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***Monday,
December 17, 2012,
Commissioners met in regular session with
Chairman Ron Smith, Commissioner Dan Dinning,
Commissioner Walt Kirby, and Deputy Clerk
Michelle Rohrwasser.
Blue Sky Broadcasting Reporter Mike Brown was in
attendance of the meetings throughout the
morning.
The Road and Bridge Department Report was
cancelled in order for Road and Bridge
Superintendent Jeff Gutshall to help plow snow
on county roads.
Commissioners tended to administrative duties.
9:30 a.m.,
Commissioners met with Don Gunter and Mike
Wolcott of Inland Forest Management to discuss
the Fire Safe Program. Deputy Clerk Nancy Ryals
also joined the meeting.
Mr. Gunter reviewed the status report with
Commissioners. Four different sources of funding
have been awarded to the county as follows:
Fuels Amplification Project, Community Fire
Protection, Stimulus Funding (SPII), and
Community Protection Plan. Chairman Smith
mentioned the Western States Grant had been
turned down. Mr. Gunter said there is a little
over $20,000 left from the Fuels Amplification
Project and the amount of acreage treated will
exceed the 116 acres listed in the report.
Boundary
County
was notified it will receive the Community Fire
Protection grant with a target of 83 acres. As
of today 70 acres have been completed, according
to Mr. Gunter. Mr. Gunter explained this project
is in the Meadow Creek area adjacent to the
Forest Service’s East Fork Meadow Creek timber
sale. Mr. Gunter said the target has been met
and the funds expended. Mr. Gunter said there
are 13 more acres to finish.
In March 2012,
Boundary
County’s Fire Safe Program received
$46,500. The target area is the south end of
Boundary
County and west of
Naples. This work has
been completed.
In August 2012,
Boundary
County was notified it would receive
$75,000 in fuels treatment work in areas
adjacent to Forest Service fuel reduction
projects. This money became available for use in
late November with a target of 52 acres to be
treated. Inland
Forest Management has made two
contracts with landowners totaling 12 acres, and
additional contracts will be made next spring.
Those present discussed the Western States Grant
and Mr. Gunter said it doesn’t look like a few
counties in District 1 will receive this grant.
Mr. Gunter said there are funds available that
will carry over into this next year. Chairman
Smith informed Mr. Gunter and Mr. Wolcott that
Commissioner Dinning will take his place at the
Wildland Urban Interface meetings after he
leaves.
Commissioners questioned when the Fire Safe
Program was started and Mr. Wolcott said the
project started in year 2003.
Those present reviewed the proposed rates in
Inland Forest Management’s contract. Mr. Wolcott
said the contact lists one dollar more per hour
over last year, but overhead costs have
decreased. The contract only involves funds that
are committed and received. Mr. Wolcott said
Inland Forest Management will probably spend
more time than the “not to exceed amount” will
allow, but he understands he will absorb that
cost.
Commissioner Dinning moved to sign the Amended
Inland Forest Management Contract for 2013 as
represented by Mr. Wolcott. Commissioner Kirby
second. Motion passed unanimously.
The meeting with Mr. Wolcott, Mr. Gunter and
Deputy Clerk Ryals ended at
9:55 a.m.
Boundary Volunteer Ambulance President Ken Baker
joined the meeting.
Commissioner Kirby moved to sign the letter to
Boundary Volunteer Ambulance regarding contract
negotiations. Commissioner Dinning second.
Motion passed unanimously.
10:00 a.m., Commissioner Dinning moved to recess
as the Board of County Commissioners and convene
as the Governing Board of the Boundary County
Ambulance Service District. Commissioner Kirby
second. Motion passed unanimously.
10:02 a.m.,
Commissioner Dinning moved to adjourn as the
Governing Board of the Boundary County Ambulance
Service District and reconvene as the Board of
County Commissioners. Commissioner Kirby second.
Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioners mentioned to President Baker the
need to sit down and begin negotiations and
President Baker said he would like the new board
members to participate in that with
Commissioners. The new board members will attend
a Boundary Volunteer Ambulance meeting this
Thursday with the prior board members, according
to President Baker.
Chairman Smith and Commissioners discussed
asking the various offices within the Courthouse
to provide them with a list of maintenance
issues that need to be taken care of in their
offices. Chairman Smith said a list of these
tasks should be presented to Mr. Kothe when he
comes in for his department report.
President Baker and Commissioners briefly
discussed work involved with the portion of the
county’s maintenance shop being utilized by
Boundary Volunteer Ambulance. President Baker
said a man door has been installed in between
the two garage doors and a garage door opener
has been installed on the bay door Boundary
Volunteer Ambulance uses.
President Baker left the meeting.
Commissioners answered Mr. Brown’s questions
pertaining to future negotiations with Boundary
Volunteer Ambulance.
Commissioners tended to administrative duties.
