**Monday, November 21, 2016, 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.
Commissioners gave the opening invocation and said the Pledge of Allegiance.
Road and Bridge Department Superintendent Clint Kimball joined the meeting to give his department report. Mr. Kimball presented a written report. Those present talked about the condition of District Five Road with regard to drainage issues. Mr. Kimball said the grader is heading to Pine Island Road today.
County resident Marty Martinez and Blue Sky Broadcasting Reporter Mike Brown joined the meeting at 9:06 a.m.
Mr. Kimball continued reviewing his department report. Road and Bridge will be fixing bad spots on Meadow Creek Road, Old Highway Two Loop, and Plantation Road using rock. Mr. Kimball spoke of mechanical work being done to Road and Bridge equipment.
Commissioners presented Mr. Kimball with two innovation award plaques they had received at an Idaho Association of Counties conference for Road and Bridge’s sandbag filler.
Chairman Dinning informed Mr. Kimball that Breezy Way is not recognized by UPS and FED Ex and he asked if the road naming process starts with Road and Bridge or the county mapper. Mr. Kimball said the process starts with Road and Bridge so he will check their GIS information.
The meeting with Mr. Kimball ended at 9:16 a.m.
Chairman Dinning mentioned that he needs to check the Road Naming Ordinance as someone has been given information that they need to establish a road name for a private road once there are three residences built on it.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to authorize the Chairman to sign the Northern Lights Retirement Authorization form allowing Northern Lights to remove an old power pole and attached equipment from Boundary County property located next to the Boundary County landfill. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to authorize the Chairman to sign the Amended Juvenile Justice Annual Financial Report. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to adopt Resolution 2017-3. A resolution authorizing the sale of surplus county property at public auction. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously. Resolution 2017-3 reads as follows:
RESOLUTION NO. 2017-3
A Resolution Authorizing the Sale of Surplus County Property at Public Auction
WHEREAS, Boundary County owns surplus personal property, which is not being used by the County and for which the County is presently obliged to provide storage space, and which the various department heads and the Board of Boundary County Commissioners have determined is not necessary for the County’s use; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Boundary County Commissioners are authorized under Idaho Code Section 31-808 to sell or offer for sale at public auction, after not less than ten days’ previous notice given by publication in a newspaper of the county, any property, real or personal, belonging to the County but not necessary for its use; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Boundary County Commissioners believes it is in the best interest of the County that the surplus property described as in “Exhibit A” be sold and therefore desire to sell the property so described at public auction as provided in Idaho Code Section 31-808.
NOW, THEREFORE, upon motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried, it is
RESOLVED that, after publication of notice in the Bonners Ferry Herald in the manner and for the time required by Idaho Code, the personal property of Boundary County described as in “Attachment A” be offered for sale at public auction at a date and time determined by the Boundary County Commissioners.
DATED this 21st day of November, 2016.
COUNTY OF BOUNDARY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
s/_____________________________
Dan R. Dinning, Chairman
s/______________________________
LeAlan L. Pinkerton, Commissioner
s/______________________________
Walt Kirby, Commissioner
ATTEST:
Glenda Poston
Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners
By: s/ __________________________________
Recorded as instrument #269114
“EXHIBIT A”
December 2016 Boundary County Surplus Auction Items:
1 – 1986 Nissan Pickup Truck, VIN #JN6ND11S1GW011285
1 – 1995 Ford Truck with Ambulance Body, VIN #1FDKE30FXSHA67947
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to sign Certificates of Residency for Gregory Ward, Christopher Negoi, Jessica Allinger, Natasha Webster, Katherine Boger, and Reed Hoeferlin. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Chairman Dinning said he will contact the Idaho Counties Risk Management Program (ICRMP) as he feels it would be a good idea for ICMRP to host a meeting for the county’s advisory boards on the Idaho open meeting laws.
