***Monday, December 16, 2019, at 9:00 a.m., Commissioners met in regular session with Chairman Dan Dinning, Commissioner Wally Cossairt, Commissioner Walt Kirby, Clerk Glenda Poston, and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser.
Blue Sky Broadcasting News Reporter Mike Brown was in attendance of the meetings off and on throughout the day.
9:00 a.m., Road and Bridge Department Co-Superintendents Renee Nelson and Randy Morris joined the meeting to give the department report.
Commissioners gave the opening invocation and said the Pledge of Allegiance.
Commissioner Kirby left the meeting to tend to a personal matter.
Mr. Morris presented a written Road and Bridge Department report. Mr. Morris informed Commissioners that Road and Bridge is working to tear the deck off of Trout Creek Bridge today and it shouldn’t take very long. Ms. Nelson mentioned that tonight she will be attending the Boundary County School District Board meeting at Valley View Elementary School in order to present the Naples Elementary School Pedestrian Safety Improvement project to the board members.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council Local Strategic Initiatives 2019 Project Closeout Forms for the Tobe Way & Plato Drive Roadway Improvements Project. Acting Chairman Dinning yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.
Ms. Nelson updated Commissioners on topics discussed at the most recent Boundary Area Transportation Team (BATT) meeting with the legislators to include the discussion of vehicle registration tax or fuel tax.
Ms. Nelson informed Commissioners that Scott Wood is now the bridge engineer for the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council (LHTAC) and he looked at the Myrtle Creek Bridge with them. Mr. Wood also took pictures of Deep Creek Bridge #3 where the wing wall was hit so he will make sure no structural damage was done. The final inspection of the Crossport Guardrail project was done and by the middle of this week Road and Bridge should have all the final documents for the Atkins Canyon/Kootenai Trail Repair Project ready for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Chairman Dinning questioned if the county wanted to divert the creek near Crossport Road to the low side of road, can that be done through a 319 Grant project as it involves fish and sediment, etc.
Commissioner Walt Kirby returned to the meeting at 9:16 a.m.
Mr. Morris said just putting in a ditch on that side of the road would be great. Chairman Dinning said the slough doesn’t get deep, but it backs up to the culverts.
Ms. Nelson asked if she is still supposed to be posting news releases on the county’s website’s main page. Chairman Dinning said yes.
The meeting with Ms. Nelson and Mr. Morris ended at 9:25 a.m.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to nominate Dan McDonald as the Catastrophic Health Care Cost Program Board member for District 1. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Courthouse Maintenance John Buckley joined the meeting at 9:27 a.m.
Mr. Buckley mentioned he’s looking into the water leak associated with the Waterways Building/Rocky Point boat launch. The water line was put in before the pavement and office were put in, according to Mr. Buckley. Mike Kelly with Kelly’s Excavating followed the water line with a detector and got close to where the sewer and gas line go, but lost the trail as there was too much noise. Commissioners and Mr. Buckley discussed the quote from American Leak Detection of the Inland Northwest consisting of $950.00 for a half day, plus a travel charge. Mr. Buckley said this quote is the best he can come up with. Mr. Kelly reached the location to where the sewer and gas line interference got too loud. Clerk Poston said if it is discovered where the leak is, we need to let Waterways Board Chairman Darron Branson know that he doesn’t need to look into it himself.
Mr. Buckley said the ceiling in the large courtroom has been painted and a wonderful job was done.
Those present spoke of recently receiving an invoice from Larry Jenkins of Reliable Builders for work on Memorial Hall when they were also working on the exhibit hall. The cost for the work on Memorial Hall will come out of the Memorial Hall budget.
The meeting with Mr. Buckley ended at 9:41 a.m.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to approve the payment of $3,363.45 owed to Reliable Builders for work done to Memorial Hall. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign Certificates of Residency for Alissa Pinkerton, Miranda Wenk and Kendall Mock. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Kirby moved to approve the minutes of December 9 & 10, 2019. Commissioner Cossairt second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to adopt Resolution 2020-10. A resolution increasing the Justice Fund Sheriff Budget due to receipt of unanticipated revenue. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously. Resolution 2020-10 reads as follows:
RESOLUTION 2020-10
INCREASING THE JUSTICE FUND SHERIFF BUDGET
DUE TO RECEIPT OF UNANTICIPATED REVENUE
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners, County of Boundary, State of Idaho, did establish an operating budget for the Boundary County Justice Fund Sheriff Budget for fiscal year 2019-2020, and
WHEREAS, Boundary County has received $4,855.36 from the United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service as reimbursement for radios, and
WHEREAS, the Boundary County Justice Fund Sheriff Budget is in need of additional revenue for fiscal year 2019-2020, and
WHEREAS, the addition of this revenue does not affect the tax levy for Boundary County, and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate to increase the Boundary County Justice Fund Revenue Account Number 08-00-0391-0018 and the Boundary County Justice Fund Sheriff Budget Expense Account Number 08-02-899-00, Capital-Other, in the amount of $4,855.36, and
NOW THEREFORE, upon motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried,
IT IS RESOLVED, that the increase to the Boundary County Justice Fund Revenue Account Number 08-00-0391-0018 and the Boundary County Justice Fund Sheriff Budget Expense Account Number 08-02-899-00, Capital-Other, in the amount of $4,855.36 is hereby authorized and ordered, and
IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk is instructed to deliver certified copies of this resolution to the Boundary County Treasurer and the Boundary County Auditor.
