Commissioners’ – Week of September 21, 2026

Meeting Minutes

***Monday, September 21, 2026 at 9:00 a.m., Commissioners met in regular session with Chairman Ben Robertson, Commissioner Tim Bertling, Commissioner Lester Pinkerton, and Deputy Clerk Stephanie Sims. Clerk Glenda Poston was attending a meeting in Boise and was absent.

 Commissioners said the Pledge of Allegiance.

Greg Lamberty entered the meeting at 9:10 a.m.

At 9:30 a.m., Commissioner Berting moved to sign Certificates of Residency for Erin Carpenter, Penelope McQueen, Olivia Love, Mallory McLeish, and Ivy Dante. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Pinkerton moved to sign Commissioner meeting minutes from the week of September 14^th. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Bertling moved to sign Master Agreement and Addendum’s with Computer Arts Inc./Harris for FY26-27. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Pinkerton moved to sign bid contracts with Maria’s Cleaning for FY26-27. Commissioner Bertling second. Motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Bertling moved to sign Resolution 2026-50 Reserving Forgone Amount for FY26-27. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.

RESOLUTION 2026-50

A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY OF BOUNDARY, IDAHO, RESERVING THE FORGONE AMOUNT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 FOR POTENTIAL USE IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS AS DESCRIBED IN IDAHO CODE §63-802, et al.

WHEREAS, Idaho Code §31-811 empowers the board of county commissioners of each county to levy property taxes; and,

WHEREAS, Idaho Code §31-1605 requires the board of county commissioners of each county in the State of Idaho to pass an annual budget; and,

WHEREAS, Idaho Code §63-802 sets limitations on county budget requests on the amount of property tax revenues that can be used to fund programs and services; and,

WHEREAS, Idaho Code §63-802(1)(a) allows each county to increase property tax budget amounts by a maximum of 3%, plus an amount calculated based on the value of both new construction and annexation added during the previous calendar year, plus an amount for forgone taxes; and,

WHEREAS, Boundary County adopted Resolution 2026-49 regarding foregone in the 2026-2027 Budget that was in error, therefore be it resolved that there is foregone remaining in the amount of $25,434.00 that can be used to fund programs and services in future years; and,

WHEREAS, Idaho Code §63-802(1)(f) requires that the County adopt an annual resolution to reserve additional forgone amount in order to utilize that amount in subsequent years; and,

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY OF BOUNDARY, IDAHO, that the forgone balance for potential use in subsequent years is $25,434.00.

PASSED by the BOUNDARY COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS on the 21th day of September, 2026.

COUNTY OF BOUNDARY

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

s/_________________________________

Ben Robertson, Chairman

s/_________________________________

Tim Bertling, Commissioner

s/_________________________________

Lester Pinkerton, Commissioner

ATTEST:

s/____________________________________________________

GLENDA POSTON, Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners

Recorded Instrument #304387

Commissioner Bertling moved to sign/accept 23 IRA-Boundary Agreement Award. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Lamberty left the meeting at 9:38 a.m.

Chief Jeff Lindsey entered the meeting at 9:58 a.m.

At 10:00 a.m. Commissioner Bertling moved to recess as the Boundary County Board of Commissioners and reconvene as the Boundary County Ambulance Service District Governing Board. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Bertling moved to approve the minutes from August 17, 2026. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.

Chief Lindsey stated that the ambulance was doing great and he was happy to have cooler weather and calls had slowed in September. During the month of August, they had a total of 114 calls.

Commissioner Pinkerton asked if there were any statistics that coincide with weather. Chief Lindsey replied they most calls come in during the months that people are recreating in the summer. It also increases during flu season, however, July and August are typically the busiest months.

Chairman Robertson asked about calls they receive when there wasn’t anything medically wrong and if there were any solutions. Chief Lindsey replied that has been a problem and he worked with the state and legal on the issue.  We are required to respond when a call comes in, but we do not have to do things that are not related to medical. We politely decline to assist with household chores or home health related items. One person in particular was calling 3-4 times a day. Since they implemented the change, the calls have decreased.

