***Monday, June 15, 2026 at 9:00 a.m., Commissioners met in regular session with Chairman Ben Robertson, Commissioner Lester Pinkerton, Clerk Glenda Poston, and Deputy Clerk Stephanie Sims. Commissioner Tim Bertling was absent due to attending a Magistrate Committee meeting.
Commissioners said the Pledge of Allegiance.
Fay Almond entered the meeting at 9:03 a.m.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to sign Certificates of Residency for Robert Morrison. Chairman Robertson stepped down as chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to sign Commissioner meeting minutes from the weeks of June 1st and June 8th. Chairman Robertson stepped down as chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to sign FY26 Audit Engagement Letter with Scott Hoover. Chairman Robertson stepped down as chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to sign Hangar-Ground Lease Agreement for Hangar C11. Chairman Robertson stepped down as chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to sign RFR #4 for FAA AIP 025 Airport OPL Relocation. Chairman Robertson stepped down as chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to sign RFR #2 for ITD Airport Aid Grant AIP025 F26865S. Chairman Robertson stepped down as chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to sign RFR #4 for FAA IIJA 026. Chairman Robertson stepped down as chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to sign RFR #2 for ITD Airport Aid Grant F26I65S AIP026. Chairman Robertson stepped down as chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to sign Findings and Decision letter for File #26-0098. Chairman Robertson stepped down as chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to sign Boundary Soil Conservation District funds request for FY27. Chairman Robertson stepped down as chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.
The meeting with Civil Attorney Bill Wilson was cancelled because Mr. Wilson was out of town due to a family emergency.
Greg Lamberty entered the meeting at 9:18 a.m.
Ms. Almond and Mr. Lamberty left the meeting at 9:43 a.m.
Ms. Poston left the meeting at 9:55 a.m.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to recess as the Boundary County Board of Commissioners and reconvene as the Boundary County Ambulance Service District Governing Board. Chairman Robertson stepped down as chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.
Chief Jeff Lindsey called in to the meeting at 10:01 a.m.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to approve minutes the minutes from May 18, 2026. Chairman Robertson stepped down as chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.
Chief Lindsey stated that for the month of May, they had a chute time of 1 minute 39 seconds, which is well within the 2 minutes. They had 121 calls with 17 of those being out of county transfers which can take 4-6 hours per transfer. Commissioner Pinkerton asked what the destinations were for those. Chief Lindsey stated that 90% of them are going to Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene. A few to Bonner General and the rest to Spokane.
Chief Lindsey said they are in the beginning stages of planning for the Boundary County Fair where they will have a booth that was staffed for the duration for both first aid and education.
Commissioner Pinkerton asked if they still have open EMT positions. Chief Lindsey replied that those have been filled and they are currently working through the background/paperwork process.
The call with Chief Lindsey ended at 10:06 a.m.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to adjourn as Boundary County Ambulance Service District Governing Board and reconvene as Boundary County Board of Commissioners. Chairman Robertson stepped down as chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.
Ms. Poston reentered the meeting at 10:28 a.m.
John Kellogg with Hall Mountain Fire did not arrive for his appointment, so Chairman Robertson called him at 10:36 a.m. Mr. Kellogg apologized for missing the appointment, he was tied up at the farm. He stated that he missed a deadline for 2025 property tax exemption for the fire department and was receiving notices. He stated they have been a nonprofit since 1979 and asked if there was anything that could be done to help. Chairman Robertson stated that this process was supposed to be in place for quite some time, but wasn’t. It was a learning curve for many. Mr. Kellogg appreciated their efforts to make sure only those that qualified for the exemption were getting it.
Chairman Robertson stated our options are to cancel it or have them pay. Commissioner Pinkerton felt it should be cancelled, we know what they are. Chairman Robertson asked them to take care of the paperwork before the deadline in the future. Mr. Kellogg agreed.
The call with Mr. Kellogg ended at 10:40 a.m. and Ms. Poston left the meeting.
Chairman Robertson stepped down as chair and moved to sign the 2025 Property Tax Cancellation for parcel #’s RP64N01E178400A, RP65N01W157200A and RP65N02E340146A for Hall Mountain Fire. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.
The meeting recessed for lunch at 11:30 a.m.
Commissioners reconvened for the afternoon session at 1:30 p.m. with Chairman Robertson, Commissioner Pinkerton, Clerk Glenda Poston and Deputy Clerk Stephanie Sims.