DATED this 16th day of December 2019
COUNTY OF BOUNDARY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
s_____________________________
Dan R. Dinning, Chairman
s/_____________________________
Wally Cossairt, Commissioner
s/_____________________________
Walt Kirby, Commissioner
ATTEST:
s/_______________________________________________
Glenda Poston, Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners
Recorded as instrument #280186
Commissioner Cossairt moved to accept the private road name request of El Paso Street that extends beyond the city street with the same name. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to authorize the Chairman sign the State of Idaho Parks and Recreation Request for Retention of County Vessel Funds from year 2019 in the amount of $97,916.00 Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
County Civil Attorney Tevis Hull joined the meeting at 9:45 a.m.
Attorney Hull updated Commissioners on various documents currently under review.
The call ended at 9:48 a.m.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign the Selkirk Cooperative Weed Management Area Grant Request for 2020. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to accept the quote of $36,763.21 from Taylor and Sons Chevrolet for a 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe for the Sheriff’s Office. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign the letter of support for the 9B Trails Riverside Park Project. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioners tended to administrative duties.
10:00 a.m., Boundary Ambulance Service Chief Jeff Lindsey joined the meeting.
Commissioner Kirby moved to recess as the Boundary County Board of Commissioners and to convene as the Boundary County Ambulance Service District Governing Board. Commissioner Cossairt second. Motion passed unanimously.
*Please see Boundary County Ambulance Service District Governing Board meeting minutes*
Chief Lindsey left the meeting at 10:17 a.m.
10:20 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 Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioners tended to administrative duties
10:30 a.m., Bonners Ferry District Forest Ranger Kevin Knauth joined the meeting to provide an update of Forest Service projects. Mr. Knauth spoke of working on planning-type projects such as the Westside Restoration project, which is a 60,000 acre project area. A field trip was conducted last August and it was well attended and a lot of good comments were received. Mr. Knauth said there are vegetation treatments and timber sales that will come out of these projects. A lot are commercial thinning and a lot will come out of the Sundance burn. The Forest Service will do a regeneration harvest of approximately 2,000 acres. Mr. Knauth spoke of having standalone fuels where there won’t be a timber harvest, but they will run fire through the area. The Forest Service does plan to go into some roadless areas to do some prescribed burning as well as timber harvest. Mr. Knauth clarified that the Forest Service is encouraged to do this type of treatment in the general forest and roadless areas.
Mr. Knauth informed Commissioners that the Westside Restoration Project will go out for scoping this Friday, which will open the initial comment period where the Forest Service will lay out what work they are planning to get done in that area. It will involve a lot of recreation work and trail reroutes from private lands to Forest Service lands. Some trail heads and sections are on company land and the Forest Service had been waiting for this project in order to address some of these trail issues as some of the timber work on company lands can muck up a trail, according to Mr. Knauth. For the SnoFalls project there hasn’t been pressure to move the trail head, but the Forest Service will analyze it. For the Myrtle Lake area, the Forest Service will leave the trails that cross company land, but they will put in a new trail head and new trails in the drainage. The Forest Service will find a spot that makes sense for a trail head and it should be a nice change. It was said that historically fisherman used to walk right up the drainage. Mr. Knauth said part of the Westside Restoration Project are two proposed snowmobile parking areas along Snow Creek Road. Chairman Dinning said he knows there has been conversation about that. Mr. Knauth said the parking areas will be constructed and he explained where the two areas are located. Chairman Dinning asked to be reminded about Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) details as the area map had been expanded and he mentioned a change for Boulder to come down to Twentymile Road. Mr. Knauth mentioned that the Forest Service will take comments anywhere along the line for scoping, but they needed to put in a deadline. Then they will review comments after that and build alternatives and draft an environmental analysis (EA). Following that step the Forest Service will put out a draft decision in May or June, which starts the objection period. The plan is for the final decision in the fall of year 2020. Chairman Dinning spoke of three Community Forest Landscape Restoration Projects (CFLRP) from the start to the sale date and he said we’re doing very well at our end.
