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***Monday,
May 07, 2012, Commissioners met
in regular session with Chairman Ron Smith,
Commissioner Dan Dinning, Commissioner Walt
Kirby, and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser.
9:00 a.m., Road and Bridge
Superintendent Jeff Gutshall joined the meeting
to give the departmental report. Mr. Gutshall
did not present a written report. Mr. Gutshall
said all of the graders are out working today as
well as the patching crew and the Durapatcher.
Mr. Gutshall said in
regards to the State/Local Agreement for the
Deep
Creek Bridge
#4 Project, he received a telephone call from
the finance officer at the Idaho Transportation
Department (ITD) and out of two projects:
Moyie Highway and the
Stimulus Project, there had been enough
additional funding to cover the County’s portion
of project costs. There had been a fairly good
balance left from prior projects, according to
Mr. Gutshall. Mr. Gutshall said he had the
County write letters wherein he complained about
the failed test strip on the Meadow Creek,
Paving Phase II Project, and at the time ITD
felt chip sealing would take care of the problem
and had agreed there was approximately $33,000
left over after the project was done. Mr.
Gutshall said the extra funds were determined to
belong to the County and he has the letter
stating that.
Commissioner Dinning moved
to add to today’s agenda at
11:30 a.m., signing a comment letter
for the Lincoln County, Montana Commissioners in
regards to the Draft Forest Management Plan for
the Kootenai
National Forest as it is a time
sensitive matter. Commissioner Kirby second.
Motion passed unanimously.
Clerk Glenda Poston joined
the meeting at
9:10 a.m.
Mr. Gutshall spoke of
Secure Rural Schools (SRS) funding and the fact
that reauthorization of these funds has not been
decided. Mr. Gutshall said he has the ability to
budget on funding that is known, Mr. Gutshall
said his budget was $1,700,000 and now it is
down to $1,448,000. Mr. Gutshall said for this
October he is projecting $1,300,000 as he
doesn’t see a lot of cash carry forward. Mr.
Gutshall said he receives $230,000 per quarter
in Highway User Funds so $690,000 is what that
amounts to. Mr. Gutshall said if he were to
budget using cash on hand as of next October,
that is $1,300,000 plus $690,000 so that is
right at approximately $2,000,000.
Mr. Gutshall said cash on
hand is marked on his budget and doesn’t go
below $1,100,000. As forest monies come in, it
goes into a certain account as do Highway User
Funds so he doesn’t understand a mention of
$750,000. Clerk Poston said that was money not
being used in his budget as there were no
projects for that money. Chairman Smith said the
budget should be based on what information is
known.
It was said that some
funding will come from timber such as a couple
hundred thousand dollars, and Chairman Smith
questioned if SRS is not renewed, is a couple
hundred thousand dollars the automatic figure to
expect. Mr. Gutshall said he needs to show
projected revenue as the four Highway User
projects. Mr. Gutshall said he will most likely
turn in a reduced budget.
Commissioner Dinning
questioned why spending every bit of cash in the
Road and Bridge budget if there’s a chance SRS
is not reauthorized, and he questioned what Mr.
Gutshall could do in this next budget to
preserve as much cash as possible. Commissioner
Dinning asked Mr. Gutshall to provide
information on what could be provided by his
department if a reduced budget is submitted. Mr.
Gutshall questioned if he submitted a smaller
budget and had to consider layoffs, what would
happen if SRS was re-instated. Clerk Poston said
if SRS is reauthorized, a resolution could be
drafted as unanticipated revenue.
Mr. Gutshall questioned
splitting his budget in half or keeping his
budget request the same as in previous years.
Mr. Gutshall said he doesn’t want to lay off
employees so he could submit a budget that is a
bit hard on materials, etc.
Chairman Smith said Road
and Bridge has received approximately 1.1
million dollars so that is looking at an
approximate $800,000 cut to his budget if SRS
funding is not reauthorized.
The meeting with Mr.
Gutshall and Clerk Poston ended at
9:30 a.m.
Commissioner Kirby moved to
adopt Resolution #2012-29. A resolution to
increase Current Expense Emergency Management
Budget due to receipt of unanticipated funds.
