Commissioners' Meeting Minutes - Week of October 28, 2024

***Monday, October 28, 2024 at 9:00 a.m., Commissioners met in regular session with Chairman Tim Bertling, Commissioner Wally Cossairt, Commissioner Ben Robertson, Clerk Glenda Poston and Deputy Clerk Stephanie Sims.

Commissioners said the Pledge of Allegiance.

Fay Almond joined the meeting at 9:02 a.m.

Commissioner Cossairt motioned to sign the Certificates of Residency for Nora Young. Commissioner Robertson seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Cossairt motioned to sign the Extension of CTEL contract when the changes are made and approved by the Civil Attorney Bill Wilson. Commissioner Robertson seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Robertson moved to approve the Commissioner Meeting Minutes from October 21. Commissioner Cossairt seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Robertson moved to sign the Kootenai River Bank Stabilization Joint Application Permit. Commissioner Cossairt seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Robertson moved to sign the Deep Creek Dock Joint Application Permit. Commissioner Cossairt seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

9:10 a.m., Commissioners considered the application to transfer the 2024 County Alcohol Beverage License for Pizza Factory to Marc Holt doing business as the Bonners Ferry Pizza Factory to sell bottled and canned beer and wine by the drink to be consumed on premises. Present were: Chairman Tim Bertling, Commissioner Wally Cossairt, Commissioner Ben Robertson, Clerk Glenda Poston, and Deputy Clerk Stephanie Sims and resident Fay Almond. The meeting was recorded.

The completed application and transfer fee have been received as well as the 2024 State of Idaho Retail Alcohol Beverage License, the 2024 Panhandle Health Food Permit and the transferred 2024 City of Bonners Ferry Retail Alcohol Beverage License.

Commissioner Cossairt moved to approve the transfer of the Pizza Factory’s 2024 County Alcohol Beverage License to Marc Holt doing business as Bonners Ferry Pizza Factory to sell bottled and canned beer and wine by the drink to be consumed on premises. Commissioner Robertson second. Motion passed unanimously.

The meeting to consider the transfer of the 2024 County Alcohol Beverage License for Pizza Factory ended at 9:11 a.m.

Commissioner Cossairt moved to Sign Resolution 2025-2 Authorizing the Disposition of Records of Boundary County Assessor’s Office. Commissioner Robertson seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

RESOLUTION 2025-2
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE DISPOSITION OF RECORDS
OF BOUNDARY COUNTY ASSESSOR’S OFFICE
WHEREAS, the Boundary County Assessor’s Office is currently storing old records of Boundary County; and

WHEREAS, due to lack of storage space, the Boundary County Assessor’s Office has requested permission to dispose of old records; and

WHEREAS, the Boundary County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has advised the Board of Boundary County Commissioners regarding the classification of such records pursuant to Idaho Code 31-871; and

NOW THEREFORE, upon motion duly made seconded and unanimously carried,

IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that the following records be classified and disposed of as follows:

The following records have been deemed permanent by the Boundary County Commissioners on the advice of the County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and permanent records must be kept for a minimum of ten years. The following records are to be disposed of in the county landfill:
Permanent:
 Property Rolls (not including Abstracts) 1999-2014

The following records have been deemed semi-permanent by the Boundary County Commissioners on the advice of the County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and semi-permanent records must be kept for a minimum of five years. The following records are to be disposed of in the county landfill:
Semi-Permanent:
 Appraisal Field Sheets (summary sheets) 2017-2018
 Personal Property Exemptions 2013
 Sales Verifications & Sales Books 1995-2002
 New Construction Roll / Subroll 2013-2018

Regularly passed and approved on this 28th day of October 2024.

