Commissioners minutes, July 18-19 |
| July 30, 2011 |
|
Blue Sky Broadcasting Reporter Mike Brown was in attendance throughout the day. Chairman Smith asked Mr.
Gutshall if he has heard about the status of
funding for the roads that sustained damage from
heavy spring rains. Mr. Gutshall said Mr. Gutshall said Road and Bridge will work on dust abatement and making chips for chip sealing this week. Mr. Gutshall spoke about quantity and expense in relation to chipsealing. Chairman Smith discussed the District I railroad crossing. Mr. Gutshall said the area in between the tracks needs to be paved because it gets dry in the summer time and hollows out. Mr. Gutshall said the County has no business working on the area between the railroad tracks. Chairman Smith asked when Mr. Gutshall expects Deep Creek Phase II will begin and Mr. Gutshall said he isn’t sure, but he is expecting a telephone call. The meeting with Mr.
Gutshall ended at Chairman Smith said sometime back Mr. Baker met with Commissioners questioning ownership and maintenance of the mass casualty trailer. It was said Emergency Management Services does not need the trailer, but it is in the County’s name so there are questions. Mr. Kramer said the Panhandle Health District provided these trailers to the five northern counties. Most of the trailer’s functions are medical related and Boundary Volunteer Ambulance is the entity most likely to use it, according to Mr. Kramer. Mr. Kramer explained what is in the trailer to include backboards and pole shelters. Mr. Baker said Boundary Volunteer Ambulance also receives pole shelters for the trailer separate from Emergency Services. Mr. Kramer said Emergency Services is fine with transferring the trailer over to the Ambulance Association and he added that Emergency Services doesn’t have it in their budget to maintain it. Those present discussed
what equipment would be listed on County
inventory and Mr. Baker said none of Boundary
Volunteer Ambulance Association’s equipment is
on the County’s inventory with the exception of
most of the original equipment. Chairman Smith
said if the trailer and its equipment is on the
County’s inventory, there is no doubt it is the
County’s. Chairman Smith asked how the trailer’s
supplies are replenished. Chairman Smith
questioned if the County would be approached by
the Ambulance Association for maintenance of the
trailer and Mr. Baker briefly mentioned the
various maintenance possibilities. Chairman
Smith said labor could be provided by the
County, but who buys the parts as he isn’t sure
if it is
Commissioner Kirby contacted the Panhandle Health District via telephone and relayed to those present that the Panhandle Health District didn’t mind if the trailer is transferred to Boundary Volunteer Ambulance. It was said the funds from the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response “ASPR” Grant keeps coming from the federal government to keep the trailer stocked. Commissioner Kirby said he is supposed to receive more information from the Panhandle Health District. Mr. Graham said the ASPR paperwork needs to go to the Ambulance Association. The meeting with Mr. Kramer
and Mr. Graham ended at Commissioners, Ken Baker, and Mike Brown discussed questions associated with forming an Ambulance District. Commissioner Kirby said if the issue comes up, he would be in favor. Commissioner Kirby moved to
grant an extension of time to pay 2010 taxes on
parcel #MH61N01E156757A until Commissioner Kirby moved to
grant an extension of time to pay 2010 taxes on
parcel #MH61N01W255561A with the first half of
the tax due on Commissioner Kirby moved to
grant an extension of time to pay 2010 taxes on
parcel #MH00030000018AA until 10: Commissioner Kirby moved to
go into closed session under Idaho Code 31-874.
Chairman Smith yielded the chair to second.
Motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Kirby moved to put indigent application #2011-41 into suspension pending determination of Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Program (PCIP) eligibility. Chairman Smith yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Kirby moved to approve indigent application #2011-42 with reimbursement of $50 per month and 30% of tax refunds received each year. Chairman Smith yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Kirby moved to deny indigent application #2011-44 based on the Clerk’s recommendation. Chairman Smith yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Kirby moved to deny indigent application #2011-45 as the application was not timely filed. Chairman Smith yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously. Deputy Clerk Nancy Ryals
left the meeting at Commissioners tended to administrative duties. Mr. Johnson said the Mr. Johnson said the
Hospital’s finances have been slightly in the
red after posting depreciation as the census has
been down in both inpatient and out patient
services. Mr. Johnson said he feels there is
just a temporary low and by fall the Hospital
should see the census come back up. Mr. Johnson
briefly discussed ways to streamline the waiting
room. Mr. Johnson said Those present talked about the Swish Event held just last Saturday. The meeting with Mr.
