joined the meeting.
Attorney Hull updated Commissioners as to the general rule of the Idaho Association of Cities or Counties as it pertains to this enforcement, stating that county ordinances cannot be enforced in city jurisdictions. Attorney Hull commented on trying to work this out legislatively, but this matter is not uniform in the state, so he’s reached out to Terry Derden out of Boise, but he has not yet heard back from him. One issue pertains to camping, but also trespassing people and the Sheriff’s Office is looking for authority to do that, but they would need Commissioners’ approval. Undersheriff Stephens asked if it would be a case by case basis? Attorney Hull said if the Sheriff’s Office has the authority to trespass a person any time they have overstayed on county property greater than 72 hours, then they have the authority. It will need to be done by resolution, per Attorney Hull. Attorney Hull said he would determine the prosecution side of things. Undersheriff Stephens and Attorney Hull discussed resetting the clock when a person picks up and moves to another location, which theoretically a person can do, according to Attorney Hull. There may be an exception, but one issue is that the county ordinance dictates what happens on county property, but the county doesn’t pay taxes to the city.
Undersheriff Stephens and Commissioner Robertson discussed parking issues at the waterways boat launch.
The meeting with Undersheriff Stephens and Attorney Hull ended at 11:45 a.m.
Ms. Bonsant left the meeting at 11:58 a.m.
Commissioners recessed for lunch at 12:00 p.m.
1:30 p.m., Commissioners reconvened for the afternoon session with Chairman Tim Bertling, Commissioner Wally Cossairt, Commissioner Ben Robertson, and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser.
1:30 p.m., Road and Bridge Department Co-Superintendents Renee Nelson and Randy Morris joined the meeting to give the department report. Mr. Morris provided a written report and reviewed work being done. The excavator is up at Deer Creek, crews are out sanding and applying salt brine, brushing on Farm to Market Road, storms drains have been cleaned out, and rock has been hauled to various roads.
Ms. Nelson said she received a quote for having the Moyie Springs pit logged and 10 loads is anticipated. A couple loads can go to the mill in Moyie Springs, but most would go to the mill in Laclede. Ms. Nelson said the contractor has liability insurance and they would take care of everything needing to be done, and she mentioned the agreement with the mill, paying for trucking, and the Idaho Department of Lands permit. The mill would send the county a check for the percentage. Ms. Nelson said the contractor said they would be able to log the site this winter. Ms. Nelson commented that with more residents in that area, they need to get the pit fenced. She reached out to County Civil Attorney Tevis Hull to see what she needed to do and was told an independent contractor agreement detailing the logging work to be done will need to be signed. Road and Bridge will also work on getting a quote for fencing the pit, but last time they received a quote it was almost $100,000.00.
Ms. Nelson said Road and Bridge is looking at submitting a Local Highway Rural Investment Program (LHRIP) application to get some work done. This is the same agency they sought funding from for work on Brown Creek Road. For fiscal year 2025, Road and Bridge could work on Kootenai Trail Road all of the way from Highway 95 to Atkins Canyon. Based on price, seven miles of this road could be improved for under $100,000.00. The application is due November 30th. Commissioner Robertson asked how Road and Bridge makes their decision when choosing roads to improve. Ms. Nelson explained the Surface Transportation Program (STP) Program, which provided funding for improvements to Deep Creek Loop. Ms. Nelson used Parker Canyon Road as an example and said just applying chip seal to Parker Canyon Road would be a waste based on what the road needs, such as cement treated base (CTB), then pavement and then chip seal for maintenance. To determine what road will be improved involves traffic counts, is the road a major collector route, etc.? Other than a little brushing, Road and Bridge has done a lot of ditch work to Kootenai Trail Road already, so this road is ready to go. Those present discussed the condition of various roads.
Commissioner Robertson moved to sign the application for grant funds through the Local Highway Rural Investment Program (LHRIP) for oil to chip seal approximately seven miles of road and to sign associated documents. Commissioner Cossairt second. Motion passed unanimously.
The meeting with Ms. Nelson and Mr. Morris ended at 2:21 p.m.
There being no further business, the meeting recessed until tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.
***Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at 9:00 a.m., Commissioners met in regular session at the County Annex with Chairman Tim Bertling, Commissioner Wally Cossairt, Commissioner Ben Robertson, and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser.
9:00 a.m., Commissioners held an elected officials/department heads meeting. Present were: Chairman Tim Bertling, Commissioner Wally Cossairt, Commissioner Ben Robertson, Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser, University of Idaho Extension Educator Amy Robertson, Assistant Landfill Superintendent Richard Jenkins, Noxious Weeds Department Superintendent Dave Wenk, Coroner Chad Workman, Veterans Service Officer Brooke Blagrove, Courthouse Maintenance Squire Fields, Assistant Restorium Administrator Diana Lane, Undersheriff Rich Stephens, Road and Bridge Co-Superintendent Renee Nelson, and IT Director Matt Hodges.
Chairman Bertling reminded those present to remember to be cautious of phishing emails requesting direct deposit information be changed, etc. The State of Idaho has adopted a retirement plan and a representative is coming to the Annex on December 4th to meet with employees one on one if they’re interested in learning more about the plan.
Commissioners went around the room for department updates. Veterans Service Officer Brooke Blagove introduced herself to the group. The meeting ended at 9:40 a.m.
9:45 a.m., University of Idaho Extension Educator Amy Robertson met with Commissioners to update them on the various programs being offered by the University of Idaho Extension Office. The meeting ended at 10:10 a.m.
There being no further business, the meeting ended at 10:10 a.m.
10:10 a.m., There being no further business, the meeting adjourned.
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TIM BERTLING, Chairman
ATTEST:
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GLENDA POSTON, Clerk
By: Michelle Rohrwasser, Deputy Clerk