COUNTY OF BOUNDARY COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
s/__________________________
TIM BERTLING, Chairman
s/__________________________
WALLY COSSAIRT, Commissioner
s/__________________________
BEN ROBERTSON, Commissioner

Reviewed by and on advice of Prosecuting Attorney this 22nd day of October 2024.

s/____________________________
Andrakay Pluid, Prosecuting Attorney
ATTEST:
s/_____________________________________________________
GLENDA POSTON, Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners
Recorded Instrument #298491

Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign Airport Aid Grant RFF #8 FS Program 24865S. Commissioner Robertson seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Robertson moved to sign Correction for RFF #10 3-16-0004-023-2023. Commissioner Cossairt seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Robertson moved to sign RFF #9 FS Program # 24865S. Commissioner Cossairt seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

9:25 a.m. Squire Fields joined the meeting to give Commissioners a brief update on projects. The tree was removed, he also has people lined up for painting and moving furniture in anticipation of moving the court side of the Clerk’s office into the open office space. Moisture continues to be an issue in the basement. He is also working on an inventory list for the auction.

Ms. Poston asked him to begin gathering items needed for the election.

9:30 a.m. Bill Wilson entered the meeting and he updated the Commissioners on projects he has been working on. Mr. Wilson continues to work with Road and Bridge and he will have draft language in the form of an ordinance soon. There have been some HR issues that he has made progress on. He is still waiting on the conflict check from the firm in Coeur d’Alene and he will contact them again. Mr. Wilson also asked for a copy of the original Ordinance concerning Real Property Uses which Ms. Sims gave him.

Chairman Bertling asked about the RFQ process for the Safeway building and Mr. Wilson explained the process and stated he can help put together the notice for publication. Ms. Poston stated it would be similar to what we did at the annex with an RFQ for proposals and the designer sought bids.

9:50 a.m. The meeting with Mr. Wilson ended and he left the meeting. Resident Fay Almond also left the meeting.

10:05 a.m. Jenny Economu joined the meeting and gave the Commissioner’s her report on the County Accounts through September 30th. Ms. Economy stated that rates are going down. The State Pool held at 5% for now. Mountain West is at 4.2% and Umpqua also went down. Three bonds were called last month with two of them having been reinvested at this time.

Commissioner Cossairt asked if there were any other rate drops in the near future. Ms. Economu stated none that she was aware of. Ms. Economu also had some changes to the tax rolls and presented those changes to the Commissioners. One mobile home was coded for inside the city limits when it should have been coded for outside which resulted in a $31.44 decrease. One item was missing from the translator numbers which resulted in a $4.00 increase. Lastly, the Department of Lands numbers are now included.

Commissioner Cossairt moved to accept changes to the tax rolls as presented. Commissioner Robertson seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Ms. Economu stated that she just received the certified tax rates from the state, so she should be able to start generating the tax notices soon.

10:24 a.m. The meeting with Ms. Economu ended and she left the meeting.

10:30 a.m. Pam Barton entered the meeting. Ms. Barton stated that she was there to discuss the proposed changes to the Sick Leave Bank Policy within the Personnel Policy that had been discussed earlier.

The proposed change would allow new employees to enroll the first year at the new membership rate. Commissioner Robertson asked if the committee was happy with the proposed change. Ms. Barton stated yes. Commissioner Robertson asked how often do people sign up the first year. Ms. Barton responded historically all do. Commissioner Robertson stated that this won’t really change much then. Ms. Barton replied that is correct other than a new employee may have an opportunity to apply sooner, dependent on their hire date.

Commissioner Cossairt motioned to adopt Resolution 2025-3 Amending the Boundary County Personnel Policy. Commissioner Robertson seconded. Motion passed.