Commissioner Dinning second. Motion passed
unanimously. Resolution #2012-29 reads as
follows:
RESOLUTION
2012-29
INCREASE CURRENT
EXPENSE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT BUDGET
DUE TO RECEIPT
OF UNANTICIPATED FUNDS
WHEREAS, the
Board of County Commissioners, County of
Boundary, State of Idaho, did establish an
operating budget for the Current Expense
Emergency Management Fund for fiscal year
2011-2012, and
WHEREAS, Kootenai County has reimbursed
Boundary County $2,159.80 for four portable PA
systems and $592.00 for four 2.5 gallon liquid
containers out of North Idaho Citizen Corp.
grant funds; and
WHEREAS, Bison Transport has reimbursed
Boundary
County
$350.00 for expenses related to a diesel fuel
spill on the North Hill; and
WHEREAS, the Current Expense Emergency
Management Fund for fiscal year 2011-2012 is in
need of this additional revenue; and
WHEREAS, the addition of this revenue
does not affect the tax levy for
Boundary
County;
and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate to increase
the Current Expense Fund Revenue Account Number
01-00-324-07 in the amount of $2,751.80 and
Revenue Account Number 01-00-391-80 in the
amount of $350.00 and the Current Expense
Emergency Management Expense Account Number
01-11-803-00, Capital - Equipment, in the amount
of $2,751.80 and Expense Account Number
01-11-475-00, Vehicles – Repairs, in the amount
of $350.00; and
NOW THEREFORE,
upon motion duly made, seconded and unanimously
carried,
IT IS RESOLVED that the increase to the
Current Expense Fund Revenue Account Number
01-00-324-07 in the amount of $2,751.80 and
Revenue Account Number 01-00-391-80 in the
amount of $350.00 and the Current Expense
Emergency Management Expense Account Number
01-11-803-00, Capital - Equipment, in the amount
of $2,751.80 and Expense Account Number
01-11-475-00, Vehicles - Repairs, in the amount
of $350.00 is hereby authorized and ordered; and
IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk is
instructed to deliver certified copies of this
resolution to the Boundary County Treasurer and
the Boundary County Auditor.
DATED this 7th day of May, 2012
COUNTY
OF
BOUNDARY
BOARD OF
COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
s/________________________________
RONALD R. SMITH, Chairman
s/_________________________________
DAN R. DINNING, Commissioner
s/_________________________________
WALT KIRBY, Commissioner
ATTEST:
s/__________________________________________________________
GLENDA POSTON,
Clerk of the Board of
County
Commissioners
Recorded as
instrument #253968
Commissioner Kirby moved to
adopt Resolution #2012-30. A resolution
appointing assistant planning and zoning
administrators; providing for volunteer status;
providing for reimbursement of costs, providing
for insurance coverage status; and providing for
the effective date of this resolution.
Commissioner Dinning second. Motion passed
unanimously. Resolution #2012-30 reads as
follows:
RESOLUTION
NO. 30
BOUNDARY COUNTY,
IDAHO
TITLE:
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF
BOUNDARY COUNTY,
IDAHO;
APPOINTING ASSISTANT PLANNING AND ZONING
ADMINISTRATORS; PROVIDING FOR VOLUNTEER STATUS;
PROVIDING FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS; PROVIDING
FOR INSURANCE COVERAGE STATUS;
AND
PROVIDING FOR THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS:
Boundary County,
Idaho,
a political subdivision of the State of
Idaho,
is governed by the Board of County
Commissioners;
and,
WHEREAS:
The Board, in compliance with Title 67 of
Idaho Code, and the specific provisions of the
Local Land Use Planning Act (LLUPA) has
appointed a Planning and Zoning Commission and
has appointed a Planning and Zoning
Administrator to provide compliance with State
Code and with the provisions of the County
Ordinances and Resolutions concerning land use
issues; and,
WHEREAS:
The Planning and Zoning Administrator,
for medical reasons, is unable to perform the
routine and ongoing duties and functions of his
office; and;
WHEREAS:
Dan Studer and Matt Cossalman,
Co-Chairpersons of the Planning and Zoning
Commission, are intimately aware of the
provisions of the Ordinances and Resolutions,
and the procedures and processes, concerning
land use issues in Boundary County; and,
WHEREAS:
Dan Studer and Matt Cossalman have
volunteered to perform the routine and ongoing
duties and functions required of the Planning
and Zoning Administrator and to provide for an
orderly, prompt, and efficient processing of
applications, requests, inquiries, and other
pending matters for that office.
