***Monday, March 9, 2026 at 9:00 a.m., Commissioners met in regular session with Chairman Ben Robertson, Commissioner Tim Bertling, Commissioner Lester Pinkerton, Clerk Glenda Poston, and Deputy Clerk Stephanie Sims.
Commissioners said the Pledge of Allegiance.
University of Idaho Extension Educators Amy Robertson and Samuel DeGrey entered the meeting at 8:55 a.m.
At 9:00 a.m. Ms. Robertson said that the state was currently working on budgets and the University was part of that budget process. At this time their summer intern had been cut as well as funds to assist with mailing correspondence. She was planning to include a line item in her county budget request for mailing. She was not aware of any other cuts at this time. She then asked about the window replacement timeline and Commissioners replied that they would keep her posted.
Ms. Robertson then updated Commissioners on programs offered including dehydration, freeze drying, preserving at home, ready for kindergarten, money management, food handlers, and planning the garden. She added that there were 242 youth registered for 4H which was up slightly over the previous year. 4H Friday Friends was averaging about 20 per month.
Mr. DeGrey stated that he taught fourteen different classes last year and hosted an additional 16. There were two large projects he was working on with the first one being a canola study where they were sampling to see what residue was going back into the soil. The second study was regarding camas.
Fay Almond entered the meeting at 9:10 a.m.
Greg Lamberty entered the meeting at 9:14 a.m.
Mr. DeGrey stated that he was also doing a study with Bonner County on species grass in pastures. Upcoming classes will be on pesticide safety and herbicide carryover.
Commissioner Pinkerton asked about the orchard planning class. Ms. Robertson replied that it was popular and that they have two classes planned and both are full.
Chairman Robertson asked if there was evidence of camas being prevalent here. Mr. DeGrey replied no, we seem to be in a hole.
Ms. Robertson said they are also hosting a Farm and Forest Day on May 14th for 5th graders where they can go to different stations and learn about industry.
Lastly, Mr. DeGrey stated that there might be funding for a greenhouse and asked if that would be okay for him to proceed. Commissioners agreed as long as it was behind the building and out of the way.
The meeting with Ms. Robertson and Mr. DeGrey ended at 9:24 a.m. and they left the meeting.
Civil Attorney Bill Wilson entered at 9:31 a.m. and Chairman Robertson confirmed Mr. Wilson would be available to attend the meeting on March 18th. He stated he would check his calendar.
Ms. Almond left the meeting at 9:33 a.m.
Mr. Wilson said he would be in attendance for the March 10th meeting and had answers back from the tax commission. He also added that he would be able to help explain the relationship between the county and hospital.
Ms. Poston provided a document that was posted to Facebook and Mr. Wilson responded that this was a potential enforcement issue that the Prosecutor’s office would handle.
Mr. Wilson stated that the Riverside matter should be moving forward very soon.
Ms. Poston asked about the Ambulance Service District proceeding with the URD exclusion. Chairman Robertson stated that he had not seen any numbers yet.
The meeting with Mr. Wilson ended at 9:45 a.m. and he left the meeting. Commissioner Pinkerton also left the meeting.
Commissioner Bertling moved to approve Property Tax Cancellation on parcel #’s RP007260020CA0A and RP007250000PR0A in the amount of $11.28 including late penalty and interest because it was postmarked on time. Chairman Robertson stepped down as chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Bertling moved to approve Property Tax Cancellation on parcel #RP62N02E170160A in the amount of $6.85 including late penalty and applicable interest because it was postmarked on time. Chairman Robertson stepped down as chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Bertling moved to sign plat map for Riverview Meadows Subdivision. Chairman Robertson stepped down as chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Bertling moved to sign plat map for Garland Estates. Chairman Robertson stepped down as chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.
Airport Manager Dave Parker and Matt Nichols entered the meeting at 9:53 a.m.
Airport Board member Jay Wages entered the meeting at 9:55 a.m.
Mr. Lamberty left the meeting at 9:56 a.m.
Airport Board member Bob Blanford entered the meeting at 9:56 a.m.
