County commission minutes, May 13-14
June 12, 2013
***Monday, May 13, 2013, Commissioners met in regular session with Chairman Dan R. Dinning, Commissioner LeAlan L. Pinkerton, Commissioner Walt Kirby and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser.

Clerk Glenda Poston joined the meeting.

9:00 a.m., Commissioner Pinkerton moved to go into executive session under Idaho Code 67-2345(1)a, to consider hiring a public officer, employee, staff member or individual agent. Commissioner Kirby second. Commissioners voted as follows: Chairman Dinning “aye”, Commissioner Pinkerton “aye”, and Commissioner Kirby “aye”. Motion passed unanimously. 9:10 a.m., Commissioner Kirby moved to go out of executive session. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.

Blue Sky Broadcasting Reporter Mike Brown was in attendance of the meetings throughout the day.

9:10 a.m., Road and Bridge Superintendent Jeff Gutshall joined the meeting to give the departmental report. No written report was provided. Mr. Gutshall said he has the Durapatcher out filling potholes. Mr. Gutshall said he was able to have the telephone company relocate part of their line for work being done on Lookout View Road and he spoke of ditch and culvert work. Mr. Gutshall said since he’s having a good early season he will prioritize jobs that involve asphalt, but if it starts to rain, Road and Bridge will go back to culvert work on Lookout View Road.

Chairman Dinning asked if less dust abatement work will be done this year. Mr. Gutshall said he has budgeted for less, but he would like to do as much as possible. Dust abatement will be used on hills so it cuts down on the washboard effect. District 5 Road and approximately three miles in Pleasant Valley will see dust abatement. Mr. Gutshall said he has dust abatement in his budget for next year, but if he had to reduce it, he could put out a cost share offer to the public. Chairman Dinning said he has some reservations about that. Mr. Gutshall said it’s an alternative to not providing dust abatement at all.

Mr. Gutshall and Commissioners discussed Idaho Code bid requirements as it pertains to calcium chloride applications. Mr. Gutshall said he has reviewed Idaho Code for information on obtaining quotes versus the bidding process and he feels he will be able to seek quotes. Chairman Dinning said he wants this suggestion to come from the county’s attorney in regards to quotes versus the formal bidding process.

Commissioner Pinkerton moved to go out for quotes for chloride dust palliative materials under Idaho Code Section 67-2805(2). Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Kirby moved to authorize the Chairman to sign any documents related to the quote process for chloride dust palliative materials. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.

The Road and Bridge Department report ended at 9:35 a.m.

9:35 a.m., Courthouse Maintenance Jerry Kothe joined the meeting to provide his department report. Mr. Kothe presented a written report stating Bonners Ferry Glass and Door installed the door and changed a couple locks at the Parks and Recreation Office, he has mowed down at the fairgrounds and sharpened the mower blades, he’s contacted the person who had submitted a quote to redo the court room benches to inform him the county chose someone else, and Fulton Quality Construction is doing work to Memorial Hall.

Mr. Kothe said he looked into various styles of garbage receptacles for the front entranceway of the Courthouse. Mr. Kothe said Commissioners may want to think about having one that is not solid so someone can see into it, for safety reasons. Mr. Kothe said he is looking at one style that will cost $200 with a lid for $80. Commissioners debated if a garbage can is needed. Commissioners decided to do without purchasing the garbage can.

Commissioners reviewed a maintenance to-do list with Mr. Kothe. Mr. Kothe said he would check with Extension Office Educator Carol Hampton about the back door and the sprayer at the kitchen sink to see if she’s having any more issues with them. Mr. Kothe said Custodian Jim Thompson had the carpets in the Extension Office cleaned and has set up scheduled cleanings. Mr. Kothe said he checked the chairs at the Extension Office and some of those particular chairs won’t hold screws any longer. Mr. Kothe said Ms. Hampton had mentioned including funds for some new chairs in her budget.

Mr. Kothe said he looked into installing a short section of fence along the area bordering the Courthouse lawn and back parking lot and he will not be able to drive a post into the ground. The only way would be to grind holes into the concrete and the fence would have to be something substantial. Mr. Kothe said Mr. Thompson had a community service worker mowing the lawn. Clerk Poston said bark is needed in the areas beneath the trees in the Courthouse lawn. Mr. Kothe said he is busy all the time so he is looking at what the priorities are.

The meeting with Mr. Kothe ended at 9:44 a.m.

9:45 a.m., Economic Development Council (EDC) Specialist David Sims joined the meeting to discuss the Boundary Economic Development Council budget and proposed memorandum of understanding. Bonners Ferry Herald Reporter Laura Roady was also present.