Chairman Dinning said Idaho Fish and Game has an elk mount they use in their exhibits and they don’t have anywhere to store it and asked if it could be mounted at the Courthouse for some time. Chairman Dinning mentioned that Judge Julian said it could be mounted upstairs in the court room, but that Commissioners’ should also give their approval. Commissioners will let Senior Conservation Officer Brian Johnson know that it is okay to mount the elk in the Courthouse.
9:31 a.m., Commissioners contacted County Civil Attorney Tevis Hull via telephone.
Attorney Hull mentioned the Red Cross memorandum of understanding (MOU). The liability issue is the document indicates that if someone is sued for a tort claim, it is based on a percentage of negligence. Attorney Hull said if Red Cross or HEART is using the fairgrounds for training purposes, it should be the fault of Red Cross and HEART and be their negligence. Commissioners asked Attorney Hull Tevis to write a letter explaining this.
Attorney Hull provided a status update on the property purchase agreement with Walter Merrifield. The paperwork is being updated and will be sent to Commissioners for signature.
Attorney Hull said he is still reviewing the Pack River Road matter.
Attorney Hull said he is still looking into the matter of having Road and Bridge plow snow in front of the Curley Creek Fire Station on Silver Springs Road as it is not a county road.
Commissioners updated Attorney Hull on the matter of Medicaid residents at the Restorium. Commissioners discussed setting a target of a certain number of residents who are on Medicaid as well as having a new incoming private pay resident commit to a period of time as a private payer and if they have to go on Medicaid after that point, the county will hold off on accepting any more residents on Medicaid if that certain number is reached. Attorney Hull said what if there are 10 residents and four are already on Medicaid and the other six residents run out of funding so then there are 10 people on Medicaid? Chairman Dinning said the county will wait and not accept any more residents on Medicaid until that number is reduced. It was mentioned that Commissioners could waive that policy as well. Chairman Dinning said Commissioners are just waiting for a recommendation from the Restorium Advisory Board as to the number of residents on Medicaid the Restorium should have. Attorney Hull said he can begin drafting a preliminary agreement now that he has some information.
Attorney Hull informed Commissioners that there is no direct conflict in having a married couple on the same county advisory board.
Commissioners informed Attorney Hull they are aware they need to have a petition in order to dissolve the mosquito abatement district. The petition needs to have a certain number of signatures from property owners within this district’s boundaries. Next would be to hold a public hearing on the matter. Attorney Hull will draft a petition.
Chairman Dinning said Commissioners will contact T&T Farms regarding the two farming leases.
Chairman Dinning said Commissioners will talk to Economic Development Director Dennis Weed about the Foreign Trade Zone schedule of fees.
The phone call to Attorney Hull ended at 9:43 a.m.
Mr. Brown questioned why Commissioners want to dismantle the mosquito abatement district. Chairman Dinning said through the county monitoring is done and there is a contingency for spraying mosquitoes. Clerk Poston explained matters pertaining to the effects on reporting when the Legislative Service Office went into effect and she added that this district has been inactive for many years. The county is not receiving the funding in sales tax so we just need to close the district and clean this process up, according to Clerk Poston. This is not a property tax levy.
Commissioner Kirby moved to approve the minutes of November 14 & 15, 2016. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.
Chairman Dinning mentioned the request for comment on the Forest Service’s Starry Goat Project. The deadline is December 7th.
Commissioners tended to administrative duties.
9:58 a.m., Boundary Ambulance Service (BAS) Board Member Nancy Russell and BAS Chief Jeff Lindsey joined the meeting.
Commissioner Kirby moved to recess as the Boundary County Board of Commissioners and convene as the Boundary County Ambulance Service District Governing Board. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.
10:17 a.m., Commissioner Kirby moved to adjourn as the Boundary County Ambulance Service District Governing Board and reconvene as the Boundary County Board of Commissioners. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.