Chairman Robrtson noted that the ambulance was at the high school football game. Chief Lindsey replied that it was part of their agreement to provide ambulance coverage to the high school.

Commissioner Pinkerton asked if the ambulance and fire departments are contacted on every call. Chief Lindsey replied that the ambulance was included on every call. However, they evaluate the call to see if their service was needed before responding. He gave an example of smoke sighting does not need an ambulance response. He added that fire departments frequently respond and the ambulance provides training to fire departments for EMR. Chairman Robertson asked if all departments take them up on that training. Chief Lindsey said that their classes are usually full when they are offered. He said that Paradise Valley, South Boundary and North Bench receive the most calls and they all have EMR. Hall Mountain had their own EMS.

The meeting with Chief Lindsey ended at 10:15 a.m. and he left the meeting.

Commissioner Bertling 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.

Probation Officer Alisa Walker and IDJC District Liaison JD Storm entered the meeting at 10:29 a.m. and Mr. Storm handed out the Juvenile Justice Report for 2025. He said that there were sixteen youth arrests in 2025 which was down from twenty in 2024. Of the sixteen arrests, twelve were admitted into an Idaho detention facility. There were forty-five charges in 2025 with six felony, thirty-seven misdemeanor and two status offense. He noted that there was a considerable drop from 2024 numbers.

Commissioner Pinkerton asked why there was a decrease. Ms. Walker replied that there were groups of kids committing crimes last year instead of individuals. Mr. Storm said that you will see high risk kids move through, so it will ebb and flow. All other counties are seeing an increase in felonies, so Boundary County was an anomaly. Ms. Walker added that Boundary County does have to rely on other agencies because we don’t have the capacity to hold juveniles.

Commissioner Pinkerton asked about stats for reoffenders. Mr. Storm referred him to the report showing the department had a 97% success rate for 2025.  He also noted the 12% rate of youth who recidivated at 6, 12 and 24 months. The national average was 30%, so he felt the kids were being well served by the county. He also noted that 52% were 14-16 years old, and 37% female/63% male. Statewide female numbers were increasing.

Commissioner Pinkerton asked if there were any opportunities with the Job Corp, he felt that would help with diversion if you can get them into the programs. Ms. Walker replied that we only have them for a year and mostly focus on helping them get their GED during that time. Commissioner Pinkerton replied that they would get their GED and trades experience. They also have recruiters in the centers that you can work with. Mr. Storm said that when kids were released from confinement, they would refer them to the Job Corps if they didn’t have a good homelife to return to. The Youth Challenge Academy was another program that has been utilized.

Mr. Storm then referred to several funding sources used for the program. He added that 33% of that funding came from these sources in 2025 with $27,256 from JCA and $28,451 from Tobacco/Cigarette Tax. He added that Lottery Funds are also received but not reported because it was based on winnings in the county which can vary greatly. He felt Boundary County Probation does a great job and was well respected in the district.

The meeting with Ms. Walker and Mr. Storm ended at 10:50 a.m. and they left the meeting.

John VanGesen entered the meeting at 10:51 a.m. and asked about the jail inspection. Chairman Robertson explained that it was the Commissioners’ inspection that they do each quarter. Mr. Van Gesen confirmed that it was not the state’s report. Chairman Robertson replied that was correct.

Mr. VanGesen left the meeting at 10:55 a.m.

The meeting recessed at 11:00 a.m. while Chairman Robertson and Commissioner Pinkerton went to the jail to perform the quarterly jail inspection.

Commissioners reconvened for the afternoon session at 1:30 p.m. with Chairman Robertson, Commissioner Bertling, Commissioner Pinkerton and Deputy Clerk Stephanie Sims.

Road & Bridge Superintendent Brad Barton and Assistant Superintendent Adam Ryals entered the meeting at 1:21 p.m.

