***Monday, April 26, 2021, 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 statement 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. Mr. Morris presented a written report to include the prior week’s report.
Those present discussed Cabinet Mountains Water District’s project in relation to road approaches that need variances. Ms. Nelson mentioned there are exceptions in the county ordinances for Planning and Zoning, but there aren’t any exceptions listed in the Road and Bridge Road Standards Ordinance. Chairman Dinning said there could be one hearing for all of the approaches, but it becomes a question of one fee per approach. Chairman Dinning said the county has costs for notices to landowners. There can be one large legal notice that references each application address. It was said the application fee is $220.00 and by the time you add up man hours and mailing costs, etc., it will use up most of that cost. Commissioner Cossairt and Commissioner Bertling said they didn’t have an issue assessing fees in order to recoup the costs so it needs to be one fee per application.
Ms. Nelson mentioned going to bid for calcium chloride palliative materials for dust control.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to go out to bid for calcium chloride palliative materials for dust control. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Chairman Dinning signed the buyback documents for a grader as Commissioners had already made a motion to do so.
Road and Bridge has been working with Three Mile Water District on Roosevelt Road to get water service to a new subdivision. Ms. Nelson commented on having consulted with other counties and engineering firms and learning that other counties are experiencing the same issue with growth and water utilities. A trench box is needed for this project, but none of the drawings had explained this to Road and Bridge. Three Mile Water District will be responsible for this work so they’re requiring a performance bond from the contractor.
Commissioners discussed a matter pertaining to addressing, mapping, etc.
Ms. Nelson informed Commissioners that Jeff Miles with the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council (LHTAC) is retiring and Laila Kral with the Idaho Transportation Department will take over for him.
It was said that Ziply Fiber did send Road and Bridge an invoice for damages to their line on Lions Den Road as Ms. Nelson had requested and that Ms. Nelson sent a reply that Road and Bridge was not working in that area during the time the damage occurred.
The meeting with Ms. Nelson and Mr. Morris ended at 9:24 a.m.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign the Certificates of Residency for Morgan Burt and Brena Gould. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to cancel year 2020 taxes in the amount of $2,866.46, specials/fees in the amount of $172.24 and penalties in the amount of $30.39 for a total of $3,069.09, plus any interest that has accrued for parcel #OCM00000223167A due to error. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
9:31 a.m., Commissioners contacted County Civil Attorney Tevis Hull via telephone.
Attorney Hull informed Clerk Poston that he had responded to her question about a 5% increase for fees. Attorney Hull said that only applies to taxing entities and this is for a Planning and Zoning Ordinance flood plain permit. Establishing a fee for this doesn’t require notice as the matter doesn’t need a hearing. Commissioners will need to adopt a resolution to establish the fee. Attorney Hull said the safe harbor is always to advertise and have a public hearing, but by law Commissioners don’t have to for this.
Attorney Hull said he is going to meet with Planning and Zoning Administrator Clare Marley this afternoon about Planning and Zoning issues.
Attorney Hull commented that he is still working on the Fixed Base Operator Agreement for the airport as well as the parking lot agreement.
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 9:45 a.m. No action was taken.
The call to Attorney Hull ended at 9:45 a.m.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to authorize the Chairman to sign the Idaho Office of Emergency Management 2019 Subrecipient Agreement for the State Homeland Security Grant/Operation StoneGarden grant for the amount of $97,694.00. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to approve the Vendor Contract format for the Fire Safe Program. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to authorize the Chairman to sign the Contractor’s Pay Application for Payment #4 and Invoice Summary for the Boundary County Airport snow removal equipment building. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioners contacted T-O Engineer Trey Dail via telephone at 10:04 a.m., regarding the signing of airport grant related documents.
Mr. Dail said that Commissioners are to sign the Notice of Award, but not the Construction Agreement, which will be taken care of later.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign the Notice of Award for the Boundary County Airport pavement maintenance project and authorize the Chairman to sign the Construction Agreement once funding has been provided. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
The call to Mr. Dail ended at 10:09 a.m.
Commissioners took a short recess until 10:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m., Commissioners held proceedings to consider the alcoholic beverage license application for Bonners Ferry Pupuseria LLC dba Bonners Ferry Pupuseria, located at 6428 Kootenai Street, Bonners Ferry, Idaho, to sell bottled and/or canned beer to be consumed on premises. Present were Chairman Dan Dinning, Commissioner Wally Cossairt, Commissioner Tim Bertling, Clerk Glenda Poston, and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser. The proceedings were recorded.
The completed county application, associated fee, 2021 State of Idaho Retail Alcoholic Beverage License, 2021 City of Bonners Ferry Retail Alcoholic Beverage License and the 2021 Panhandle Health District Permit have all been received.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to approve the 2021 County Alcoholic Beverage License for Bonners Ferry Pupuseria LLC dba Bonners Ferry Pupuseria, located at 6428 Kootenai Street, Bonners Ferry, Idaho, to sell bottled and/or canned beer to be consumed on premises. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
The proceedings to consider the alcoholic beverage license ended at 10:32 a.m.
Commissioners tended to administrative duties.
There being no further business for the morning session, Commissioners recessed for lunch at 11:00 a.m.
1:30 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.