Mr. Parker said that Mr. Nichols wanted to purchase Northern Air and take over Mr. Parker’s agreement. He stated that the Airport Board had interviewed Mr. Nichols and were in agreement to recommend the transfer. We thought this would be a good opportunity for you to meet him and ask questions. We ultimately need the Commissioners to sign over the agreements.
Adrienne Norris entered the meeting at 10:04 a.m.
Mr. Nichols stated that he was currently a commercial airline pilot and had been for 11 years. He doesn’t like the lifestyle and when he learned of the opportunity, he reached out. He has also been involved with flight instruction in the past. He was happy that Mr. Parker was willing to stay on to continue with the paperwork and meetings for the grants so that the airport improvement projects come to a successful completion.
Ms. Norris left the meeting at 10:06 a.m.
He was originally from New York and moved here with his wife and children. His spouse has some accounting experience which will also help. Chairman Robertson stated that it sounds like you have a good relationship with Mr. Parker and he would be a great person to mentor under. Commissioner Bertling stated that once the grants are completed the job would be simpler.
Mr. Blanford stated that this will relieve Mr. Parker of some of the more mundane items so that he can focus on the projects. Chairman Robertson asked that he learn the grants because we will need that in the future.
Mr. Wages confirmed that the board interviewed Mr. Nichols and put forth their recommendation. Mr. Blanford stated there was some apprehension because he was still flying commercially, but Mr. Parker will handle some items, so that will help.
Commissioners were in agreement to proceed with the transfer.
Mr. Parker then updated the Commissioners on hangars A and K. He stated that they have been able to determine hangar K was less than 50 years old, so that will be pretty simple to remove. They are working through the process for hangar A and he believes that they will be able to remove that one as well. He has a meeting on the taxiway project today and they are getting closer to requesting bids. Chairman Robertson asked if they were able to get the costs down. Mr. Parker confirmed that they have.
Commissioner Pinkerton reentered the meeting at 10:26 a.m.
The meeting with the airport ended at 10:27 a.m. and everyone left the meeting.
At 10:30 a.m. Snowmobile Board members Scooter Drake, Kevin Cossairt, and Randy Peterson entered the meeting. Mat Kramer and Jimmy Dorhofer also entered the meeting.
Mr. Drake stated that the groomer had been moved and was currently at the Annex. He has identified two locations to potentially store it next winter. He also stated that Mr. Kramer and Mr. Dorhofer were interested in filling the open board positions. Chairman Robertson said that they will post a notice of openings for the board and see if anyone else was interested.
Ms. Poston confirmed that a fuel card has been ordered that can stay with the groomer and she needed a list of who will run it and a copy of their driver’s license.
There was a discussion on what was needed and how to fill the holes going forward. Mr. Drake stated that the trailer brakes need some work and the new snowmobile and enclosed trailer had arrived and were also at the Annex. Mr. Drake stated that he will contact IDL to get approval to remove brush this summer for the groomer.
Chairman Robertson asked them to post their agendas and they can use the Annex or Extension Office for meetings. They should also get an agreement with whomever will be storing the groomer in the winter to make it official. It was also noted that the Sheriff’s Office owns the machine, but they would like to get their own if possible.
The meeting with the Snowmobile Board ended at 10:50 a.m. and everyone left the meeting.
Commissioners discussed the upcoming public meeting regarding the hospital levy and prepared a press release to cancel it.
Commissioners reviewed claims for payment. Fund totals are as follows:
Current Expense $ 75,737.66
Road & Bridge 200,396.03
Airport 7,506.72
District Court 10,366.32
Justice Fund 110,963.49
911 Funds 7,431.27
Parks and Recreation 4,206.60
Revaluation 3,431.57
Solid Waste 104,619.17
Tort 72,996.25
Veterans Memorial 74.78
Weeds 1,758.73
Restorium 46,672.00
Waterways 622.81
Road & Bridge Tribal Fuel Fund 75.90
Grant, Airport 71,974.19
Grant, Selkirk Coop Weed Mgmt 966.97
Grant, Boat Safety 44.22
Opioid Settlement Fund 5,900.81
LATCT Fund 320,742.63
TOTAL $1,046,488.12
Trusts
Boundary Co. Drug Court Trusts 1,942.62
Driver’s License Trust 10,651.50
Indigent Reimbursements 945.00
Motor Vehicle Trust Acct 133,738.47
Workmans Comp Trust 30.34
Sheriff’s Trust Fund 455.35
Odyssey Court Trust Account 34,220.98
Odyssey Bond Trust Account 645.30
Odyssey Restitution Trust Account 1,974.00
TOTAL $184,630.56
GRAND TOTAL $1,231,091.68
Citizens are invited to inspect detailed records on file in the Courthouse (individual claims & Commissioners’ allowance & warrant register record 2025-2026).