Mr. Knauth said the Boulder Dash timber sale, which was estimated at 10 million board feet, went out for bid so people have come in for packages. Hart Wall is another timber sale out of the Camp Robin Project and the Forest Service is looking at bids in the third quarter so they were walking this area last week. The Hart Wall is a three million board feet project. Sales include Boulder Dash, Hart Hall, Timbuck Stew, and Robin Hood and the Forest Service is looking at 36 million board feet for fiscal year 2020.
Mr. Knauth said the Forest Service is beginning re-consultation with the Fish and Wildlife Service pertaining to the Access Amendment because not all of the bear management units (BMU) have met standards with the grizzly bear amendment yet. The standards were supposed to have been done in November, but they weren’t so the Forest Service will re-consult. Technically, The Forest Service only had two BMUs still remaining, but due to road density math, core and companies having built new roads in those BMUs, it set the Forest Service behind and they are now below standards. Mr. Knauth spoke of trying to stagger the work so not to be a problem for bears. The re-consult will spell out where we are now and what the Forest Service plan is. The Forest Service will also consult on the delivery of the Winter Travel Plan with the hope of that being winter of year 2023.
The market is down on sales, according to Mr. Knauth. Chairman Dinning said he had heard that mills are full. Mr. Knauth said it could be a relatively slow season in the woods for logging, but he hasn’t seen a real issue with sales in terms of bids received. Chairman Dinning spoke of the target the Idaho Panhandle Region is expected to meet and how that process works. Chairman Dinning added that where he and the district disagree is to let the private sector determine when it’s needed.
Blue Sky Broadcasting News Reporter Mike Brown asked about the status of Bog Creek. Mr. Knauth briefly listed the stage they’re at in the process and said the Border Patrol would like to have work on the road this coming summer. The Forest Service needs to also work on Blue Grass Road, but they need to wait for the decision.
The meeting with Mr. Knauth ended at 10:58 a.m.
11:00 a.m., Boundary Community Hospital Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Preston Becker, Boundary Community Hospital Board of Trustees Chairman Elden Koon and David Koon joined the meeting.
Elden Koon presented Commissioners with Hospital Board of Trustees reappointment recommendations.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to reappoint Paul Hazdovac and Blanche Studer to the Boundary Community Hospital Board of Trustees with terms to expire January 2023. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to reappoint Dennis Dinning to the Boundary Community Hospital Board of Trustees with a term to expire January 2023. Commissioner Kirby second. Commissioners voted as follows: Chairman Dinning “abstained”, Commissioner Cossairt “aye” and Commissioner Kirby “aye”. Motion passed.
Mr. Becker introduced himself to Commissioners and informed them that things are going well at the hospital and that he’s been there for two and one-half months now. Mr. Becker explained that he has approximately 15 years of hospital administration experience. He was born and raised in Post Falls and he has worked in various hospitals throughout the country. Mr. Becker said he loves working in a rural hospital and in rural community where he feels he can have more of an impact. One thing he appreciates is having a local hospital as they see the impacts from their decisions every day and it’s rewarding to know the hospital has had that level of impact. Mr. Becker said he’s worked in a larger hospital in Lake Tahoe and although it was a great experience, you don’t get to see what is going on.
Mr. Becker explained that in his short time at this hospital they’ve started using 3D mammography, which is great for early detection. Patients who have this screening done at Boundary Community Hospital have the same technician and doctor as Kootenai Medical Center who reads the results and that’s great for our community. Individuals who need and should have this service shouldn’t have to travel to Coeur d’ Alene to get it. Mr. Becker said another thing he’s spending time with his leadership team on is learning of other medical providers and stakeholders in the community, etc., as they have the same goals. Mr. Becker said he’s learning the history of the hospital and the community itself. Mr. Becker commented that he‘s reviewing the hospital’s financial history and understanding trends and needs of the community. To date, the hospital is financially in the red, including depreciation, but if you take depreciation out of the mix the hospital is in the black. The hospital is $175,000 in the red with depreciation. Mr. Koon commented that depreciation is $400,000. The amount of uncompensated care for last year was $800,000.00 and Mr. Koon said that equates to approximately 8%. Mr. Koon added that it’s better than two years ago when it was $1,000,000.00 owed in uncompensated care.