NOW, THEREORE,
BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
The Board of County Commissioners of
Boundary County,
Idaho,
do hereby appoint Dan Studer and Matt Cossalman
as Assistant Planning and Zoning Administrators
for
Boundary County,
Idaho.
This appointment shall be indefinite and
continuing in its duration.
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED THAT:
The Assistant Planning and Zoning
Administrators are and shall be deemed
volunteers, and not employees of
Boundary
County.
They shall not be paid a salary or other
income, but shall be reimbursed for any and all
costs and expense incurred.
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED THAT:
The Assistant Planning and Zoning
Administrators shall have all the authority and
powers of the Planning and Zoning Administrator
conferred or provided in any Ordinance and/or
Resolution of Boundary County concerning land
use planning issues and the operation and
administration of that office.
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED THAT:
The Assistant Planning and Zoning
Administrators shall be provided errors,
omissions, and negligence insurance to the
extent provided to persons in such office or
capacity by ICRMP, the insurance carrier for
Boundary County, and shall be further provided
defense, coverage, and indemnification by
Boundary County for any claim, loss, demand, or
legal action commenced against either of them
arising from the performance of these duties
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED THAT:
This Resolution shall be in full force
and effect upon its adoption by the Board of
County Commissioners of Boundary County, Idaho,
in a regular meeting of the Board, and upon the
execution and attestation of the same.
ADOPTED
AND
APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
BOUNDARY COUNTY,
IDAHO
on the 7th day of May, 2012.
s/__________________________________
RONALD R. SMITH, Chairman
s/__________________________________
DAN R. DINNING, Commissioner
s/__________________________________
WALT KIRBY, Commissioner
ATTEST:
s/__________________________________________________
MICHELLE
ROHRWASSER, Deputy Clerk
BOARD OF
COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
Recorded as
instrument #253969
Commissioners tended to
administrative duties.
Clerk Glenda Poston joined
the meeting at
9:45 a.m.
Commissioner Kirby moved to
reappoint Bill Hayes as Director from
Boundary
County to the District #1 Animal
Damage Control Board. Commissioner Dinning
second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Kirby moved to
reappoint Bob Blanford to the Boundary County
Airport Board with a term to expire February
2015. Commissioner Dinning second. Motion passed
unanimously.
10:00 a.m., Commissioner
Dinning moved to go into executive session under
Idaho Code #67-2345(1)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 Kirby second. Commissioners voted
as follows: Chairman Smith “yes”, Commissioner
Dinning “yes”, and Commissioner Kirby “yes”.
Motion passed unanimously. 10:12
a.m., Commissioner Dinning moved to
go out of executive session. Commissioner Kirby
second. Motion passed unanimously.
Clerk Poston left the
meeting at 10:14 a.m.
Commissioner Kirby moved to
approve the minutes of April 23 & 24, 2012.
Commissioner Dinning second. Motion passed
unanimously.
Commissioners tended to
administrative duties.
11:00 a.m., Gary Leonard joined the
meeting to update Commissioners on the progress
of establishing a fire works display for the
fourth of July. Mr. Leonard mentioned the plan
to work with the City of
Bonners Ferry Chief of
Police on the parade.
Mr. Leonard said he has
spoken to the Sheriff’s Posse about assisting
with this event, Sandy Schnepf with the Fair
Board about use of Fair Board facilities and he
is working closely with Skip O’Fallon about the
fire works. Mr. Leonard said he hopes to have a
firefighter’s challenge and possibly a relay
race, but he is encountering problems.
Mr. Leonard and
Commissioners discussed contacting Darrell Kerby
about insurance coverage. The food vendors are
Bread Basket Bakery and Parks and Recreation can
provide hot dogs.
Mr. Leonard said he is
working on a fundraiser with the Boundary
Volunteer Ambulance Association for Mike Weland.
Commissioner Kirby suggested contacting the
Shriner’s for popcorn sales. Mr. Leonard
suggested having the Shriner’s in the parade.
Mr. Leonard spoke of the
Fourth of July event again and said he is
thinking about inviting candidates who are
willing to participate. Both Harvest Foods and
Pro-X have contributed $1,000. Mr. Leonard said
his goal is to reach $5,000. Commissioner
Dinning provided Mr. Leonard with suggestions of
who to contact for donations and Mr. Leonard
provided his website address for information.
Mr. Leonard left the
meeting at 11:30 a.m.
Commissioner Dinning moved
to continue the meeting with Lincoln County
Commissioners until 12:30 p.m. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed
unanimously.
