***Monday, December 27, 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 invocation 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. A written report was provided. Mr. Morris said Road and Bridge has gone to split shifts during the winter. Those present spoke of the process to initiate sanding and plowing snow from county roads. Mr. Morris said Road and Bridge is looking into being able to put sand on the roads using a pickup truck.
Ms. Nelson said she has no new information as it pertains to the Union Pacific Guardrail project and as for the Alta Forest Products siding project, Ryan Comer with Alta Forest Products may have answers to her questions soon.
Commissioners commented that someone had left information with them regarding the ownership of Pinnacle Circle, which is the road that leads into the Ridge at Paradise Valley. Ms. Nelson said as far as the matter involving Pinnacle Circle, it sounds like it’s more of a civil issue. Chairman Dinning mentioned having been given a plat for the Ridge at Paradise Valley. Ms. Nelson said Road and Bridge did the approach off of Kootenai Trail for Pinnacle Circle. Ms. Nelson added that County Civil Attorney Tevis Hull had been informed of the ownership question and he asked if the access to the subdivision was dedicated to the public or not and she didn’t know, but it’s never been county maintained or accepted into the county’s road system. It was said that Pinnacle Circle was named a long time ago. The person raising the ownership question felt Pinnacle Circle was a deeded public road. Chairman Dinning said this is a civil matter. Ms. Nelson said she’s available if Attorney Hull needs to call her about this.
Chairman Dinning spoke of the request made by the Curley Creek Fire Department to have Road and Bridge plow snow to their station on Silver Springs and he said the process is not finalized, but Commissioners will need to make the decision on that. Commissioner Bertling said the county cannot be liable if Road and Bridge couldn’t get the station plowed out and there ended up being a fire that the fire department had to respond to.
Chairman Dinning said he will talk with Attorney Hull about the matter involving an easement on Labrosse Hill Road.
The meeting with Ms. Nelson and Mr. Morris ended at 9:30 a.m.
Gregory Lamberty joined the meeting.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign the Certificate of Residency for Aleah Jones. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign the Property Tax Cancellation form for tax year 2021 and cancel tax totaling $849.50 for parcel #RP62N01E106614 as the homeowner’s exemption was received after the July abstract cutoff. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to grant an extension for tax year 2021 taxes and to accept the first half of the tax amount due by December 23, 2021, and to accept the second half of tax amount due by December 31, 2021 for parcel #MH62N02E174665A. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to grant an extension of time to pay year 2020 and 2021 taxes for parcel #MHM013000022VA and to accept monthly payments of $50.00 by the 3rd of every month until the tax amount due is paid in full. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Attorney Hull contacted Commissioners via telephone at 9:50 a.m.
Commissioners updated Attorney Hull on various matters. Chairman Dinning discussed a request from a county resident to install a new water line on county property. The county has an existing line that runs east/west and another property owner wants that line abandoned and he will install a bigger main line on the north line of the county property. Chairman Dinning said he thinks this is a good thing for the county as the county had once indicated in the past that it would relocate the existing line, but this property owner will relocate it if the county gives an easement. Attorney Hull said it could be mentioned in the easement document that there is an existing waterline that would be vacated in exchange for this new line.
Attorney Hull and Commissioners talked about the Labrosse Hill matter as well as the matter pertaining to Pinnacle Circle. Commissioners said the county doesn’t own Pinnacle Circle and they will send Attorney Hull the information they were given on it by a landowner.
It was said that Commissioner Bertling will get in touch with Attorney Hull to lay out what Commissioners need from Tim Tucker for Mr. Tucker’s request for a road abandonment as well as the county Road and Bridge turnaround.
The call to Attorney Hull ended at 9:57 a.m.
Chief Deputy Clerk Nancy Ryals joined the meeting at 10:00 a.m.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign the Certificate of Approval for cremation for indigent case 2022-5. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to approve the invoice from Bonners Ferry Funeral Home for the amount of $2,160.00. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Grant Close-Out Report for Airport Improvement Project #3-16-0004-19-2020 for the amount of $30,000.00. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign Request for Reimbursement #17 and Invoice Summary for Airport Improvement Project #3-16-0004-017-2020 totaling $16,303.87 for the environmental assessment project. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign the Fiscal Year 2021 Federal Financial Reports for the following Airport Improvement projects: #3-16-0004-017-2020 (environmental assessment), #3-16-0004-018-2020 (snow removal equipment building), #3-16-0004-019-2021 (CARES Act), #3-16-0004-020-2021 (airfield pavement maintenance), and #3-16-0004-021-2021 (CRRSA). Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign Request for Reimbursement #1 and supporting documentation for Airport Improvement Project #3-16-0004-021-2021 (CRRSA/CARES Act) totaling $13,000.00. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign Request for Reimbursement #1 and supporting documentation for Airport Improvement Project #3-16-0004-022-2022 (CARES Act/ARPA) totaling $32,000.00. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Deputy Clerk Ryals left the meeting at 10:11 a.m.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to approve and sign the Findings and Decision for Planning and Zoning Application #22-0018 for Craig and Elaine Wheatley for a short plat rural subdivision. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to approve and sign the Findings and Decision for Planning and Zoning Application #21-0224 for Byler Building Systems, LLC., for comprehensive plan and zone map amendments from agriculture/forestry to rural residential. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to approve and sign the Findings and Decision for Planning and Zoning Application #21-0232 for Ruth Eckblad for a short plat primitive subdivision. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to approve and sign the Findings and Decision for Planning and Zoning Application #21-193 for Alta Forest Products, LLC for comprehensive zone map and zone map amendments from agriculture/forestry to industrial. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Bertling left the meeting to conduct the quarterly jail inspection.
Mr. Lamberty left the meeting.
Commissioners tended to administrative duties.
Commissioner Bertling returned to the meeting.
11:00 a.m., Restorium Administrator Karlene Magee and Assistant Administrator Diana Lane joined the meeting to update Commissioners on Restorium matters.
Ms. Magee said the Restorium has 23 residents now. Those present discussed COVID-19 booster shots and Ms. Magee commented on seeing if Panhandle Health District will set up a clinic for the Restorium. Ms. Magee spoke of trying to get back to normal operation at the Restorium as it has been difficult. Ms. Magee said the Restorium’s bus/van doesn’t need new tires after all according to what Les Schwab informed her. The vehicle has all-season tires and they’re fine. The lift on this same vehicle does need repaired, according to Ms. Magee.
Ms. Magee said there is an issue with water in both the short and long hallways at the Restorium and there might be a leak so a plumber is coming out tomorrow. Ms. Magee said the Restorium has a plow for snow, but it doesn’t turn, which makes it difficult and now the steering on the plow truck isn’t working. Ms. Magee asked if she can contact KG&T about snow plowing as they also plow for the hospital. Chairman Dinning suggested getting quotes.
Commissioners asked if the Restorium can go back to having routine staff meetings. Commissioners also informed Ms. Magee that they don’t know anything new about mandates for COVID-19 vaccinations as the issue is stuck in court.
Commissioners said if there are Restorium employees who were not able to use up any additional vacation hours above the 120 hours that are allowed to be carried into the next year, and they would like to retain those additional hours, Commissioners will need an email request from Ms. Magee.
Commissioners gave Ms. Magee approval to purchase a vehicle for the Restorium at a cost of approximately $5,000.00 from Dyck’s.
The meeting with Ms. Magee and Ms. Lane ended at 11:21 a.m.
There being no further business, the meetings adjourned at 11:30 a.m.
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DAN R. DINNING, Chairman
ATTEST:
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GLENDA POSTON, Clerk
By: Michelle Rohrwasser, Deputy Clerk