10:19 a.m., Commissioner Kirby moved go to into closed session pursuant to Idaho Code 31-874. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously. 10:26 a.m., Commissioner Kirby moved to go out of closed session. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to subordinate on the lien for indigent case #2010-4. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
10:23 a.m., Kootenai Tribe of Idaho Administrator Patty Perry and Bonners Ferry District Forest Ranger Kevin Knauth joined the meeting to update Commissioners on Kootenai Valley Resource Initiative (KVRI) and Forest Service matters.
Ms. Perry said KRI is mostly working on its Forestry Committee and the full update will be given in January. At the upcoming KVRI meeting business will be taken care of first and an update will be given on citizen monitoring for the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). Ms. Perry briefly mentioned drafting a letter for signature pertaining to weeds as well as commenting on the Forest Service’s Starry Goat project because of the recreational access component.
Ms. Perry provided Commissioners with a brief update on the burbot strategy.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to authorize the Chairman to sign the letter from KVRI pertaining to weeds on behalf Commissioners. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Knauth provided Commissioners with general project updates. There had been a Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail meeting in Whitefish, Montana and the Idaho subcommittee continues to meet on this matter. The team will do National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) work and they have just met the one time. Chairman Dinning asked if the team will analyze alternatives identified by the local committee or just the route that is proposed. Mr. Knauth said just like any ENPA, they will have the proposed action and one or two alternatives that have been already developed. The local group will probably be asked to assist in all alternatives that are analyzed. Mr. Knauth said work of the subcommittees is not done yet, especially if they have to comment on scoping to voice support and bring the project forward. Ms. Perry asked what the anticipated time frame is and Mr. Knauth and Chairman Dinning said they thought it was spring. It was said if the Kootenai Tribe wants a government to government meeting, it should probably happen prior to scoping. Mr. Knauth said if so, scoping could factor in that discussion. Ms. Perry questioned if there will be a regional forester involved in this or just the local forester. Mr. Knauth spoke of who would be involved.
Mr. Knauth said another project is the Deer Creek project. The Forest Service still anticipates a decision this coming spring, and the first sale is this next summer with a second sale in the fall. Currently, some of this project is tied to the Fish and Wildlife Service. Mr. Knauth said he expects to get the biological opinion back at the end of January. Chairman Dinning said we used to have the Fish and Wildlife Service at the KVRI meetings. Ms. Perry said they never really were successful getting them to the meetings although they got the notice and were sent the meeting minutes.
Ms. Perry said the CFLR projects haven’t been appealed or objected to as of this point. The Grizzly Bear Access Amendment is scheduled for the date of 2019 and a sale will make schedules tight, but it will probably be okay as far as the operations timeline.
Mr. Knauth said scoping for the Boulder Creek Road project is due very soon, but he wanted to wait until after the next Idaho Roadless Commission meeting before going out for scoping. Chairman Dinning said former Sheriff Bruce Whittaker had stopped by Commissioners’ Office and mentioned there had been a memorandum of understanding between the Forest Service, Lincoln County, Montana, and Boundary County and it explained that if something happened to the Kootenai River Bridge the Boulder Creek access was the only connection to Montana. Commissioners will try to find that agreement. Mr. Knauth said he does expect to receive the Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) funds to make the repairs, but he doesn’t know when that will be.
Mr. Knauth spoke of the Five Year Action Plan. Mr. Knauth said he would like to get a group together with Commissioners so they can see the project areas the Forest Service is looking at for the Five Year Action Plan, which is for years 2021 through 2026, but there are a lot of projects going on now before year 2021. Commissioners said it would be easier for them to meet at Forest Service Office.
The meeting with Ms. Perry and Mr. Knauth ended at 10:45 a.m.
Commissioners tended to administrative duties.
10:58 a.m., Emergency Services Incident Commander Bob Graham and Director Dave Kramer joined the meeting to discuss Emergency Services.