Road & Bridge Superintendent Brad Barton and Assistant Superintendent Adam Ryals entered the meeting at 1:27 p.m.
Mr. Barton said that last week they focused on crushing ¾”B, picked up traffic counters from Cow Creek and Parker Canyon. They continued with grading/rolling for dust abatement as well as mowing. Mr. Barton said that ¾ of the county mowing was done in most places. They also picked up quite a bit of brush from the storm and delivered rip rap for the slide on Meadow Creek. Looking forward to this week they plan to continue with crushing, grading/dust abatement and begin the transition to chip seal.
Mr. Barton then provided ariel images of the wood waste and metal piles at the landfill. Sutton Salvage will be at the landfill in a couple weeks to begin baling of the metal pile. They have also been working on the office extension with insulation and sheetrock.
Commissioner Pinkerton asked if they had tried mixing the grindings with sand. Mr. Barton replied yes, that was working out well.
Mr. Ryals said he attended a meeting with DEQ regarding updates included in House Bill 555. DEQ was now over all landfills throughout the state and they will be assessing fees beginning July 1. The fees will need to be paid by the county on either a monthly/quarterly basis and include tipping fees, inspection fees and others. The fee schedule has not been finalized but was something the county needed to consider for the next FY for Solid Waste. Mr. Ryals hoped to have something from DEQ soon.
Mr. Ryals then provided fee schedules from Bonner and Kootenai County in regards to mattresses, televisions and other larger items coming into the landfill. Commissioners discussed limits before assessing charges but had concerns about illegal dumping to avoid the fees. They also discussed ideas for the rural sites including cameras. Commissioners would need to include the Prosecutor and see what they were willing to pursue.
Mr. Ryals then provided information on a gas remediation program that Stevens County uses and Mr. Ryals expressed that he would first like to try a pilot program before committing to what the engineers were proposing. If he can get the numbers down with the pilot, they wouldn’t need to proceed.
The meeting with Mr. Barton and Mr. Ryals ended at 2:13 p.m. and they left the meeting.
Personnel Director Pam Barton entered the meeting at 2:14 p.m. and provided some documents regarding a new hire, change in position and job descriptions for Commissioners to review.
Chairman Robertson stepped down as chair and moved to go into executive session 74-206(a) to consider hiring a public officer, employee, staff member or individual agent, wherein the respective qualities of individuals are to be evaluated in order to fill a particular vacancy or need. This paragraph does not apply to filling a vacancy in an elective office or deliberations about staffing needs in general and 74-206(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 Pinkerton second. Commissioners voted as follows: Chairman Robertson “aye”, Commissioner Pinkerton “aye”. The executive session ended at 2:50 p.m. and Ms. Barton and Ms. Poston left the meeting.
Bonners Ferry District Ranger Heather Fuller entered the meeting at 2:50 p.m. and stated that there are eight small areas that have been identified for small direct sales from the recent storm. All of them have NEPA except for one. She said that work will begin on Snow Down today with the salvage doubling since the wind event. They have a flight schedule tomorrow and it was highly possible more blow down will follow. There has been quite a bit of interest recently and she believes that was because there were so many small areas.
As for other sales, Caribou Snow sold to IFG and Boulder Creek and Boulder Dash are both ongoing. There has been no change for Katkee and Moyie Meadows. As for fuels, they were given funding in the Joint Chiefs and are waiting on IFM for the green light.
Ms. Fuller add that they are working hard on trails and many of them were affected by the storm. Anything that was already cleared was having to be cleared again since the storm. RAC was due at the end of the July and she encouraged the county to submit an application.
KVRI Facilitator Theresa Wheat called into the meeting at 3:07 p.m. and reviewed the agenda for the KVRI meeting. She stated that they will have presentations on the Watercraft Inspection station and Westside Tributary Nutrient Enhancement.
The call with Ms. Wheat ended at 3:12 p.m.
Ms. Fuller said that the agreement was submitted on Friday. They did not get any additional IGA funds, but did get some additional for hazardous fuels. She believed that more hazardous fuels will be coming.
The meeting with Ms. Fuller ended at 3:27 p.m. and she left the meeting.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:40 p.m.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
No meetings were scheduled; therefore, the Commissioners did not meet.
s/________________________________
BEN ROBERTSON, Chairman
ATTEST:
s/_______________________________
GLENDA POSTON, Clerk
By: Stephanie Sims, Deputy Clerk