RESOLUTION 2025-3

AMENDING THE BOUNDARY COUNTY PERSONNEL POLICY
Rule 10: Sick Leave Bank Policy

WHEREAS, Boundary County has reviewed its employee policy pursuant to the authority conferred by Article XII, Section 2, of the Constitution of the State of Idaho and Title 31, Chapter 8, Idaho Code, and

WHEREAS, Boundary County is a political subdivision of the State of Idaho, operating under the provisions and the laws of the State of Idaho, and as such is authorized and empowered to make decisions regarding its employees’ benefits, and
WHEREAS, it has come to the attention of the Board of Commissioners of Boundary County, Idaho, that the provisions of Boundary county Personnel Policy handbook Rule 10, Section 6 on page 40, under “Sick leave Bank” should be changed to reflect the sick leave bank committee meeting 11/07/2023 changes as follows:

6. An annual open enrollment period shall exist during the month of December of each year during which time any full-time employee may complete and submit an application for membership and by contributing the number of hours recommenced by the Sick Leave Bank Committee and approved by the Boundary County Commissioners for membership through the next calendar year. If a full-time employee is hired (or promoted to fulltime or changed from salaried to full time hourly) after the annual open enrollment period, they may submit an application to become a new member of the sick leave bank in any month of the same year of employment with the full contribution rate for new enrollees until the annual enrollment period. The enrollment would only be valid for the rest of the Calendar year and if the “new member” wishes to renew membership in December of the same calendar year for the following year, they could do so at the current “renewal” rate after having joined the Sick Leave Bank in their first enrollment timeframe.

WHEREAS, it appears to the board that Rule 10, Section 6, should therefore be amended, and NOW, THEREFORE, upon motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried, it is hereby RESOLVED, that the Personnel Policy Handbook Rule 10, page 40, Section 6, be amended to include this resolution.

This amendment is to take place and be in effect as of November 1, 2024

PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 28th DAY OF October, 2024.

COUNTY OF BOUNDARY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

s/____________________________________ Tim P. Bertling, Chairman
s/____________________________________
Walter L. Cossairt, Commissioner
s/_____________________________________
Ben S. Robertson, Commissioner

ATTEST:

s/___________________________________________________
Glenda Poston, Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners
Recorded Instrument # 298492

10:54 Richard Jenkins joined the meeting.

Commissioner Robertson 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 Cossairt second. Commissioners voted as follows: Chairman Bertling “aye”, Commissioner Cossairt “aye” and Commissioner Robertson “aye”. Motion passed unanimously. The executive session ended at 11:13 a.m. No action was taken. Ms. Barton left the meeting.

Mr. Jenkins showed the Commissioners an image of the current sign and a draft of what the new sign would look like. Mr. Jenkins asked the Commissioners for their comments. There was discussion on potential changes to improve the sign and eliminate confusion from the public. Commissioner Robertson was concerned that we need to make adjustments so that all commercial garbage is treated the same.

Commissioner Cossairt asked about the difference between light and heavy. Mr. Jenkins stated that it was heavy if it contained metal or concrete. Commissioner Cossairt then asked about large items that have to be dismantled. Mr. Jenkins thought that should stay the same rate. He also agreed that a 600 lb. limit on mixed household waste for commercial.

It was agreed that Mr. Jenkins would update the information and forward it to the Commissioners for review so that a Resolution could be prepared and the changes could be incorporated into the new sign.

Chairman Bertling asked about the timeline on the permit for the Air Burner. Mr. Jenkins stated that the PTC Application was submitted on Thursday.

11:30 a.m. The meeting with Mr. Jenkins ended and he left the meeting. Jodi Stoddard entered the meeting.

Ms. Stoddard stated that she was there to discuss the increase in rates for the building rentals at the fairgrounds. The Fair Board will be holding a public hearing soon regarding the rate increase and would like to also increase Memorial Hall. The Fair Board is proposing increasing it from $100 to $125 with $100 going to Veterans and $25 for Administration.

Commissioner Robertson clarified that the Commissioners handle the Resolution for Memorial Hall and he asked what the rates are on the other buildings. Ms. Stoddard explained the rates and also added that additional fees have been included for crowd panels, light poles and lighting for night events at the arena. She stated that the cost increases are due to inflation and they are needing to increase the fees to cover those increased amounts. The rentals have increased significantly which she attributes to the website and additional people living in the area.

