***Monday, September 25, 2023, at 9:00 a.m., Commissioners met in regular session with Chairman Tim Bertling, Commissioner Wally Cossairt, Commissioner Ben Robertson, and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser.
Commissioners said the Pledge of Allegiance.
9:00 a.m., Boundary Community Hospital CEO April Bennett and Hospital Board of Trustees Chairman Paul Hazdovac joined the meeting.
Ms. Bennett and Mr. Hazdovac presented Commissioners with a letter pertaining to potential new board members to fill a vacancy.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to appoint John Solt to the Boundary Community Hospital Board of Trustees to fill a vacated position that has a term expiring January 2026. Commissioner Robertson second. Motion passed unanimously.
Ms. Bennett said the hospital has hired a physician for the rural health clinic and this physician will hopefully start taking patients the first of November. The hospital has also hired new emergency room physicians so that department will be completely staffed. The hospital is going to hold an open house on November 4th to welcome the new provider. This physician will offer same day walk-ins, etc. and he sees everyone from pediatrics to geriatrics. The hospital has its new CT machine installed so it’s up and running. Ms. Bennett informed Commissioners that the hospital is doing well in all departments.
Mr. Hazdovac discussed having held a hospital department head and board meeting and they’re exploring different things to consider for strategic plans and what physical things they can do to update the hospital facility. Mr. Hazdovac briefly discussed the hospital having good financial operations. Ms. Bennett said overall the hospital is doing well and they’re able to care for a lot more patients than before and keep patients local.
The meeting with Ms. Bennett and Mr. Hazdovac ended at 9:11 a.m.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to approve the minutes for the weeks of August 28, 2023 and September 18, 2023. Commissioner Robertson second. Motion passed unanimously.
9:30 a.m., County Civil Attorney Tevis Hull joined the meeting.
Attorney Hull updated Commissioners on various matters he’s working on pertaining to the Riverside Road project, airport leases, junk yards, enforcement of the county’s Land Use Ordinance, and road approaches associated with the Tractor Supply Store.
The meeting with Attorney Hull ended at 9:47 a.m.
10:00 a.m., Restorium Administrator Karlene Magee and Assistant Administrator Diana Lane joined the meeting to give a department report.
Ms. Magee reviewed corrections made to her quarterly report for the months of June through August 2023. Ms. Lane explained billing issues with Molina Healthcare and past due resident room payments. Ms. Magee informed Commissioners that she has an interview scheduled with a potential new resident and they’re admitting another new resident this week.
The meeting with Ms. Magee and Ms. Lane ended at 10:13 a.m.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign the letter to the Solid Waste Department regarding the change to the main landfill site’s days of operation to seven days per week and use of compacting dumpsters at the Naples and Paradise Valley monitored sites, to start off with. Commissioner Robertson second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to declare the following county personal property surplus and offer these items for sale at a public online auction: 1999 GMC Suburban - VIN#1GNFK16R7XJ318130, 1997 white Ford Thunderbird – VIN#1FALP62W9VH137899, and a stack of firewood. Commissioner Robertson second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to designate all three Commissioners as signers on a real estate transaction. Commissioner Robertson second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign Request for Reimbursement #32 for Airport Improvement Project #3-16-0004-017-2020. Commissioner Robertson second. Motion passed unanimously.
10:30 a.m., County Civil Attorney Tevis Hull joined the meeting.
10:30 a.m., Commissioner Robertson moved to go into executive session pursuant to Idaho Code 74-206(1)c, to acquire an interest in real property which is not owned by a public agency. Commissioner Cossairt second. Commissioners voted as follows: Chairman Bertling “aye”, Commissioner Cossairt “aye” and Commissioner Robertson “aye”. Motion passed unanimously. The executive session ended at 11:24 a.m. No action was taken.
Attorney Hull left the meeting.
11:30 a.m., Road and Bridge Department Co-Superintendent Renee Nelson, Road Foreman Brad Barton, Road and Bridge Office Secretary Shelby Hooper, Personnel Director Pam Barton, Bonners Ferry Herald Staff Writer Emily Bonsant, and Local Highway Technical Assistance Council (LHTAC) T2 Program Director Dan Koonce joined the meeting. Mr. Koonce explained that LHTAC provides assistance in administering federal aid projects. The T2 Program is part of a national program and they provide training and technical assistance and most classes require an 80% pass. The Road Scholar and Road Master courses are components of this training. The Road Scholar course consists of approximately 80 hours of training and there are seven core classes and four electives that are taught and it takes four years total to complete. The Road Master course builds upon what was achieved in the Road Scholar program and there are four core classes and five electives. This course also takes about four years. The program allows people to achieve both designations at the same time.
Mr. Barton has received both the Road Scholar and Road Master certificates. Mr. Koonce presented Mr. Barton with plaques for completing both programs.
LHTAC provides additional classes on leadership as well. Currently there are four classes on leadership and Mr. Koonce explained what is involved in those courses.
Mr. Koonce and Ms. Barton left the meeting at 11:36 a.m.
The meeting with Ms. Nelson, Ms. Hooper, Mr. Barton, and Ms. Bonsant ended at 11:45 a.m.
Commissioners recessed for lunch at 12:00 p.m.
1:30 p.m., Commissioners reconvened for the afternoon session with Chairman Tim Bertling, Commissioner Wally Cossairt, Commissioner Ben Robertson, and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser.