Mr. Kramer said with the upcoming changes he thought it was time to start a discussion as to what thoughts Commissioners might have pertaining to filling the Emergency Manager position and how that might look. Mr. Kramer said he has had discussion with the fire chiefs to see if they had any people to recommend and he wondered if Commissioners wanted to advertise, interview, etc., for this position. The person who fills this position should be someone who works well with EMS, fire departments, etc. Chairman Dinning suggested putting this notice out to the public as you never know what talent is out there. Chairman Dinning said the notice will be posted at the Job Service, Bonners Ferry Herald, etc. Clerk Poston suggested reviewing the current job description as it might be outdated.
Mr. Kramer and Commissioners discussed the potential uses of the armory and Mr. Kramer said he would like to sit down with them to discuss uses that may be beneficial. Chairman Dinning said Commissioners haven’t even gotten the agreement finalized as of yet. The county only owns 50% of the property and it is not certain if the state will ultimately give the remaining 50% to the county or if the county will have to pay for it.
Chief Deputy Sheriff Rich Stephens joined the meeting.
The meeting with Mr. Kramer and Mr. Graham ended at 11:08 a.m.
Chief Deputy Sheriff Stephens explained a training drill he attended pertaining to the vulnerability of schools. The training was established by the National Rifle Association after the Sandy Hook School shooting incident. Chief Deputy Sheriff Stephens explained this exercise looks at the whole picture of the situation and also looks at the ability to reduce threats.
Chief Deputy Sheriff Stephens left the meeting at 11:14 a.m.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to approve the minutes of November 7 & 8, 2016. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioners recessed for lunch at 11:35 a.m.
1:00 p.m., Commissioners reconvened for the afternoon session with Chairman Dan Dinning, Commissioner LeAlan Pinkerton, Commissioner Walt Kirby, Clerk Glenda Poston, and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser.
1:00 p.m., County Civil Attorney Tevis Hull joined the meeting to discuss drug court and other matters with Commissioners. Chief Probation Officer Stacy Brown, and Blue Sky Broadcasting Reporter Mike Brown also joined the meeting.
Chairman Dinning said if $5,000 was needed for a two year period of time, is drug court not going to need that funding for the remaining years? Attorney Hull said it is not certain how long that $5,000 will last. According to the current budget, it is for mileage and the cost of awards given to participants through drug court. Attorney Hull said it is anticipated, as we go through this program that we will reach out to the community for certificates on a donation standpoint. Bonner County initially did that and were given certificates from local businesses. There is also looking into funding the testing through the interlock device fund and approaching the Tribe or county for resources. Attorney Hull said they are expecting some expenditures, but they want to keep it as low as possible and they may also look to the district court budget.
Clerk Poston said when talking $5,000, is it the county that is receiving those funds. Attorney Hull said the county would not receive that $5,000 seed money. The mileage is for Drug Court Coordinator Marilyn Miller, which is covered by the $5,000 as would the program awards. Chairman Dinning asked if Clerk Poston is responsible at an audit standpoint. Attorney Hull said no. Money will come from the state as well as receipts. Clerk Poston said Boundary County is getting paid $125 per program slot so does the Supreme Court identify these slots as belonging to Boundary County? Attorney Hull said yes. The county will receive $625 quarterly from the Supreme Court, but it isn’t certain when that will start occurring. These funds are separate from the $5,000. Clerk Poston said she spoke with someone from Shoshone County about this and this person said they do not pay for any counseling as that is paid for by the program participant. Attorney Hull said counseling is paid for by BPA Counseling Services funding. They are paid through the Department of Health and Welfare under the Supreme Court hub as far as authorization to counsel. Boundary County has nothing to do with that and will not have to write a check to the counselor. Clerk Poston asked if the amount of $125 is used for testing, etc., and if Ms. Brown were to conduct the testing, she will keep track of this separately. It was said travel pay for Ms. Miller does not come out of the amount of $125. Attorney Hull said initially mileage will come from the $5,000 seed money. If mileage coverage gets to the point of coming out of the budgetary process, it will be either Bonner County or Boundary County. Clerk Poston said we should establish a trust account of some variety as we need to keep these funds separate. Chairman Dinning said there are going to be five slots and funding for a two year period and we may have people to fill those slots now. The fear is if someone begins this eighteen month program sometime in that initial two year period and it is decided to stop the program. Attorney Hull said he would anticipate that the person who is filling the slot will get to continue the program. The largest effects would be traveling for Ms. Miller at that standpoint, and the program graduation and Attorney Hull said he would imagine that would be minimal.