Mr. Becker said on February 8th the hospital will have its Festival of Hearts to raise funds to support the 3D mammography service line and he would love to have Commissioners’ participation and to join them for the event.
Clerk Poston informed Mr. Becker that he should be getting a letter about matters pertaining to insurance. Idaho Counties Risk Management Program (ICRMP) is the property insurance carrier and she discussed premiums, adding that they have morphed as far as calculations. The payroll level for the hospital is different than the county’s payroll due to specialty. The county has a little more than $4,000,000.00 in payroll and the hospital has over $12,000,000.00, which drives the county’s premiums. Clerk Poston commented that she will have the county civil attorney review the information as there are some duplications.
Mr. Koon said the hospital is looking at a substantial increase of 71% in their Blue Cross health insurance so they have to try and see how to deal with this. Mr. Becker clarified to Mr. Koon that this percentage was lowered to approximately 33% with negotiations and coming up with two different plans. The hospital will have to come up with $137,000.00 in premiums, according to Mr. Koon. Chairman Dinning said 15 years ago approximately 20 counties got together and formed an insurance pool.
The meeting with Elden Koon, Preston Becker and David Koon ended at 11:20 a.m.
11:25 a.m., Solid Waste Department Superintendent Claine Skeen joined the meeting. Mr. Skeen asked if Commissioners had any questions on the Operations Plan. It was said as opposed to listing specific names, the Operations Plan will keep emergency services generic. JUB Engineering has made the requested changes, according to Mr. Skeen.
Commissioner Kirby moved to approve the Operations Plan for the Boundary County Solid Waste Department. Commissioner Cossairt second. Motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Skeen informed Commissioners that one of his rural site monitors is able to take TV-type monitors that people have thrown away and he recycles them where they’re accepted so they don’t have to go into the hole at the landfill. Those present discussed general recycling matters. Mr. Skeen spoke of budgeting $35,000 for post closures funds, but he would like to work with Ellery Howard on the closure plan.
Mr. Skeen said he’s otherwise been staying busy and he has a new operator that started work.
The meeting with Mr. Skeen ended at 11:55 a.m.
Commissioners recessed for lunch at noon.
1:30 p.m., Commissioners reconvened for the afternoon session with Chairman Dan Dinning, Commissioner Wally Cossairt, Commissioner Walt Kirby, Clerk Glenda Poston, and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser.
1:30 p.m., County Mapper Olivia Drake, Sheriff’s Office Deputy Caleb Watts, County Addressing Coordinator Susan Lumen and Sandy Steinhagen joined the meeting to discuss the matter of assigning addresses from the Kootenai River.
Commissioners and Deputy Sheriff Watts briefly discussed needing to lift the docks at the Rocky Point boat launch in order to make some repairs and needing to use Road and Bridge equipment to assist in completing this task. Commissioners approved the use of equipment and commented that they would let Road and Bridge know that they will be receiving a telephone call about this.
Ms. Drake discussed options for addressing from the Kootenai River. Ms. Drake explained that the county could assign distance markers from Kootenay Lake and head south as one unit of measure, “Option A”. Option B is listed in the Emergency Action Plan from the Corps of Engineers and they use miles starting from the Libby Dam to the Canadian border. Those present discussed using miles versus kilometers and Ms. Drake suggested using miles as that system is already in place. Chairman Dinning spoke of emergencies that have occurred on the river and if we’re coordinating with the Army Corps of Engineers, they’re going to use their system so if the county uses kilometers, it would create confusion so he’s leaning toward using what the Corps has in place as well. It was said if we needed to convert to kilometers, it would get us close to miles. Ms. Drake said on our mile markers, we could also have a kilometer marker, it just wouldn’t be an exact kilometer. Commissioner Cossairt said he feels the county should standardize with the Corps of Engineers. Chairman Dinning said anything pertaining to addressing should refer to miles and he added that it would be good to publicize mileage at each launch. Deputy Watts said that is the future goal when things get established.
Ms. Drake said nautical miles versus English was also a question raised, but we should just stay with English miles. Ms. Drake questioned where the mileage should start and Chairman Dinning said it should start at the same location as the Corps of Engineers. That’s from the dam to the Canadian border, according to Deputy Watts. Zero miles would start at the Libby Dam. Ms. Lumen said our beginning point would be 50 miles. Ms. Drake said we’re pretty much going with the Army Corps of Engineers’ system and it appears that it goes down the middle of the river, but we would have to determine the main river channel for a mile marker if there is an island. It was decided to use the centerline.
