***Monday, March 21, 2022, 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 departmental report. A written report was provided.
Those present reviewed the work listed on the report.
Ms. Nelson said the project to level and pave the last three and one-half miles of Deep Creek Loop went out to bid and the cost was astronomically more, according to Ms. Nelson. Commissioners asked Mr. Morris and Ms. Nelson to find out more information on costs.
County resident Marty Martinez joined the meeting at 9:07 a.m.
Ms. Nelson said the Children’s Pedestrian Improvement Safety Project ranked 12th out of 50 projects, but there are only funds to cover the first eight projects.
Ms. Nelson spoke of Variance Application 4-2021 for the Solt property and she said it has now been one year from the date of the signed Findings and Decision. Ms. Nelson said the ordinance states that should division not occur within one year of the date the Findings and Decision was signed, the variance shall be terminated. Ms. Nelson asked if there is any way to grant an extension. Chairman Dinning said he doesn’t know what the legal process is. Chairman Dinning suggested Ms. Nelson ask the property owner to submit a request for an extension and then put the matter on Commissioners’ agenda to consider that request. Whatever decision is made will be subject to the county civil attorney’s input. Chairman Dinning added to let the property owner know that it’s not certain the extension is something that can be granted.
Ms. Nelson said she had no updates on the tanker trailer lease or the Alta Forest Products proposed siding on Stagecoach Road.
Ms. Nelson discussed having a conversation with a Union Pacific Railroad representative regarding the lease agreement for Moyie River Road Guardrail Project.
Mr. Martinez left the meeting.
9:28 a.m., 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 9:43 a.m. No action was taken.
Ms. Nelson and Mr. Morris left the meeting at 9:44 a.m.
Clerk Poston made Commissioners aware that she is going to submit the necessary reports to the State of Idaho and US Treasury regarding America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
Marty Martinez and Gregory Lamberty joined the meeting.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to donate the 1998/1999 Dodge Grand Caravan that had been deemed surplus to the Senior Hospitality Center. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign the Federal Aviation Administration Request for Reimbursement #20 for Airport Improvement Project #017 for the Environmental Assessment Project. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
10:00 a.m., Boundary Ambulance Service Chief Jeff Lindsey joined the meeting.
10:00 a.m., Commissioner Cossairt moved to recess as the Boundary County Board of Commissioners and convene as the Boundary County Ambulance Service District Governing Board. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
*Please see Boundary County Ambulance Service District Governing Board meeting minutes*
10:05 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 Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
Chief Lindsey left the meeting.
Commissioners tended to administrative duties until their meeting at 10:20 a.m.
10:20 a.m. Commissioners discussed the agreement with Innovate for addressing as far as possible modifications.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to increase funding and the ceiling cap by $10,000.00 to allow Innovate’s addressing technician an average of 32 hours per week through June 2022, at the Road and Bridge Office. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.
10:24 a.m., Bonners Ferry Herald Reporter Emily Bonsant joined the meeting.
10:30 a.m., Kootenai Valley Resource Initiative (KVRI) Facilitator Rhonda Vogl joined the meeting to discuss various KVRI projects. Bonners Ferry District Forest Ranger Kevin Knauth joined the meeting via telephone to give an update on Forest Service projects.
Mr. Knauth explained that he’s still not allowed to have face to face meetings, but he is hoping in May that staff will be able to come back to work in the office and he will be able to meet with people face to face. In Bonners Ferry the Forest Service is not currently working on a vege-specific National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) project, but they’re working on a categorical exclusion to allow for pre-commercial thinning for the three northern districts and hoping they can cover 20,000 acres for pre-commercial thinning.
Mr. Knauth discussed timber sales, culvert work and pre-road work associated with the Westside Restoration Project and over snow vehicle planning. The next step for the over snow vehicle planning is to start engaging the local community. The Forest Service is getting ready for spring burning as per normal.
Chairman Dinning asked if the Trout-Ball project is ongoing. Mr. Knauth said the Forest Service is still trying to get all bear management units to meet standards as they need to utilize road systems within the Trout-Ball drainage to work on vegetation management.
Ms. Vogl said at tonight’s KVRI meeting Mr. Knauth will provide an update on the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration (CFLR) project. Mr. Knauth said there is an approved project and he’s waiting on funding. The Forest Service may see funds through the Infrastructure Bill, but it’s still a bit early to know. Chairman Dinning asked if someone could double-check the project’s ranking.
Ms. Vogl provided further updates for this evening’s KVRI meeting. Boundary County Emergency Manager Andrew O’Neel will provide a short presentation on the All hazard Mitigation Plan and speak of seeking public input. The Tribe will also put this information on their website. The Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and Grizzly Bear Subcommittee meeting updates will be given. Ms. Vogl spoke of the upcoming 2022 Idaho Forest Restoration Partnership (IFRP) conference. Ms. Vogl and Chairman Dinning discussed matters regarding grizzly bears.
The meeting with Ms. Vogl and Mr. Knauth ended at 10:46 a.m.
11:00 a.m., Commissioners met with Bonners Ferry Funeral Home Director and Deputy Coroner Chad Workman for introductions and general discussion.
Mr. Workman introduced himself to Commissioners and provided information on his personal, educational and professional background. Mr. Workman had worked at a younger age to help his father in their family’s funeral home business in the past, he has earned a degree in biology and after graduating, he went back to work at another funeral home before later moving to Bonners Ferry and purchasing the Bonners Ferry Funeral Home. Mr. Workman is also deputy coroner under Coroner Mick Mellett.
Clerk Poston asked Commissioners to review the agreement pertaining to indigent persons and what the funeral home had agreed to provide. Clerk Poston said Mr. Mellett talked about storage costs so that will need to be revisited.