Jeannie Robinson and Kevin Schnuerle entered the meeting at 11:35 a.m. Personnel Director Pam Barton also entered the meeting.
Restorium Supervisor Janay Smith entered the meeting at 11:36 a.m.
Mr. Schnuerle stated that he and Ms. Robinson were there for the Friends of the Restorium and wanted to let Commissioners know that they had applied for a grant to update the patio with cement for memory care to allow residents to utilize it. The amount of the grant was $8,000 and they will be providing in-kind match of $2,000. The grant awards will be announced on May 26.
Mr. Schnuerle and Ms. Robinson left the meeting at 11:40 a.m.
Ms. Smith stated that they had a fire alarm go off over the weekend because a memory care resident pulled it. She will have maintenance repair the cage over it so it would not be so easy for residents to access. She then discussed a wage stipend proposal that had been discussed previously, but not formally adopted due to lack of an action item.
Ms. Barton stated that it was proposed a $20.00 stipend per night to be paid to the on-call employee who was designated to be on-call for graveyard shift only. This fee would be paid to the on-call designated employee with or without calls to come in and help on the designated night. If the on-call employee was called in to help with resident care, they would receive hourly wages for the time on the clock with a minimum of two hours pay. This proposal was to be effective 2/1/2026. This proposal was designed to provide extra coverage on an as needed basis.
There was a discussion and noted that no other department had a similar policy. Ms. Poston stated that if you were called in, a minimum of 2 hours was standard.
Commissioner Bertling moved to approve the stipend as read. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.
Ms. Smith stated that they currently have 31 residents and have turned down a couple potential residents due to their level of care. They will be reviewing more potential residents soon. Ms. Smith then provided a report showing past due accounts and reviewed the status of each. Commissioners were concerned about the expenses and Ms. Poston stated that work comp was recently paid, so that was why the increase. Ms. Smith also stated that food costs are increasing and she was looking at alternatives to try to lower those costs.
The meeting with Ms. Smith ended at 11:55 a.m. and she and Ms. Barton left the meeting.
The meeting recessed for lunch at 11:57 a.m.
The meeting reconvened for the afternoon session with Chairman Robertson, Commissioner Bertling, Commissioner Pinkerton, Clerk Glenda Poston and Deputy Clerk Stephanie Sims.
Road & Bridge Assistant Superintendent Adam Ryals entered the meeting at 1:29 p.m. and stated that last week they completed pit maintenance, set/pickup traffic counters and completed sign locates on several roads throughout the county. They also hauled brush, cold patching and some spot grading. The windstorm on Sunday caused some trees to come down so they are cleaning that up and are holding off on opening roads for now due to some frost heaves. Next week they plan to continue with grading, hauling rock and some spring maintenance.
For Solid Waste they hired someone for Naples, and the ACI operations were done. They fired it up and did some testing that went very well. The windsock had arrived as well as the meter to measure windspeed so they were ready for operations. Commissioner Berting stated he would be up Thursday to run the burner and Mr. Ryals stated that he would notify DEQ.
Commissioner Pinkerton said that he was at the landfill over the weekend and like the changes. He added that there was some confusion over tin cans. Mr. Ryals stated he would follow up on that. He also added that they have begun work to help with drainage and the engineers were in agreement with the changes. He also added that moving forward with other projects will require engineer comments and he has nudged them to respond.
Commissioner Bertling asked about moral. Mr. Ryals stated it was pretty good.