Commissioner Dinning moved to adopt Resolution
#2013-10. A resolution increasing the Restorium
Fund Budget due to contribution from the
Memorial Fund for the Restorium Elevator
Project. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion
passed unanimously. Resolution #2013-10 reads as
follows:
RESOLUTION 2013-10
INCREASING THE RESTORIUM FUND BUDGET
DUE TO CONTRIBUTION FROM THE MEMORIAL FUND FOR
THE RESTORIUM ELEVATOR PROJECT
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners,
County of Boundary, State of Idaho, did
establish an operating budget for the Boundary
County Restorium for fiscal year 2012-2013; and
WHEREAS, the Restorium Advisory Board has agreed
to contribute $8,900.00 from the Restorium
Memorial Fund to help fund the Restorium
Elevator Project; and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate to transfer cash out
of the Restorium Memorial Fund Revenue Account
Number 9125-00-100-00 in the amount of $8,900.00
and increase the Restorium Budget Revenue
Account Number 36-00-100-00 and the Restorium
Budget Expense Account Number 36-00-558-00,
Reserve, in the amount of $8,900.00; and
WHEREAS, the addition of this revenue does not
affect the tax levy for
Boundary
County;
and
NOW THEREFORE, upon motion duly made, seconded
and unanimously carried,
IT IS RESOLVED that the transfer of cash from
the Restorium Memorial Fund Revenue Account
Number 9125-00-100-00 in the amount of $8,900.00
and the increase to the Restorium Budget Revenue
Account Number 36-00-100-00 and the Restorium
Budget Expense Account Number 36-00-558-00,
Reserve, in the amount of $8,900.00 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 17th day of December, 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 #255998
Commissioners tended to administrative duties.
11:30 a.m.,
Boundary Community Hospital CEO/CFO Craig
Johnson and Hospital Board of Trustees Chairman
Elden Koon joined the meeting to update
Commissioners on Hospital matters.
Mr. Koon submitted a letter requesting
reappointment of Hospital board members.
Commissioner Dinning mentioned that Jim Paulus
is now a member on the Ambulance Association and
didn’t know if that could be a conflict.
Commissioner Dinning moved to reappoint Elden
Koon, Geri Garten and Jim Paulus to the Hospital
Board of Trustees with a term to expire
January 1, 2016. Commissioner Kirby
second. Motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Johnson said the Hospital sustained a loss
of $14,000 in November. Overall there was a loss
for the year as the Hospital didn’t bring in
depreciation and bad debt. Mr. Johnson said
there is a lot of indecision in regards to the
Hospital’s budget due to upcoming changes and
you can’t predict what will happen.
Chairman Smith said he attended the GEM Plan
meeting where the President’s health care plan
was discussed. Chairman Smith said employees
will be taxed on their W2’s starting year 2014
on the amount their employer paid for medical
insurance on their behalf and there will also be
a $63 fee per person for their insurance plan.
Chairman Smith said due to a grandfather clause
it’s possible the county won’t have to pay the
$63. Mr. Johnson said there will also be an
excise tax on medical supplies.
Those present continued the discussion on
President Obama’s healthcare plan. Chairman
Smith said he has been able to get the GEM Plan
to issue no more than a 5% increase in health
care costs and if more money was needed, it came
out of surplus. Chairman Smith said even though
the increase was kept at 5%, the surplus funds
increased.
Those present discussed local physician related
matters.
Mr. Johnson said the Festival of Trees raised
$45,000 to $46,000 gross and netted
approximately $34,000, which are good numbers.
Linda Hiatt was a driving force this year for
the Festival of Trees, according to Mr. Johnson.
Those present briefly discussed the Hospital’s
representative that is to sit on the new
Ambulance District Board as per the agreement
between the county and Boundary Volunteer
Ambulance. Mr. Johnson confirmed that he is
willing to sit on the new board when it’s
formed.
The meeting with Mr. Koon and Mr. Johnson ended
at 12:00 p.m.
There being no further business, the meeting
recessed until tomorrow at
9:00 a.m.
***Tuesday,
December 18, 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.,
Commissioners held an elected
officials/department heads meeting. Present
were: Chairman Smith, Commissioner Dinning,
Commissioner Kirby, Clerk Glenda Poston, Chief
Deputy Clerk Tracie Isaac, Treasurer Jenny
Fessler, Assessor Dave Ryals, Solid Waste
Superintendent Claine Skeen, Extension Office
Educator Jennifer Jensen, Prosecutor’s Office
Manager Tammie Goggia, Planning and Zoning
Administrator Dan Studer, Noxious Weeds
Superintendent Duke Guthrie, Chief Probation
Officer Stacy Brown, and Road and Bridge Office
Manager Renee Nelson.