The meeting with Mr. Workman ended at 11:07 a.m.
11:15 a.m., there being no further business, the meeting recessed until tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.
***Tuesday, March 22, 2022, at 9:00 a.m., Commissioners met in regular session at the County Annex with Chairman Dan Dinning, Commissioner Wally Cossairt, Commissioner Tim Bertling, Clerk Glenda Poston, and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser.
9:00 a.m., Commissioners held an elected officials/department heads meeting. Present were: Chairman Dan Dinning, Commissioner Wally Cossairt, Commissioner Tim Bertling, Clerk Glenda Poston, Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser, Sheriff Dave Kramer, Chief Probation Officer Stacy Brown, Noxious Weeds Department Superintendent Dave Wenk, University of Idaho Extension Educator Amy Robertson, Solid Waste Department Superintendent Claine Skeen, Personnel Director Pam Barton, Veterans Service Officer Ron Self, Courthouse Maintenance John Buckley, Restorium Administrator Karlene Magee, Chief Deputy Treasurer Jenny Economu, Road and Bridge Department Co-Superintendents Renee Nelson and Randy Morris, and Assessor Dave Ryals.
Chairman Dinning said the county is getting ready to start working on budgets.
Mr. Wenk asked about the ability to get involved in the bid system for fuel as at this point, it’s only the Road and Bridge Department. Chairman Dinning said Commissioners will need the estimated gallons used by that specific department.
Ms. Barton clarified that the county will use the current Personnel Policy’s description for the official start of the work week, and this will mainly affect the Sheriff’s Office and the Restorium.
Commissioners went around the room for department updates.
Assessor Ryals discussed how property values are increasing.
Ms. Robertson said she’s looking to fill the AmeriCorps position at the Extension Office. Ms. Robertson listed courses offered at the Extension Office.
Mr. Skeen said the Solid Waste Department is staying busy.
Sheriff Kramer spoke of the types of calls the Sheriff’s Office is receiving from residents new to the community. Sheriff Kramer and Commissioners discussed the status of the Idaho Transportation Department reducing the speed limit south of town and how there have been no changes.
Chief Deputy Treasurer Economu said the Treasurer’s Office is working on tax deeding properties.
Mr. Buckley said he’s very busy. Mr. Buckley informed Commissioners that he is unable to find a contractor to bid on repairs needed to the roof of the Sheriff’s Office.
Ms. Brown said the Probation Office is working on a new program for people aged 16 to 24 years old as it relates to education and employment. Ms. Brown spoke of an upcoming audit of probation offices.
Mr. Wenk said the applications for the Neighborhood Cooperative Weed Management program have not gone out yet. Mr. Wenk mentioned that he will do bare ground treatment once more of the frost melts.
Mr. Buckley mentioned noticing that there is a lot of litter along the roads. Mr. Skeen said the county would need to have a tarp law to require loads be covered.
Ms. Magee said the memory care is up and running at the Restorium and she added that a permanent fence is needed for the memory care area.
Ms. Barton informed everyone that the Public Employees Retirement System of Idaho (PERSI) will have the Ready, Set, Go class available for county employees who want to attend.
Mr. Self said the Veterans Service Office is running smoothly. The conference for veteran service officers is coming up in August. Mr. Self said there is a computer virus going around regarding direct deposit messages.
Mr. Morris spoke of Road and Bridge seeing muddy conditions and he explained how some areas are drying out faster than others. Road and Bridge has been grading roads. Ms. Nelson said there is going to be a kick-off meeting for the School House Road project.
Clerk Poston said budget sheets will go out in April and will be due back in May. There are still employees who need to complete the KnowBe4 computer training. Clerk Poston said when submitting claims, they need to be turned in the week before they’re processed.
Those present indicated whether or not they had any job vacancies.
The elected officials/department heads meeting ended at 9:44 a.m.
Commissioners cancelled the Veterans Service Office report as Mr. Self covered his topics of discussion during the elected officials/department heads meeting.
9:45 a.m., Noxious Weeds Department Superintendent Dave Wenk provided Commissioners with a Noxious Weeds Department report. Mr. Wenk asked Commissioners if he can take his Weed Department truck home to store in his shop when temperatures are freezing so he would not need to winterize the vehicle. Commissioners approved. Commissioners and Mr. Wenk briefly discussed building a shop at the Road and Bridge Office site to house Weed Department equipment.
The meeting with Mr. Wenk ended at 9:50 a.m.
Commissioners tended to administrative duties until their next meeting at 10:15 a.m.
10:15 a.m., Commissioner Cossairt 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. Commissioner Bertling second. Commissioners voted as follows: Chairman Dinning “aye”, Commissioner Cossairt “aye” and Commissioner Bertling “aye”. Motion passed unanimously. 11:45 a.m., Commissioners continued the executive session until 1:30 p.m., and recessed for lunch.
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., Commissioners resumed the executive session pursuant to Idaho Code 74-206(1)a, to consider hiring a public officer, employee, staff member or individual agent. 4:05 p.m., Commissioners recessed the executive session and continued it to tomorrow morning, Wednesday, March 23, 2022, at 9:30 a.m.
***Wednesday, March 23, 2022, at 9:30 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.
9:30 a.m., Commissioners resumed the executive session pursuant to Idaho Code 74-206(1)a, to consider hiring a public officer, employee, staff member or individual agent. The executive session ended at 10:45 a.m. No action was taken.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:45 p.m.
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DAN R. DINNING, Chairman
ATTEST:
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GLENDA POSTON, Clerk
By: Michelle Rohrwasser, Chief Deputy Clerk