Commissioners discussed that they would need to hold a public hearing for the increase and would consider combining it with another hearing in the near future.

11:45 a.m. The meeting with Ms. Stoddard ended and she left the meeting.

11:50 a.m. Commissioners recessed for lunch.

1:30 p.m. Commissioners reconvened and Brad Barton and Adam Ryals with Road and Bridge joined the meeting. Residents Adrienne Norris and Daniel Norris entered the meeting.

Mr. Barton updated the Commissioners on projects they are working on throughout the county. Commissioner Bertling mentioned the complaint on Fleming Creek. Mr. Barton stated that he drove it this morning and agreed it has a few areas that need to be addressed.

Mr. Ryals discussed several paving projects that were recently completed or currently happening in the county.

Commissioner Robertson moved to go into executive session pursuant to Idaho Code 74-206(1)a, to consider hiring a public officer, employee, staff member or individual agent, wherein the respective qualities of individuals are to be evaluated in order to fill a particular vacancy or need. This paragraph does not apply to filling a vacancy in an elective office or deliberations about staffing needs in general. Commissioner Cossairt second. Commissioners voted as follows: Chairman Bertling “aye”, Commissioner Cossairt “aye” and Commissioner Robertson “aye”. Motion passed unanimously. Ms. Norris and Mr. Norris left the meeting at 1:45 p.m. so that the executive session could take place.

2:20 p.m. Mr. Barton and Mr. Ryals left the meeting.

The executive session ended at 2:25 p.m. with no action taken. Adrienne Norris and Daniel Norris rejoined the meeting.

2:28 p.m. Nissa Henslee joined the meeting. Ms. Henslee reported that she was there to discuss a lot line adjustment for their property. She has been working with Reun Yaeger but has made no progress. She was very frustrated, she has called, left messages and no one returns her call. She feels that there should be some response regardless of what else is going on.

Chairman Bertling stated that Ben Jones was hired earlier this year and is trying to get up to speed. Tessa is training him and Clare assists when she can. They are backlogged because of the public hearing.

2:33 p.m. Ben Jones with Planning and Zoning joined the meeting.

Ms. Henslee asked if there is anything happening to streamline some of the procedures within the department. Commissioner Robertson expressed his frustration with the process as he too is working on a lot line adjustment and is currently 2 months into the process. Ms. Henslee stated that Mr. Jones has been as helpful as he can but that the existing processes are too formal and that there should be a fix to the bottlenecks to keep things moving forward.

Chairman Bertling stated that changes are coming with oversight and transfer. However, the requests are taken in the order received. Ms. Henslee felt that was a problem and they should be able to handle them in parallel so that some projects can move forward.

2:35 p.m. Mr. Norris left the meeting.

Ms. Henslee asked if Ruen Yaeger is long-term to fill the gap. Chairman Bertling responded that it will be a step process to bring it in-house. Commissioners then discussed the tax base and funding shortfalls involved.

Ms. Henslee would like to see operational changes within the departments to make things easier without costing the county more money.

Ms. Norris asked what the timeframe is for having an in-house P&Z. Chairman Bertling responded that there isn’t a timeline currently in place. Commissioner Robertson stated that when Mr. Jones is up to speed, he would need another person in that department to assist, making it at least two years out.

2:45 p.m. The meeting with Nissa Henslee ended and she left the meeting.

2:48 p.m. Ms. Norris left the meeting.

There being no further business, the meeting ended at 2:50 p.m.

Deputy Clerk’s Note: The meeting at 2:00 p.m. with Linda Lederhos was cancelled, therefore it did not take place.

Tuesday, October 29, 2024 There were no items on the agenda therefore the Commissioners did not meet.

s/________________________________
TIM BERTLING, Chairman

ATTEST:

s/_______________________________
GLENDA POSTON, Clerk
By: Stephanie Sims, Deputy Clerk

Date: 
Wednesday, November 6, 2024 - 08:00
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