Chairman Smith brought up the subject of
computer use. Commissioner Dinning asked those
present to watch the amount of unnecessary
internet use at work and explained having issues
when he had tried to participate in a webinar,
but kept getting kicked off due to high internet
usage already going on.
The possibility of improving the internet
service was questioned and Assessor Ryals said
this issue came up not too long ago and the
ability to improve service wasn’t there.
Chairman Smith asked Mr. Studer about internet
services. Mr. Studer said in the school district
the schools have various band widths. Mr. Studer
said he is not aware of the Courthouse’s current
band width, but at the schools 30 students can
be on internet working and there aren’t any
problems. Assessor Ryals reiterated that he had
done some investigations into expanding band
width and the matter pretty much went nowhere.
Government Employee Medical (GEM) Plan update.
Chairman Smith informed those present that he
had attended a GEM Plan meeting last week and
details are still unknown as it pertains to
President Obama’s health care plan. Chairman
Smith brought up issues regarding insurance and
cities. Chairman Smith said
Boundary
County’s insurance claims are still
higher than its contributions although
Boundary
County is doing better. Something
will probably happen in the next year as far as
changes to insurance as a result of Obamacare,
according to Chairman Smith. It will be in year
2014 that employees will have to report to the
IRS how much money for insurance coverage was
paid out on their behalf. A $63 fee per employee
with coverage was also discussed at the GEM Plan
meeting, but it’s likely that will be waived for
Boundary
County due to a grandfather clause.
Boundary County
is considered a small business so it will have
to furnish health insurance otherwise the county
will have to pay a fine if the county chooses
not to provide insurance. The GEM Plan has about
5 to 6
million dollars in reserves, according to
Chairman Smith.
Commissioner Dinning said in the upcoming year
there is going to be legislation to try to
eliminate personal property taxes at the
personal level. That is about 10% of county
revenue. Assessor Ryals said locally assessed it
is less than 4% for personal property, but it’s
17% at the state level including operating
property. Assessor Ryals said it is not
necessarily a loss of revenue depending on levy
rates; it just depends on the shift.
Commissioner Dinning said it was stated there
cannot be a shift. Commissioner Dinning said all
county departments are already conservative, but
he doesn’t have a clue as to what will come out
of this.
Chairman Smith said this is the last year for
Secure Rural Schools (SRS) funding received by
the county and he knows the county doesn’t levy
for Road and Bridge. When the county no longer
receives SRS funds the county will have to begin
levying for Road and Bridge. It was said even
levying 1% will not make up the loss of SRS
funds. Chairman Smith compared
Boundary County
to other counties and said if we’re going to be
hit hard; Shoshone
County is going to be hit even
harder.
Chairman Smith said this is his last elected
officials meeting. Chairman Smith said he has
been asked to remain on the Commission on
Children and Youth, which he’s been a part of
for two years. Chairman Smith said he is also
involved with the Counties and Courts Commission
and they have asked him to sit on the training
council. Chairman Smith mentioned interest in
another position within the county and also
added that he leave’s the Commissioners’ Office
with no regrets.
Commissioners reminded those present about
providing them with a list of courthouse
maintenance and janitorial maintenance issues
that need tending to.
The elected officials/department heads meeting
ended at 9:35
a.m.
Commissioner Dinning mentioned to Commissioners
that there is to be a public hearing held by the
City of Bonners Ferry
on their zone ordinance and he had heard that
all areas to be annexed are to be rezoned.
Commissioner Dinning said he wants clarity
because there has been more than one person who
attended the hearing on annexation when this
came up. Commissioner Dinning said he would like
to see a map of the area to make sure the
information is correct. Commissioners said they
would request that the City of
Bonners Ferry
not rezone anything in the area of impact until
the county and city have had their negotiations.
9:40 a.m.,
Boundary County Noxious Weeds Superintendent
Duke Guthrie met with Commissioners to provide a
departmental report. Mr. Guthrie said he had put
together a report of spraying for this year for
the Selkirk Cooperative Weed Management Area
(CWMA). Mr. Guthrie said this is the first time
Bonners Ferry contracted to have nine acres of
the sewer lagoon treated. Mr. Guthrie reviewed
his list of areas sprayed this year to include
nine acres for the City of Bonners Ferry, two
acres at the Moyie Substation and power plant,
six miles of streets for the City of Moyie
Springs, 22 acres for the Parks and Recreation
Department, 15 acres for the Solid Waste
Department, 25 acres for the Road and Bridge
Department, a total of five miles of runways and
15 acres surrounding the County Airport, two
acres for the Snowmobile City of Moyie Springs,
two acres at the snowmobile park and 700
miles/approximately 1,000 acres county road
rights of way.
Mr. Guthrie also provided a Bio Control Report,
Small Infestations Report, Mapping Report,
Boundary County Neighborhood Co-op Report and
Selkirk Cooperative Weed Management Area Year
end Report for 2012.