It was said that defense attorneys are already requesting to extend sentencing of their clients until this program starts for Boundary County. As far as coordinators, Ms. Miller is the District Drug Court Coordinator, then within each county they can choose whether or not to have a separate coordinator. Kootenai County has a fulltime coordinator and Bonner County has a part-time coordinator.
Clerk Poston said the court clerk from her office who will take minutes at the meetings will only be needed one hour every other week. Attorney Hull said he is anticipating two hours of a clerk’s time per month and approximately four hours of a juvenile probation staff’s time for testing. Chairman Dinning said the biggest concern is that this cost is going to grow and he can foresee someone will be involved mid-program and the county will be told they need to start funding the program. Clerk Poston said she has heard the cost increasing and the amount needed just kept growing when it was mentioned in prior meetings. Attorney Hull said the program team knows they ultimately rely on court staff and probation staff and the need to focus on what the responsibility of the county is. The additional expenses are already created.
Commissioner Pinkerton provided a recap of the conversation. Commissioner Pinkerton said in two years this entire matter has to be revisited and there will be some idea as to cost for the future and the county’s ability to say no to the program, and that the funding of $5,000 that is anticipated will carry the program and not be exceeded. Attorney Hull said he agrees.
Supervisory Court Clerk Della Armstrong joined the meeting at 1:23 p.m.
Commissioners updated Deputy Clerk Armstrong on the discussion.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to approve drug court in Boundary County with the conditions that the program will be on a two year trial, no funds will come from Boundary County, limited office resources will be used, and there will be no additional work requirements for court personnel. Commissioner Kirby second. Commissioners voted as follows: Chairman Dinning “aye”, Commissioner Pinkerton “nay”, and Commissioner Kirby “aye”. Motion passed.
Chairman Dinning said Attorney Hull has been the contact person as of late so will those who are in charge be receptive of Commissioners’ concerns so we can fix these issues. Attorney Hull said he will continue to be contact person regarding drug court. Technically it is Judge Buchanan’s matter, but he will be the contact person if things need to be addressed. Attorney Hull said there are more state mandates as to how to deal with these issues, etc., so he is going into this with an open mind and if in two years the program isn’t working, he has no problem telling Commissioners that.
Commissioners and Attorney Hull discussed fines and fees owed to Boundary County as a result of court cases. It was said some fees owing are from cases dating back to the 1990’s that are still open. The amount outstanding to district court is $221,000, $139,000 owed to magistrate court, and approximately $1,300 is owed to Probation. Chairman Dinning asked how much of that figure is delinquent. Attorney Hull said he would guess at least $300,000. District court has stopped issuing warrants of attachment so collection rates have gone downhill. A warrant of attachment means a person is arrested and put in jail and if they have $350 owed to the court, that person can be held in jail at $35 per day and they would get credit for that. So it means that person can spend 10 days in jail. It was asked if there is any other way to collect these outstanding funds. Attorney Hull said yes, some counties turn these fees over to collection agencies. The agency receives a percentage as does the county. Chairman Dinning said what bothers him is that this should be a function of the courts, not the Clerk. Attorney Hull said every fine is separated out differently. This total also includes fees owed to the county. Chairman Dinning asked if a jurisdiction could seek only the amount that is owed to themselves. Attorney Hull said he doesn’t have an answer to that. If the statute says when a fine or fee is collected, a portion goes here, here, here, and here, then if the county only collects its portion, that portion will still be split up as well. Attorney Hull said if someone has a felony conviction and has served their time, that conviction can be reduced to a misdemeanor, but they have to pay their fines and costs for that to happen. Attorney Hull said he thinks Bonner County uses a collection agency, but doesn’t know the parameters.