11:30
a.m., Commissioners recessed for
lunch.
12:30 p.m., Commissioners
reconvened for the afternoon session with
Chairman Ron Smith, Commissioner Dan Dinning,
Commissioner Walt Kirby, and Deputy Clerk
Michelle Rohrwasser.
12:30 p.m.,
Lincoln County, Montana
Commissioner Ron Downey joined the meeting.
Commissioner Downey had provided Commissioners
with information on the Kootenai National Forest
Management Plan and requested that Commissioners
submit a letter. Commissioner Dinning said he
has read the information.
Commissioner Dinning moved
to authorize the Chairman to sign a comment
letter in regards to the Kootenai National
Forest Management Plan in concurrence with the
letter submitted by Lincoln
County, Montana,
Commissioners. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion
passed unanimously.
Commissioner Downey said
Research Biologist Kate Kendall has been in
Lincoln
County and has instituted an office
for her Grizzly Bear DNA study. The crew
involved in the study started Monday and there
are 66 people hired throughout the end of
September. Lincoln
County had to guarantee $600,000 so
they’re still looking for funding. Six months
from January there should be an answer as to the
number of bears. The crew is setting up 1,079
rub sites and expects a lot of black bear.
Commissioner Downey said he thinks Ms. Kendall
will be surprised and that people are seeing a
lot more bears. Ms. Kendall said the increase in
bears is fast when the populations start to
spread out, according to Commissioner Downey.
It’s felt there will be huntable levels in a
very short time.
Chairman Smith spoke of
hearing that one to two grizzly bears were
killed in Creston,
British Columbia as they were causing
problems with farm animals. Those present
discussed the bears in the
Yellowstone
area being meat eaters and more aggressive than
the local bears.
The meeting with
Commissioner Downey ended at
12:45 p.m.
Commissioners tended to
administrative duties.
1:30 p.m., Commissioners reconvened
for the afternoon session with Chairman Smith,
Commissioner Kirby and Deputy Clerk Michelle
Rohrwasser. Commissioner Dinning was out of the
office tending to personal matters.
1:30 p.m., Panhandle Health District
Director Lora Whalen and Fiscal Director Jim
Fenton joined the meeting to discuss the
District’s budget. Clerk Glenda Poston also
joined the meeting.
Ms. Whalen discussed the
County’s health ranking and explained the
ranking process. This ranking is done state by
state and it takes into consideration health
factors, outcomes and behaviors. Counties in
each state are ranked against each other. In
looking at morbidity, mortality and low birth
rates, Boundary
County
came out well in those outcomes, but in health
behaviors such as smoking, drinking and being
overweight, Boundary
County’s rating wasn’t so good.
Also in the Panhandle
Health District presentation was information on
clients served to include Women Infant and
Children (WIC) dollars in each community. In
Boundary
County the Panhandle Health District
saw a total of $3,641 relating to WIC clients
and $154,000 worth of vouchers for food items
were redeemed. Ms. Whalen spoke of breast cancer
diagnoses and said if someone has a suspicious
lesion, they could get into the Medicaid
Program, which saves Catastrophic Health Care
Cost (CAT) Fund.
Ms. Whalen spoke of
reportable diseases by county to include
Chlamydia, Hepatitis C and Pertussis. Ms. Whalen
said Hepatitis C is transferred via blood and
there is a higher rate of this disease in
Boundary County.
There are no cases of Pertussis in
Boundary
County. There is starting to be a
resurgence of diseases that are preventable.
Ms. Whalen said there are a
lot of cases involving lead in
Shoshone County.
Four children had elevated levels and she
described checking out the homes. Most of the
cases involving lead are in miners. The fifth
highest disease in the five northern counties is
a parasite that is fecally-orally transmitted so
that is an education issue.
Clerk Poston questioned
food service workers training and noticed that
Boundary
County didn’t have anything listed.
Ms. Whalen said there are now online training
classes offered.
Those present discussed
Institutional Control Permits (ICP). These
permits are when you dig a permit is issued so
soil is handled so it won’t spread lead.
Mr. Fenton reviewed
Panhandle Health District budget information.
Mr. Fenton said the Health District will request
a 3% increase and explained the increase is in
part due to the District’s health insurance
increasing by $559,000 based on the holiday
premium they had for the last two years that has
been taken away. Mr. Fenton said small raises
will be offered to certain Health District
employees as merit increases.