Johnson and Mr. Koon ended at There being no further
business, the meeting recessed until tomorrow at Chairman Smith said
Commissioners didn’t have a lot to discuss.
Chairman Smith discussed the budget and said
when Commissioners do receive a copy of the
proposed budget and learn the County is short of
having a balanced budget, they meet with Clerk
Glenda Poston to work on finding which areas can
be cut. This year the County did not have to do
that and Chairman Smith said Commissioners would
like to thank the elected officials and
department heads for helping make the budget.
Chairman Smith said up until a few weeks ago,
counties were under the impression the State was
going to cut into county portions of revenue
sharing, but that is no longer the case.
Chairman Smith also informed those present that
payments in lieu of taxes (PILT) has been 100%
funded. The way everything stands unless there
are changes, PILT and Secure Rural Schools Funds
(SRS) will go away next year. Clerk Poston said
she believes the PILT will stay. Chairman Smith
said his feeling is that SRS funds will be
renewed. Commissioner Kirby moved to
amend the agenda for Mr. Gutshall said the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) expects the Federal Highways District monies to be cut back as well. Mr. Gutshall said he hasn’t projected an amount yet because it hasn’t happened, but he heard that Garvee funds will be cut off where they are at. Chairman Smith said since the County doesn’t levy for Road and Bridge, it doesn’t affect the other departments in the county. Chairman Smith said he is not sure if the next topic is politically correct, but the County has not been able to offer a cost of living increase in the last couple of years so Commissioners sat down and decided to offer County employees an approximate 10 extra days off per year that coincide with three-day holiday weekends instead. Chairman Smith said he has received nothing other than positive feedback. Chairman Smith said he would like to continue offering these days and he will discuss it with the other two Commissioners in order for that scheduled to start next fiscal year. Chairman Smith said in saying that, the County really needs to look at a possible cost of living increase for next year as departments start going through their budgets. Chairman Smith said whether that is politically correct to the public, he doesn’t know. Chairman Smith said even though employees have some extra time off and he knows they appreciate it, it doesn’t put money in their pocket. Chairman Smith spoke of County benefits and said a family rate can cost $1,400 per month and the employee doesn’t have to pay that. Chairman Smith spoke of the President’s proposed health care plan and he explained that counties cannot make any adjustments to their existing medical insurance plans or they will lose their grandfather clause, which can means higher rates and possible penalties. Chairman Smith said in other counties, employees pay a portion or their insurance and a couple few counties pay all of the cost of benefits. Insurance premiums are a little better than one million dollars per year, according to Chairman Smith. Chairman Smith said there used to be an employee in the Clerk’s Office some years ago and just about every budget review time, this employee would comment that they didn’t mind if anything changed as long as the benefits were left alone. Chairman Smith said he feels it is Commissioners’ responsibility to take care of County employees in that regard, more so than other elected officials. Chairman Smith said he tells people that, but then adds that Commissioners also still have to operate a County government. Chairman Smith said he doesn’t have a problem getting around to consider a cost of living increase and whether or not the County can do it. Since the State did not take away from the revenue sharing it looks like things are getting better. Stories in the newspaper also look a bit more positive. Chairman Smith said he spoke to Clerk Poston and she also mentioned the County needs to start thinking about a cost of living increase as it has been a few years. If the County doesn’t do something and look into the possibility and just continue down the same path, the wages will be stagnant as everything else increases. Chairman Smith asked if anyone had any comments or disagreements. Commissioner Kirby said he thinks everyone understands the story. Ms. Sprungl said Judge Julian has mentioned how cost of living increases affects Public Employee Retirement System (PERSI) benefits. Ms. Hampton said an employee’s social security benefits and PERSI benefits are based on the last five years or the highest five years of wages so if wages are not increased, it actually lowers an employee’s retirement benefit. Ms. Sprungl mentioned the increases are forecasted on the social security newsletters as well. Chairman Smith said in that case it is like a double hit. Clerk Poston informed those present that she is working to get the budget published. The budget will be printed and handed to the departments, but the budget will not be final until it has been adopted by Commissioners. Clerk Poston said she doesn’t yet have the official property values, which is used to determine the levy rates. Ms. Sprungl said with the state of the country and so many people unemployed, if it comes to the point that there is no cost of living increase, she is happy to at least have a job. The elected
officials/department heads meeting ended Commissioner Kirby moved to
authorize the Chairman to sign the Federal
Aviation Administration Grant Application for an
environmental study for future land purchases
for the
/s/ RONALD R. SMITH, Chairman ATTEST: /s/ GLENDA POSTON, Clerk By: Michelle Rohrwasser, Deputy |