1:30 p.m., Road and Bridge Department Co-Superintendent Renee Nelson and Road Foreman Brad Barton joined the meeting to give a department report. Jordan Winkelseth with Wink Inc., and Tim Langley with Perry Construction also joined the meeting.
Ms. Nelson discussed the two road approach variances for Tractor Supply Store in relation to modifying the conditions and granting extensions for them. The approaches were dependent on the parcel division being completed and then the approach permits could be issued to move forward. Due to the time line it delayed the process for the variances. In the Findings, Condition E, states the approach construction to be completed prior to any commercial construction to maintain the integrity of Homestead Loop and to allow installation of traffic control signage to be placed prior to any traffic usage. Condition F, states the approach is to be paved to the right-of-way line and be a minimum width of 40 feet. Ms. Nelson said Condition G, says the stop sign shall be purchased by the applicant and shall be installed by Road and Bridge, so that has been taken care of. The Findings are written so that should the variance not be completed in one year, it’s possible to have an extension, but there is now the issue of getting pavement to fix that approach. Ms. Nelson said Condition E, says “prior to any commercial construction” so can we put a time line of next spring when asphalt will be available? Ms. Nelson said Road and Bridge went out and measured the center points to both approaches so there is no misunderstanding of where those will be, but we will have the issue of weather.
Mr. Winkelseth said as much as they would love to get the pavement done by the end of the year, the way this project got pushed back so far, they’re unable to get paving done. Anything after October 15th is a just a giant question mark and Wink Inc. cannot get on anyone’s paving schedule to get this done. For a realistic timeline, the asphalt plants don’t fire up until May so if he has until the end of May , that’s more realistic. At this point, Wink Inc. won’t get the pavement done before the end of this season. Chairman Bertling said he has no problem, but he wants it in writing that if the road is damaged, the damaged portion will be cut out. Ms. Nelson said she will have to record that any damage to Homestead Loop or both approaches will need to be prepared. A suggested deadline for pavement was mid-June.
The variance applications for both approaches allow construction to be completed, except for F, which references paving is to be done, but Commissioners can allow that to occur in year 2024, and any damage to Homestead Loop prior to paving shall be cut out and repaired as a condition. Chairman Bertling suggested a deadline of June 30, 2024.
Commissioner Robertson moved to modify the Findings and Decision for Variance Application #4-2023 that Condition E would allow construction to be completed and Condition F would extend the date for paving to June 30, 2024. Any damages to Homestead Loop, caused by the applicant or its agent, will be repaired by cutting out the damaged area and restoring the road surface. Commissioner Cossairt second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Robertson moved to modify the Findings and Decision for Variance Application #5-2023 that Condition E would allow construction to be completed and Condition F would extend the date for paving to June 30, 2024. Any damages to Homestead Loop, caused by the applicant or its agent, will be repaired by cutting out the damaged area and restoring the road surface. Commissioner Cossairt second. Motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Winkelseth and Mr. Langley left the meeting at 1:44 p.m.
Mr. Barton reviewed the Road and Bridge report for work being done.
Ms. Nelson discussed the status of Road Standards Ordinance Variance #8-2021. This variance was approved and the property owners involved got their new easement to leave Baldy Mountain Road to access their easement to their property. The original Findings and Decision was not recorded until applicants got the easement and now that they have it, the amended Findings and Decision shows the extension.
Commissioner Cossairt moved to sign the Amended Findings and Decision Variance Application #8-2021 for Baldy Mountain Road. Commissioner Roberson second. Motion passed unanimously.
Ms. Nelson informed Commissioners that the Shiloh bridge has been inspected and the rating decreased from a 10-ton axel weight to a 5-ton axel weight. Ms. Nelson said she may need to research road files for any potential agreements for Wilderness Road.
Ms. Nelson updated Commissioners on the construction of the new Road and Bridge Office. The new office is in one of the truck bays and the floor is now in. The area is getting framed and the electrician is moving wiring, but they need to determine heating and cooling. Road and Bridge Department Co-Superintendent Randy Morris has talked with Formula Fabrication in Libby, Montana, about a multi-zone hyper system, according to Ms. Nelson. There would be one heating/cooling unit in the breakroom, the main office, etc. and the cost is $23,000.00 for five units to run together. Ms. Nelson said the brand is Mitsubishi. Those present discussed wiring and venting. Ms. Nelson said she has $46,000.00 in the Road and Bridge budget for concrete and they’ve used $10,000.00. Ms. Nelson said she doesn’t know what the cost for electrical will be, but she has budget for this system.
Mr. Barton said the Kenworth T21 has an Injector issue. Those present discussed replacing all injectors and Commissioners agreed in having them replaced.
Ms. Nelson discussed possible grant opportunities through the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. Generally, these grants have a limit of $250,000.00 with a 5% match requirement and Ms. Nelson said she would like to see if she could get a grant to cover a portion of costs for the Smith Lake Road project to widen the road. The State of Idaho doesn’t care who owns the recreation area as long as the improvements are for the access to a recreation area. Ms. Nelson also spoke of attending a funding workshop hosted by the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council (LHTAC) so she can see what Road and Bridge could get funding for and she has Parker Canyon Road in mind. Ms. Nelson said the chip spreader has been fixed and discussion was held on creating a list of roads needing chip sealing.
Those present discussed grading and plowing snow with the grader.
The meeting with Ms. Nelson and Mr. Barton ended at 2:22 p.m.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m.
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TIM BERTLING, Chairman
ATTEST:
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GLENDA POSTON, Clerk
By: Michelle Rohrwasser, Deputy Clerk