Deputy Watts said one question they have is that there is no fire service or medical service access other than the waterways through the Sheriff’s Office. For people who only have access to their property from the river, there is no other parking, etc., so if there is a residence along the river and the homeowner boats to and from their property, are they planning on parking at a county dock? Deputy Watts asked if the property owners, who are planning on building on their property and only have river access, are aware there is no emergency response times to their location. Chairman Dinning said the Comprehensive Plan states there is no responsibility, etc. for emergency response and they would have to meet at another location. Unless they create their own fire suppression the citizens need to realize there are no services available. Chairman Dinning said these particular property owners are aware there is limited access. Ms. Steinhagen mentioned the need to coordinate if there is an emergency call. Deputy Watts said they will have a response plan set up hopefully by June and will use mile markers at every access they can get to. Chairman Dinning said depending on weather, a person might have to get permission to go down the dike and he added that emergency responders cannot just go across someone’s property to get to another property. The property owner needs to understand there is no access other than the river. Chairman Dinning said this goes back to people being responsible for their own decisions and actions and this is what they chose. Those present discussed what to name the Kootenai River centerline as you cannot duplicate and it was decided that addressing will start from the Libby Dam at the centerline. Commissioners were asked if they wanted to identify the mile markers physically in the field as some people like seeing a marker and some don’t. It was said there would be 66 mile markers. Deputy Watts said he would also like to see a mile marker reference book for the river similar to what was done for roads.
1:55 p.m., Kennon McClintock with The Nature Conservancy joined the meeting.
Chairman Dinning said through the canyon everything on the one side is the railroad.
Ms. Drake said for the ordinance change, they’re working on changes as to how they are addressing now. Chairman Dinning asked Ms. Drake to write some proposals and get it to the county civil attorney.
The meeting to discuss addressing from the river ended at 2:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m., Kennon McClintock with The Nature Conservancy presented Commissioners with information on older Forest Legacy applications and he said there are four projects that will close over the next six months. The appraisals are done and these are fairly old applications, except for one, which is a Hancock property and part of north bench land. Those present discussed the snowmobile grooming lease with Stimson Lumber Company and Chairman Dinning said if Stimson closed their property, it would leave snowmobile parking area worthless. People don’t need to go everywhere on Stimson land; they just need to stay on road to get to where they’re going. Mr. McClintock spoke of issues that arose when he worked for another timber company and he said if people just stay on the roads, it would be fine. Mr. McClintock briefly spoke of there just being a few smaller projects to include two companies and three private parties. Mr. McClintock commented that there will not be any Forest Legacy Programs in Idaho for year 2020 as Idaho is behind getting existing projects done.
The meeting with Mr. McClintock ended at 2:18 p.m.
Commissioners tended to administrative duties until their meeting at 2:50 p.m.
2:50 p.m., Steve Moyer with North Star Surveying joined the meeting to have Commissioners sign the Echo Drive Annex Subdivision plat.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign the Echo Drive Annex Subdivision plat for Harold Wedel. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Moyer left the meeting.
3:00 p.m., Boundary County Veterans Service Officer Ron Self joined the meeting to provide Commissioners with an update on veterans matters. Mr. Self informed Commissioners that he had missed a call from someone after he had left the office for the day and when he called the person back, they had already scheduled an appointment with the Veterans Service Office in Sandpoint. Mr. Self said some Wednesdays and every Thursday are the days he’s in the office, although technically it’s officially just Thursdays. Mr. Self discussed helping put flags out on Memorial Day and being involved with the Honor Guard on Veterans Day. Commissioners asked Clerk Poston about the budget for veterans. Clerk Poston said there is $800.00 available for a phone, which also includes internet. Mr. Self said internet is connected through another location. Those present discussed switching the office land line to a cell phone and needing to get a new cell phone number in order to keep the landline so it still appears in the phone book. Chairman Dinning said the calls from the land line could be forwarded to the cell phone. Chairman Dinning said the county will get a cell phone, a phone number and then deal with call forwarding or have the cell phone listed on the answering machine.
Mr. Self said his job has been going great. Mr. Self informed Commissioners that Darrell Heisey with the Idaho Veterans Service Office is leaving and Scott Thorsness will be his replacement. Mr. Self commented that he has appointments with six or seven people on Thursdays. Wednesdays can be both busy and or slow, but the official work day is Thursday. Commissioners discussed getting Mr. Self a new sign that shows the days and hours he is in the office.
The meeting with Mr. Self ended at 3:30 p.m.
Commissioners tended to administrative duties.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m.
___________________________________
DAN R. DINNING, Chairman
ATTEST:
_____________________________________
GLENDA POSTON, Clerk
By: Michelle Rohrwasser, Deputy Clerk