The meeting with Mr. Ryals ended at 1:50 p.m. and he left the meeting.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to sign the Commissioner meeting minutes for the week of March 2. Chairman Robertson stepped down as chair to second. Chairman Robertson and Commissioner Pinkerton voted “aye”, Commissioner Bertling abstained because he was absent for part of the meeting.
Personnel Director Pam Barton reentered the meeting at 2:14 p.m.
Restorium Supervisor Janay Smith reentered the meeting at 2:16 p.m.
Commissioner Bertling moved to go into executive session 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 Bertling “aye”, Commissioner Pinkerton “aye”.
Ms. Smith left the meeting at 1:35 p.m.
The executive session ended at 2:39 p.m. and Ms. Barton left the meeting. No action was taken.
Ms. Poston left the meeting at 2:45 p.m.
Kennon McClintock, Pat Hart, Aaron Wages, and Travis Wages entered at 2:45 p.m.
At 3:00 p.m. Mr. McClintock described the Forest Legacy project for Boundary Connections III (BCIII). He stated that it included 1,100 acres of land and four landowners were involved. Their goal was to preserve working private forest land and he reviewed the objectives.
Commissioner Bertling asked what it meant to each of the applicants included and why. Mr. T. Wages stated that he was thinking long-term about more development and wildlife corridors and how development changes the way wildlife travels. There were better places for housing development than the land included in the application. The land can still logged/farmed and used the way he felt it should be and this maintained that for the future.
Mr. A. Wages stated that they are trying to follow what their father started using the money received to purchase additional land for wildlife, farming and logging with less development.
Ms. Hart stated that she does not have easy ground for development, water was not available and it was perfect for timber and wildlife. Because of development she no longer has elk passing through like she had in the past and would like to do what she can to preserve wildlands. If Boundary County had a strong P&Z she would feel more comfortable, but they are not preplanning for future wildlife, solace or backwoods.
Mr. McClintock stated that mills are gone in many areas and he feels we need to do our part to keep the mills that we do still have. The Forest Service should be supplying the trees, but they are not at this time and he was not sure when that would change. The application still had to go through the state and federal process, but he hoped to have Commissioners support to move it forward.
Commissioner Pinkerton appreciated their effort. He then read a statement where he said he does not feel we should be making decisions that restrict the use of property. Commissioner Bertling disagreed and said we want people to protect their property and this was part of our stewardship to help assist with that process.
Chairman Robertson stated that he does not agree with public funds being paid to private landowners for private use. He also doesn’t like that it forever incumbers a piece of property to be used. He felt they were free to do what they wanted with the property, but they should not be limiting what future owners could do with it. Chairman Robertson stated he was neutral to the application.
Commissioner Bertling felt the application was a good use of public dollars to protect that land from development and protect Boundary County. If we don’t help with that, we won’t have any land left.
Mr. McClintock felt that we are doing our part to keep the mills alive and let the development happen where water was available. Ms. Hart added that we have not planned for the future that was presenting itself with roads and schools. If we don’t have parallel development we are going to be cost out.
Chairman Robertson stated that also applies if we don’t have land we can develop. It gives a supply/demand problem. Mr. McClintock stated that public funds are used because it was a benefit to the public to do this. It takes every landowner doing their part to keep the mills open and that was a huge benefit for this community. Mr. McClintock asked if they would support a neutral motion.
Commissioner Bertling moved to remain neutral on the Forest Legacy project for Boundary Connections III (BC III). Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.
The meeting regarding the Forest Legacy project ended at 4:00 p.m. and Mr. McClintock, Ms. Hart, Mr. A. Wages and Mr. T. Wages left the meeting.
Commissioner Bertling moved to extend property taxes due on parcel #MH61N01E31120DA in the amount of $378.23 including late fee and interest. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously. Will have paid by April 1, 2026.
The meeting adjourned at 4:46 p.m.
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
The 6:00 p.m. meeting regarding a potential M&O Levy for Boundary Community Hospital was cancelled.
s/________________________________
BEN ROBERTSON, Chairman
ATTEST:
s/_______________________________
GLENDA POSTON, Clerk
By: Stephanie Sims, Deputy Clerk