At 1:30 p.m. Mr. Barton said that last week they focused on crushing ¾” chip and ¾” A, sign work along McArthur Lake Rd, set up of traffic counters on Deep Creek Loop, Highland Flats and Schoolhouse Rd. Traffic counters were also picked up on Kootenai Trail and Paradise Valley Roads and they will have that information available soon. Some spot grading was done on Deer Park as well as some sweeping on Mountain Meadows, Kootenai Trail, Moon Shadow, Fawn Ln, Camp Nine and Hagen. Ditches were also pulled on Camp Nine and Hagen.

Commissioner Pinkerton asked about the damage that was done to Big Bend due to fire traffic. Mr. Barton replied the issue was that he had to prove that it was damage caused by fire traffic. Commissioner Bertling said they would talk to the USFS later today and he would take pictures.

Mr. Barton said that Northern Lights did some work along Hwy 2 and they will be working with them next week to address the strip in between that section and the county right of way. Commissioner Berting asked them to make sure they are cut into lengths for hauling.

This week Mr. Barton said they will continue to crush chip, do sign work and paving. The chipseal was finished up last week, so they will also do some maintenance on the equipment before getting it cleaned up and put away for the winter.

Mr. Ryals said for the landfill, one employee’s last day was Friday and they have interviews tomorrow.

Commissioner Bertling moved to go out for bid regarding the County Fuel Supply for FY26-27. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Barton said that their fuel bill was not bad this year because of the mild winter. Most of their fuel burning was from brushing.

Adrienne Norris entered the meeting at 1:44 p.m.

Commissioner Bertling asked if they learned anything at the LOMO workshop they attended. Mr. Barton said yes, it was helpful to learn that other areas are having the same issues with lithium batteries that we are. Legislation was coming, but nothing was in place at this time. Vapes are also a problem. Mr. Ryals said coming up with a plan was also difficult, because every battery was different and requires special handling which was expensive. It was a common problem for everyone. He will continue working on a hazardous waste disposal program and was hoping to get some prices included with that. He hoped to have someone on site occasionally so that they could take them on the spot.

Chairman Robertson asked how often that would happen. Mr. Ryals said we can do whatever works for us. Bonner County does it once per week. Chairman Robertson suggested that we look into piggybacking with them.

The meeting with Mr. Barton and Mr. Ryals ended at 1:56 p.m. and they left the meeting.

Ms. Norris wanted to discuss the North Bench fire location at the airport. Commissioners again confirmed there are no issues and they have several years left in their current lease. Commissioners also said they were interested in continuing the lease when the term was up.

Ms. Norris felt the Commissioners should have conversations with other fire chiefs about combining. Chairman Robertson said those conversations have already started, but reminded her that it takes time. It was also ultimately up to the people who live in those districts and what they want.

Commissioners also reconfirmed their stance from the public hearing, stating that in order for a taxing district to move forward, it would need to be set up correctly from the beginning and North Bench needs to address their debt.

Kootenai Valley Resource Initiative Facilitator Theresa Wheat called in to the meeting at 2:15 p.m. and reviewed the KVRI meeting agenda. She stated that there will be presentations on the KTOI Restoration Project and KTOI Conservation Nursery and Greenhouse. She also added that Tom Mackey will be attending the meeting as a potential new alternate to fill the roll of Landowner/Industrial.

The call with Ms. Wheat ended at 2:18 p.m.

Bonners Ferry District Forest Ranger Heather Fuller entered the meeting at 2:22 p.m. and shared a Task Order for a twenty-mile section of road repair on FSR 408 (Leonia Road Repair). She said this will fix the washout with no change in access.

She then shared updates on various projects stating that there have been no changes in the timber sales in the last month. She then added that there was a large sale that has been delayed which will have a cascading effect on other projects. The Moyie Meadows project, currently scheduled for 3^rd quarter of 2027 was flexible.

The fuels projects also remained the same. One item of note was that IFM was working Xmas Hills and they will need to do a small project first to gain access. They are working to get permission from a private landowner.

As for roads, the Snow Creek project was finished and she confirmed payment had been received. On Ball Creek, the contractor was done with temporary fords. Chairman Robertson asked if the gate was open. Ms. Fuller replied that it was closed. Chairman Robertson asked why. Ms. Fuller replied that they needed to get the contractor out and she wanted the Kelly humps fixed before opening it for use. Chairman Robertson suggested opening the gate and moving the kelly-tank up so people could use the road up to that point. Keeping it closed when the ground was soft was reasonable, but he felt it should be open to the public now. Ms. Fuller replied that she would consider the suggestion.