The meeting with Attorney Hull, Ms. Brown, and Ms. Armstrong ended at 1:48 p.m.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to grant an extension of time and to accept payments of $100 per month beginning December 3, 2016, toward parcel #RP002700020310A and parcel #MH002700020310A. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
2:04 p.m., There being no further business, the meeting recessed until tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.
***Tuesday, November 22, 2016, 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.
9:00 a.m., Commissioners held an elected officials/department heads meeting. Present were: Clerk Glenda Poston, Treasurer Sue Larson, Courthouse Maintenance John Buckley, Planning and Zoning Administrator John Moss, Noxious Weed Department Superintendent Dave Wenk, Restorium Administrator Karlene Magee, Road and Bridge Department Superintendent Clint Kimball, Extension Agent Amy Robertson, Solid Waste Department Superintendent Claine Skeen, Deputy Assessor Tracy Golder, and Chief Probation Officer Stacy Brown.
Chairman Dinning reminded those present to complete the Idaho Counties Risk Management Program (ICRMP) online training course before the deadline of January 1, 2017.
Clerk Poston said the Courthouse Christmas tree will be picked up today and decorated Wednesday, and she added that the Courthouse will do a care and share gift collection for kids again.
Chairman Dinning said it’s looking like the 30 hour work rule will probably change next year, which will help a couple county departments.
Commissioners went around the room asking for department updates.
Mr. Skeen said he has been busy and is in the process of changing things around at the landfill such as the furniture pile so it is more visible to the landfill office. The landfill is now weighing loads and it is going well. Mr. Skeen said he is looking at a different avenue for the wood pile. Mr. Skeen reported that approximately 550 tons of recycling was done last year.
Treasurer Larson said her office is busy with the tax collection, tax deeding, and in addition County Outside Auditor, Leonard Schulte’s audit will start soon.
Mr. Golder said the Assessor’s Office is busy getting ready for the November 28th deadline for Board of Equalization appeal forms to come in for the sub-roll.
Ms. Magee said the Restorium received the gold star award, which is when the state comes to inspect a facility and no issues were found at the Restorium.
Mr. Wenk said he treated 294 lane miles for weeds, used 15,000 gallons of weed treatment, and the Neighborhood Cooperative Program treated more acreage than before at $7.00 per acre. The county received funding to reimburse this program’s participants and it is working well. The Cost Share Program will be done again this next year.
Mr. Kimball said things are going as usual for Road and Bridge. A couple of grant applications for safety improvements, possibly more guardrails, and the Riverside Road Improvement Project have been submitted. Road and Bridge has had various meetings with the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council and the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. Mr. Kimball said he is hoping for another week of grading without rain.
Ms. Brown said the Probation Office is staying busy. Her office had its first minor in possession for alcohol go through the court. This offense used to be a misdemeanor and now it is an infraction with a fairly hefty fine of just under $600.
Ms. Robertson said the Extension Office has a lot of classes coming up and she listed them. Ms. Robertson informed Commissioners that a seed bank will be started in Boundary County and the seeds will be stored at the Extension Office. Chairman Dinning said Boundary County had received a grant and it was awarded to include establishing a big seed bank for trees. Ms. Robertson said even though Friday Friends is fairly full there are still spots available. There will be a food handling class for possibly the Restorium, hospital staff, and the students at Echo Springs.