1:30 p.m., Panhandle Health District Director Lora Whalen, Financial Officer Christine Crummer and Public Health Services Administrator Don Duffy met with Commissioners via conference call to discuss various Panhandle Health District matters and to review the proposed Health District budget. Ms. Whalen reviewed statistics for various diseases reported to the Health Districts for District 1 and she also spoke of Senate Bill 1060 and House Bill 316. Ms. Whalen said for the purpose of the budget, Panhandle Health District is assuming it is business as usual as it pertains to House Bill 285 for state appropriation. Boundary County has had a slight uptick in population and valuation and this is information obtained from the 2020 US Census Bureau data.
Ms. Crummer provided an overview of the Health District budget and she commented that the State of Idaho will match 67% of the county contribution. Those present reviewed the allocation of the state general fund. The State of Idaho has $9,745,000.00 and of that District 1 would receive $1,299,500.00. Ms. Crummer relayed the amount of funds from county contributions and she said the remaining amount of $470,000.00 is made up of various dollar amounts for infrastructure.
Ms. Crummer reviewed Page five in that it shows the budget as a whole for fiscal year 2022. The budget for fiscal year 2021 is $12,400,000.00 and the amount of $14,653,000.00 is the revised budget due to COVID-19. Ms. Crummer spoke of budgets decreasing due to prior COVID-19 expenditures and being able to decrease those costs. Operating expenditures have decreased and total capital expenditures increased. Ms. Crummer said for year 2022, the Health District is anticipating accelerating the principal payment for their Hayden facility due to the proposed pay off of the Sandpoint loan. The Health District will take the payment that had gone toward the Sandpoint building and apply it to the Hayden building as the interest is at zero percent.
Ms. Crummer said the Health District is anticipating $18,000.00 for program advances, $383,000.00 from licenses and fees, and there is a decrease of $430,000.00 in health fees. Ms. Crummer reviewed revenue from contracts, grants, donations, and rents and donations. Ms. Crummer mentioned that interest has decreased. $1,237,000.00 is the amount of county contributions.
Chairman Dinning said in fiscal year 2021, originally the budget was $12,400,000.00, then 2,200,000.00 was added due to COVID-19. Chairman Dinning questioned if the new budget for fiscal year 2022 shows COVID-19 moneys that were not expended. Ms. Crummer said the fiscal year 2022 budget without COVID-19 funds is $1,633,000.00.
Those present reviewed county funding. The state’s county funding is calculated based on 70% population and 30% on assessment purposes. Those preset reviewed the county allocation formula. Ms. Crummer reviewed Boundary County’s population and value comparisons. Ms. Crummer said the Health District is not asking for an increase from the counties. Ms. Crummer commented on Boundary County’s contribution this year of $56,973.00 compared to the contribution of $55,307.00 for last year. Ms. Crummer said the average of change has been a 1.65% increase. In fiscal year 2019, 2020, and 2022, the Health District did not ask the counties for an increase. Those present reviewed funding per capita and the impact of inflation. In 1990, the Health District budget was $2,781,000.00 compared to a proposed budget of $14,190,000.00.
The Panhandle Health District has a budget hearing coming up on May 27, 2021. Commissioners need to reflect in their minutes if they want to have Commissioner Bertling represent Boundary County at the hearing as opposed to the chairman. Chairman Dinning spoke of needing to budget differently as the Health District has a different budget year.
Those present discussed protective mental holds as it pertains to legislation.
The call to Ms. Whalen, Ms. Crummer and Mr. Duffy ended at 2:18 p.m.
2:20 p.m. Shane Robinson with Wildlife Services and George Hays joined the meeting.
Mr. Robinson updated Commissioner Bertling on the Wildlife Service program and he said Wildlife Services falls under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and it deals with wildlife issues. George Hays is the county’s representative and Mr. Hays is also on the Animal Control Board for the state.
Mr. Robinson commented that coyote issues have decreased, but there are still a few lions. Those present discussed wolves, grizzly bears, funding, and preventative measures.
The meeting with Mr. Robinson and Mr. Hays ended at 2:55 p.m.
Commissioner Bertling left the meeting to tend to another matter at 2:55 p.m.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign the Certificate of Residency for Rose Owens. Chairman Dinning yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.
Clerk Poston said she received an estimate from Bonners Ferry Builders to remodel the old North Idaho College building, with the exception of new doors, enclosures, cabinets, etc. Clerk Poston said she doesn’t see a need for automatic closing doors unless it’s for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) purposes. Clerk Poston listed the items included in the estimate from Bonners Ferry Builders. Adding entrance doors and automatic closing doors could cost an additional $7,500.00 to the initial total of $35,000.00. Bonners Ferry Builders could start the project May 19th. Clerk Poston informed Commissioners that she met with University of Idaho Extension Educator Amy Robertson and University of Idaho Network Engineer Mike Rusca at the old NIC building and she learned that it will cost approximately $20,000.00 to rewire the old NIC building for a broadband system. Clerk Poston said the county might be able to use Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding, but it’s okay if not. Clerk Poston commented that Bonners Ferry Builder’s date for completion of the remodel might be in the fall as summer is busy for them. Chairman Dinning said Commissioners need to get the parking lot usage figured out.
The discussion regarding the remodel of the NIC building ended at 3:15 p.m.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:15 p.m.
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DAN R. DINNING, Chairman
ATTEST:
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GLENDA POSTON, Clerk
By: Michelle Rohrwasser, Deputy Clerk