***Monday, April 23, 2018, 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 residents Marty Martinez, Terry Spence and Blue Sky Broadcasting News Reporter Mike Brown were in attendance of the meetings off and on throughout the day.
9:00 a.m., Road and Bridge Department Superintendent Clint Kimball joined the meeting to give the departmental report. A written report was presented. Mr. Kimball spoke of participating in a walk through with Three Mile Water District to check the water main on Oxford Loop. This road is closed to through traffic due to the amount of standing water, which was rising over the weekend. Mr. Kimball said he received an indicator of funding for engineering services for the Atkins Canyon slide project. A drone was used to provide a 3D rendering of the area. Mr. Kimball spoke of working on asphalt on Meadow Creek Road as well as receiving a report of someone dragging a log between two Ruby Creek bridges.
Mr. Kimball said he will run some tests on certain roads to see if they are ready to be opened.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to authorize the Chairman to sign the Agreement for Professional Services with HMH, LLC. For the Deep Creek Loop MP 1.1 slide repair. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to authorize the Chairman to sign Key No 19046 Local Professional Services Agreement for Ruby Creek #2 Bridge, Phase II Final Design. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
9:13 a.m., Commissioner Pinkerton 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 Kirby second. Commissioners voted as follows: Chairman Dinning “aye”, Commissioner Pinkerton “aye” and Commissioner Kirby “aye”. Motion passed unanimously. The executive session ended at 9:30 a.m. No action was taken.
Mr. Kimball left the meeting at 9:30 a.m.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to sign Certificates of Residency for Sydney Nelson and Myla McKechnie. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Chairman Dinning said the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) is aware of the snowmobile grooming permit with Stimson Lumber Company and as accessing Stimson land involves crossing over property belonging to IDL, Commissioners have scheduled a meeting for Monday, April 30th to consider entering into a similar agreement with IDL.
Chairman Dinning said Commissioners learned they were awarded $25,000 through the GEM grant for the regional sewer feasibility study.
9:42 a.m., Deputy Clerk Nancy Ryals joined the meeting.
Commissioner Kirby moved to go into closed session pursuant to Idaho Code 31-874. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously. 9:45 a.m., Commissioner Kirby moved to go out of closed session. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to approve indigent case 2018-15. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to deny indigent cases 2015-11 and 2015-12. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Deputy Clerk Ryals left the meeting at 9:46 a.m.
Commissioners recessed until 10:15 a.m.
Chairman Dinning said the Planning and Zoning Office is getting very busy and currently the Planning and Zoning Administrator works 28 hours per week. Commissioners contacted GEM Plan last week and they sent information to Commissioners stating that within the period of one year an employee cannot average 30 hours per week without it affecting insurance so Commissioners will need to visit with Mr. Moss about this. During the busy period, Commissioners might be able to have Mr. Moss work additional hours without exceeding that 30 hour average. Commissioner Pinkerton said that is about one day per month and he doesn’t have a problem with that.
Clerk Poston informed Commissioners that there have been scheduling conflicts between Planning and Zoning Commission meetings and drug court with regard to using the large court room the third Thursday of each month. The third Thursday is the day drug court is held, which is the same day as the Planning and Zoning meetings and hearings. Commissioners said they would talk to the Planning and Zoning Commission about this.
Chairman Dinning said there are two tax deeded properties that did not sell at the last public auction that Commissioners want to sell so they will advertise to seek sealed bids for these two parcels.
Commissioner Kirby moved to seek written sealed proposals for two parcels that did not sell at the most recent county tax deeded property auction. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.
10:20 a.m., Chief Deputy Clerk Tracie Isaac joined the meeting at Commissioners’ request.
Chief Deputy Clerk Isaac informed Commissioners that she was approached by Chris Sabin, Parks and Recreation Maintenance Supervisor, about hiring two high school students to work on occasion for the Parks and Recreation Department. Chairman Dinning suggested contacting Parks and Recreation Board Chairman Rob Tompkins as to the proper process to take and Commissioners questioned why a couple students were being hand-picked when the county usually posts a position vacancy. Clerk Poston discussed the budget for Parks and Recreation labor. Commissioners said the position needs to be posted and one of the students cannot be hired for this position due to nepotism.
Chief Deputy Clerk Isaac left the meeting at 10:25 a.m.
Commissioners tended to administrative duties.
Boundary County Emergency Services Director Mike Meier joined the meeting at Commissioners’ request to provide a general update on Emergency Service matters.
Mr. Meier said so far it has been a quiet year, but with temperatures rising it could get interesting for secondary streams. Mr. Meier spoke of participating in a table top exercise at the Libby Dam and he stated that in his business they look at potential threats. There had been a slide at the Libby Dam and on a level between one and five, this issue is a level three, which is an event that “could happen”. Mr. Meier said he was surprised to hear that and he added that if there were to be a lot of earthquakes in that area, the slide will create a large wave and the way the dam is designed, the generator house would collapse causing a loss of control such as power. It is not certain what issues that loss of power would cause to include opening or closing all the gates, etc. It would take eight to 12 hours for the effects to reach Bonners Ferry, according to Mr. Meier. There would be a semi fast increase in water levels and debris, but it would not be a big wave. Communications is handled out of the Libby Dam control room so in an emergency that could be a problem as well. If something happened at the dam, there will be time to notify people, according to Mr. Meier. You would see flooding closer to Canada, but it would not be a tidal wave. If the dam was breached, water would fill the valley below, but the canyon would help act as a water break. Mr. Meier said he is pleased to learn that Boundary County has moved up the call tree list for any issues with the dam.
Mr. Meier informed Commissioners that there will be a joint wild fire exercise coming up on May 18th with Bonner County and costs for this will be shared through grants for both counties. Mr. Meier explained that this exercise starts out as a residential house fire in north Bonner County and the fire proceeds north and crosses into Boundary County and gets into a residence there. This exercise involves federal government agencies, Idaho Department of Lands, etc., and it involves McArthur Lake, which closes the highway down and the hospital gets involved as well. This will be a good exercise as it involves all agencies to include Transcanada Gas and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, according to Mr. Meier. Mr. Meier also spoke of participating in a countywide exercise with Panhandle Health District.
Chairman Dinning informed Mr. Meier that if everything falls into place, Boundary Ambulance Service will move up to the armory, the Probation Office will relocate to the building currently called the ambulance barn, which is located behind the Courthouse, and the county will remodel the armory to house the Sheriff’s Office. Commissioners said Mr. Meier’s current office will change, but they don’t yet know what this change will look like.
Chairman Dinning mentioned the county is updating its Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
Those present discussed coming into wild fire season and warming conditions causing snow packs to melt. Mr. Meier said this last year has been a good year for relationship building and the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) meetings are well attended.
The meeting with Mr. Meier ended at 11:18 a.m.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:24 a.m.
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DAN R. DINNING, Chairman
ATTEST:
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GLENDA POSTON, Clerk
By: Michelle Rohrwasser, Deputy Clerk