Ms. Fuller said that they have already opened Fisher Pk Trail and will open Parker, Trout and likely Smith Creek this week. FSR 2442 may be closed due to suppression repair activities. They are also looking for salvage opportunities and have field trips planned in the near future.

Chairman Robertson said there was a lot of traffic directed to Big Bend, which was the detour road during the fire. It was a county road, but it was not designed for the heavy traffic that was directed there. He asked if there was any way to get financial help with the gravel and grading that will need to be done to repair the damage. Ms. Fuller replied yes, but we have to show damage and would need documentation. She can then add the P code to get it authorized. Commissioner Bertling volunteered to get photos and suggested that Road & Bridge prepare documentation on the dollar amount. Ms. Fuller replied that there should be no issues, as long as we can prove damage.

Commissioner Pinkerton asked about closure orders and if she wrote those. Ms. Fuller confirmed that she did and the regional office was in charge of the maps. Ms. Fuller prefers to put a soft closure in place to notify the public rather than waiting for the process. In an emergent situation you don’t have time to figure out the process and her first concern was public safety.

Ms. Fuller again said there will be a couple field trips to Smith and Border fires. The first will happen on September 30^th and second one at a later date if that doesn’t work. The time was yet to be determined.

The meeting with Ms. Fuller ended at 2:54 p.m. and she left the meeting.

Ms. Norris left the meeting at 2:58 p.m.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:51 p.m.

 Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at 9:00 a.m., Commissioners met in regular session with Chairman Ben Robertson, Commissioner Lester Pinkerton, and Deputy Clerk Stephanie Sims. Commissioner Bertling and Clerk Glenda Poston were absent.

At 9:00 a.m. Commissioners held an elected officials/department head meeting. Those present were: Emergency Management Cory Thatcher, Appraiser Melissa Kramer, Probation Alyssa Walker, Road & Bridge Superintendent Brad Barton, Assistant Superintendent Adam Ryals, Prosecutor Andrakay Pluid, U of I Extension Educator Amy Robertson, P&Z Tech Jenn Maynard, Treasurer Jenny Economu, Maintenance Supervisor Squire Fields, and Veterans Officer Wayne Olin.

Commissioners went around the room and received updates from those in attendance. Commissioners updated everyone on the road obliteration of Ball Creek and the current status.

The meeting ended at 9:19 a.m. and everyone left the room except Mr. Thatcher.

At 9:30 a.m. Mr. Thatcher stated that he had received notice of their grant award for the 2025 SHSP. The grant was divided per capita to the states and then divided again by population. The amount awarded was $26,150.96 which was less than the previous year. Mr. Thatcher will do some research to see how that was spent in the past to give Commissioners some options to consider. He said the categories are pretty broad and they had a couple years to spend the money.

Commissioner Pinkerton moved to approve the 025 SHSP Grant Award Agreement. Chairman Robertson stepped down as chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Pinkerton then complimented Mr. Thatcher on how well he handled the emergencies this summer. He was also happy to hear that their will be an “After Action” meeting regarding the Turner Hill fire. It will be good for everyone to see where there was room for improvement and what you can actually accomplish. Mr. Thatcher said his primary focus would be water, communication, command structure, and evacuation notice.

Commissioners then discussed communication issues for first responders in the county and what options are being considered to overcome the issues. Mr. Thatcher said that most other areas have switched or are in the process of switching to digital radios. They are interoperative with all other systems and are the preferred. He said that he and Sheriff Stolley have discussed it and both would prefer to use it as a backup system first to see how it works throughout the county before eliminating the current system.

The meeting with Mr. Thatcher ended at 9:58 a.m. and he left the meeting.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:23 a.m.

s/________________________________

BEN ROBERTSON, Chairman

ATTEST:

s/_______________________________

GLENDA POSTON, Clerk

By: Stephanie Sims, Deputy Clerk