The meeting with Mr. Guthrie ended at
9:55 a.m.
9:55 a.m., Clif Warren with Community
Transportation Association of Idaho, Barbara
Kovacs with the Seniors Hospitality Center and
Boundary County Economic Development Specialist
David Sims joined the meeting to discuss the
Senior Center’s transportation program.
Mr. Warren explained the efforts to raise grant
match money to operate the senior bus. The
Senior
Center had been paying the match out
of their reserve account, but the board of
directors for the local senior center said that
can no longer be done. The
Senior
Hospitality Center
will give up the operating grant and the bus.
The bus is county owned and Mr. Warren asked
about the county maintaining the bus.
10:01 a.m.,
City of Bonners Ferry
Stephen Boorman, Mayor
Dave Anderson and City of
Bonners Ferry Assistant Administrator Andrakay
Pluid joined the meeting.
Mr. Sims said the bus is local now, but at this
point he doesn’t see a good way to have a route
service in the county. Commissioners were asked
if the Restorium would benefit from using the
bus. Commissioners asked if there was an
obligation to have a route and Mr. Warren said
no although, the state would like to see a plan
for how the bus would be used and the expected
ridership. Chairman Smith questioned what use
the Restorium would have for the bus and
Commissioner Kirby said the residents have been
given rides to the fair and parades. Ms. Kovacs
said this bus has a wheel chair ramp and holds
12 people.
Mr. Sims said he is going to attend the
Restorium Board meeting this Friday and he could
also help put together a plan. It was said for
clarity that the Restorium would be responsible
for fuel and maintenance. Mr. Warren said the
board of directors for the
Senior Center
has put in a lot of money toward the grant match
and they have questioned how to possibly receive
some of that match back. The match was under
$4,000, according to Ms. Kovacs. Commissioner
Dinning said the county has paid insurance on
the bus. Mr. Warren said there is time to think
about it.
Ms. Kovacs said the
Senior
Center still has a van and a 16
passenger bus and they would like to know if
Boundary
County can keep insurance on these
vehicles as they will still try to pick up the
seniors who need rides. Mr. Warren said there is
an issue maybe that the county requires the
drivers be paid under insurance and workers
compensation. Commissioner Dinning suggested Ms.
Kovacs speak with Chief Deputy Clerk Tracie
Isaac about what is required for drivers under
the county’s insurance.
Meeting with Mr. Warren and Ms. Kovacs ended at
10:05 a.m.
Commissioner Dinning moved to amend the agenda
for today at
10:08 a.m., to add a matter that is
time sensitive regarding the City of
Bonners Ferry’s
Comprehensive Plan. Commissioner Kirby second.
Motion passed unanimously.
10:08 a.m.,
Commissioner Dinning informed Commissioners and
the City of Bonners Ferry
representatives that he had received a telephone
call regarding the City of
Bonners Ferry’s
Comprehensive Plan. Commissioner Dinning said he
had gone online to view the map, but couldn’t
tell anything from it. Commissioner Dinning
asked if there are areas outside of the existing
limits that the City of
Bonners Ferry is going to
consider. Mr. Boorman said the Comprehensive
Plan to be discussed at tonight’s hearing will
include a map that lists general land use areas
and only looks at the areas of annexation or
inside city limits. Commissioner Dinning said
for clarity that this matter does not pertain to
the area of impact and Mr. Boorman agreed. Mr.
Boorman said this pertains to just the city
limits and areas of annexation. Chairman Smith
said anything in the area of impact is still
county property so the city wouldn’t be able to
make any designations to that area.
Chairman Smith said some time back when
properties were taken into the area of impact,
property owners were allowed to do things to
their property as it was now within the city
limits as opposed to being in the county. Mr.
Boorman said that is a county decision so as he
understands it if there is an area of impact, it
will allow a higher impact, but that is a county
decision not the city’s decision. Mr. Boorman
said the area of impact is a planning tool. If
the city got to the point of annexing an area,
this is what the city would expect those areas
to be, such as commercial. Commissioner Dinning
said in what information he read, it indicated
future annexation. Mr. Boorman said he would
bring to Commissioners what is to be on the
agenda.
Mr. Boorman asked what the county’s goals are in
regards to renegotiations of the area of impact
and he mentioned he thought 30 days was the
magic number for discussion once the letter
requesting negotiations was received.
Commissioner Dinning said he didn’t know about a
certain number of days, but it is just to review
the areas.
The meeting with Mr. Sims, Mr. Boorman, Mayor
Anderson and Ms. Pluid ended at
10:25 a.m.
There being no further business, the meeting
adjourned at
10:25 a.m.
/s/
RONALD R.
SMITH, Chairman
ATTEST:
/s/
GLENDA POSTON, Clerk
By:
Michelle Rohrwasser, Deputy Clerk
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