Mr. Buckley said the flags put up at Memorial Park were a big hit and were appreciated. There is more work to do there, though. Mr. Buckley said in comparing this year to last year, he was shoveling snow every day this time last year. Mr. Buckley informed Commissioners the roof maintenance at Memorial Hall is finished and he is now just waiting for siding material.
Chairman Dinning said Chief Deputy Clerk Isaac is going to look into whether or not the county’s insurance coverage applies while the insured is in another country.
Ms. Armstrong talked about the new Court Odyssey Program.
Mr. Moss said Commissioners have a couple of public hearings scheduled in the next two weeks. People are still coming in to get permits. Mr. Moss said he has completed an office procedures manual for his position in the Planning and Zoning Office so there is documentation as to what his job is day to day.
Clerk Poston said the county is looking into a different telephone system so venders may have stopped by various offices. Clerk Poston said the county had an 84% turnout for the 2016 General Election and 614 people had registered to vote on Election Day.
Chairman Dinning informed those present that Commissioners still did not have a lease finalized for the armory.
Chairman Dinning said Commissioners had an interesting meeting with County Civil Attorney Tevis Hull yesterday in which they discussed the total of fees owed to district court and magistrate court from 1994 to October 2016. The amount of outstanding fines and fees owed to district court is $221,000 and $139,000 is owed to magistrate court so Commissioners are looking into options to retrieve those funds.
Chairman Dinning said Commissioners had voted two to one to implement a drug court in Boundary County on a trial basis to see how it functions.
The elected officials/department heads meeting ended at 9:27 a.m.
9:29 a.m., County Noxious Weeds Department Superintendent Dave Wenk provided Commissioners with his departmental report. Mr. Wenk reported that at year-end he had $4,793.53 in income from weed spray rentals and half of that was from the Lower Kootenai Watershed project totaling $2,300. The rentals are basically with the City of Bonners Ferry and airport. The city is now having Mr. Wenk treat the lift station and alleys in addition to sewer lagoon, etc. Mr. Wenk said there were 587 hours of donated time for the Neighborhood Cooperative Program and $13,500 is in-kind labor and because property owners use their own equipment it equates to $7,000 so that is good. Most work is done by ATV. The number of acreage treated is 1,475 and inventoried acreage was 2,460. Mr. Wenk said he keeps track of how much property is owned that did not need to be sprayed. Mr. Wenk said next year he will find out how many of his rentals are done by Cooperative Program participants. Mr. Wenk reported on details of how much material was purchased for the year-end state audit purposes and that he has treated new invaders to Bonner and Boundary Counties. A total of 2,500 bugs were released this year to treat weeds and it did not cost Boundary County anything. Mr. Wenk said he has set up a new insectary near Katka so he may be able to harvest them at one point.
Mr. Wenk informed Commissioners that he has approximately $48,000 in county inventory so he will not have to buy anything for the next one and one-half years.
Mr. Wenk asked if he will need to start spraying for mosquitoes. Chairman Dinning said Phil Allegretti is not retiring, but he would like Mr. Wenk to become certified as a backup.
Mr. Wenk asked Commissioners if he would be able to assist other departments with work during winter months when work is slower for him. Commissioners said yes and encouraged him to obtain a commercial driver’s license for work he might be able to do for the county.
Mr. Wenk informed Commissioners that he needs to purchase a new spray tank as the existing one is old and the rusty frame wore a hole through it, but he fixed it before it leaked.
Chairman Dinning asked Mr. Wenk if he could look back four or five years to see how many new weed cooperative participants we are getting as opposed to repeat program users.
The meeting with Mr. Wenk ended at 9:50 a.m.
Commissioner Kirby moved to authorize the Chairman to sign the Idaho Department of Lands Reimbursement Request form #4 for the Temple Deer Project as it is time sensitive. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.
Chairman Dinning left the meeting at 10:20 a.m.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m.
____________________________________
ATTEST: DAN R. DINNING, Chairman
________________________
GLENDA POSTON, Clerk
By: Michelle Rohrwasser, Deputy