Chairman Smith spoke of a
cost of living increase (COLA) and not a merit
increase. Ms. Whalen said a merit increase is
when the employer gives a raise to an employee
who is achieving. Ms. Whalen discussed issues
with losing nurses and spoke of pay raises for
them. Chairman Smith said out of the approximate
105 employees at the county, none of them are
making what they should be making. Chairman
Smith said the County loses Sheriff’s deputies
to other entities for that reason and that is
why he would like to consider a 3% COLA across
the board.
Ms. Whalen said she
appreciates Road and Bridge Superintendent Jeff
Gutshall’s help in the paving project at the
Bonners Ferry Panhandle Health District Office.
The cost to pave this parking lot will be
approximately $30,000 and the County will
provide in-kind work.
Chairman Smith discussed
the proposed Moyie Springs monitored collection
site. The garbage at the landfill had been close
to reaching the tonnage per day limit, but the
amount has been reduced due to recycling
efforts. Chairman Smith spoke of the possibility
of mining what materials are already in the
landfill in the future.
Mr. Fenton spoke of revenue
assumptions, contract increases and licenses and
fees.
Commissioner Dan Dinning
joined the meeting.
Mr. Fenton said the State
appropriation is increasing for the first time
in several years. The request to the County will
be a 3% increase. Mr. Fenton said the Health
District does not have any money coming out of
reserves this new budget year as the State and
County funding and fees and contracts are not
supported by reserves and new positions are
supported by contract dollars.
There is a 5.7% increase in
the salary dollars contract and that is a result
of new positions. Commissioner Dinning
questioned salaries due to increased fees and he
said this is not necessarily a salary increase
of 2.8% across the board. Mr. Fenton said no.
Mr. Fenton said the Health
District’s health insurance had a large increase
this year. This fiscal year and last fiscal year
the Health District had a state holiday premium,
but that has gone away. The premiums increase to
the full amount this next year by 21%.
Clerk Poston questioned the
ability to build up a reserve again. Ms. Whalen
said the Health District does not have to pay
insurance for the veterans who have insurance
elsewhere. For these employees the Health
District still had to pay and that is how the
reserve could have been built up.
Ms. Whalen said there is
speculation that the clinical side of things
will have more demand as people will seek
treatment from their doctor. Chairman Smith said
he chairs the GEM Plan Board and has an upcoming
meeting to discuss what insurance increases have
to happen. Chairman Smith spoke of matters
pertaining to the GEM Plan.
Commissioner Dinning asked
in taking out the Health District’s insurance
holiday, what kind of increase did they see in
health care. Mr. Fenton said there will be an
increase of 1% this year for Blue Cross of Idaho
and the employee’s share will also increase. For
the employee, spouse and children the premium
will increase $18 per month so for a family the
cost of insurance is over $100 per month. Mr.
Fenton said he did not have the exact number.
Mr. Fenton briefly
discussed decreasing communication costs.
The Health District shows
$63,000 for capital expenditures to include the
Sandpoint office location as painting, carpeting
and furniture is needed for this building.
Vehicles are also in the budget as is a lawn
tractor and plow for side walks.
A large part of principal
cost is the payment on the Health District
Office in Hayden. This is a lease, but
technically it is a purchase. There are 18 years
left to go on the lease.
Mr. Fenton reviewed a pie
chart showing that state and county matching
dollars are close. The state appropriation for
this year shows an increase of 3.5%. Mr. Fenton
said if there was a County increase of 3% with
everything else being the same, the Health
District would’ve seen $16,000 in state
appropriations. Funding from the County is
important to the Panhandle Health District.
The 3% increase from
Boundary
County equates to $1,512. Of the
total amount agreed upon by the five northern
counties, Kootenai
County picks up a majority at 60%.
Mr. Fenton spoke of per capita funding and
adjusting for inflation. The next fiscal year
shows proposed per capita at $5.50 for the
County and $5.15 from state.
The meeting with Ms.
Whalen, Mr. Fenton and Clerk Poston ended at
2:25 p.m.
There being no further
business for the remainder of the day or for
Tuesday, May 8, 2012, the meeting
adjourned at 2:40 p.m.
/s/
RONALD R. SMITH, Chairman
ATTEST:
/s/
GLENDA POSTON, Clerk
By: Michelle Rohrwasser,
Deputy Clerk
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