Commissioners reviewed the letter from Mr. Sims listing the amounts provided by the State of Idaho, Kootenai Tribe, Boundary County, City of Moyie Springs, and City of Bonners Ferry to fund the EDC program. Mr. Sims briefly mentioned obligations as far as office space rent, etc., and informed Commissioners who is on the EDC Board. Chairman Dinning asked if funding from the state is decreasing. Mr. Sims said he’s not sure, but it’s possible. The state doesn’t yet know how many applications for this grant they will receive. There is a fixed amount to supply the program and Mr. Sims said he’s hoping it’s the same, but he doesn’t know what the one year commitment is. Mr. Sims said the memorandum of understanding that he would like to have Commissioners sign does have a 60 day withdrawal clause included.

Commissioner Kirby moved to sign the Rural Economic Professional Outreach Program Memorandum of Understanding between Boundary County, City of Bonners Ferry, City of Moyie Springs, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Boundary County School District, and Panhandle Area Council. Motion passed unanimously.

The meeting with Mr. Sims ended at 10:00 a.m.

Ms. Roady left the meeting.

Commissioners tended to administrative duties.

Commissioners reviewed claims for payment. Fund totals are as follows:

Current Expense $76,297.59
Road & Bridge 37,228.93
Airport 4,764.80
District Court 5,674.00
Justice Fund 30,366.22
911 Funds 1,113.57
Indigent & Charity 20,184.38
Parks and Recreation 6,005.45
Revaluation 1,834.68
Solid Waste 4,359.76
Veterans Memorial 95.63
Weeds 868.69
Restorium 20,683.94
Waterways 7,156.90
Grant, Fire Mitigation 3,200.00

TOTAL $219,834.54
Trusts
Auditor’s Trust 7,394.40
Sales Tax Collected 73.56
Drivers License 8,118.00
Magistrate Trust 31,064.58
Motor Vehicle Trust 92,681.35
Sheriff’s Fund 1,202.32

TOTAL $140,534.21

GRAND TOTAL $360,368.75

Citizens are invited to inspect detailed records on file in the Courthouse (individual claims & Commissioners’ allowance & warrant register record 2013).

10:15 a.m., Commissioners briefly discussed the proposed shooting range agreement for the Sheriff’s Office. Prosecutor Jack Douglas has some concerns regarding liability. Commissioners will ask Prosecutor Douglas to draft a revised shooting range agreement.

Commissioners said every year the Assessor provides them with a list of exempt properties to include lands owned by the state, federal government, non profit organizations, etc. There are 15 more tax exempt properties than last year due to churches, charities, and tax deed properties.

Commissioner Kirby moved to sign the Exempt Property List for year 2013 as presented by the Assessor. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.

Commissioners tended to administrative duties.

10:40 a.m., Property owner Glen Fodge stopped by Commissioners’ Office.

It was said boats owned by government agencies are going too fast on the river causing land to slough. Mr. Fodge said North Idaho College also has a boat and the drivers have ignored the warnings to slow down. Mr. Fodge was hoping boat laws could be adopted every year at high water for this reason.

Mr. Fodge left the meeting at 10:44 a.m.

Chief Probation Officer Stacy Brown joined the meeting at 10:45 a.m.

Ms. Brown informed Commissioners that she normally doesn’t budget for juvenile detention so she wasn’t aware there were no funds available for the services provided by the Bonner County Juvenile Detention Center. Ms. Brown suggested taking Bonner County Detention Center costs from the juvenile detention budget as she would hope to see a substantial savings by using Bonner County’s facility as it is approximately $78 less than the Region I Detention Center. Chairman Dinning explained that Region I Detention Center bills a county for that county’s prior year’s usage. Those present questioned how to budget for the Bonner County facility now and Ms. Brown suggested funding the usage through the juvenile detention budget. Clerk Poston said there are no funds available so she would suggest taking funds from the district court reserve budget. Ms. Brown said she always asked for less detention budget funding and more community service. Ms. Brown said there would be a $3500 savings by using Bonner County’s ability instead of Region I according to the last bill from Region I.

Ms. Brown said since there is no budget for Bonner County’s Detention Center she could just recommend Region I Detention Center’s services to the judge, but it will cost more in the long run. Chairman Dinning said the county would incur the savings now in the last part of this fiscal year if juveniles are sent to Bonner County, but the county has to plan as if it isn’t sending juveniles there. Chairman Dinning questioned how much is in the reserve budget, and he said he knows that March and April had high usage at the Region I Detention Center, but he wondered if that would decrease. Ms. Brown said those who had served time at Region I in April are not serving time in May. Ms. Brown said she has no juveniles in Region I right now. Ms. Brown said she does have 17 new cases coming on probation, but she always prefers community service. Ms. Brown said her history shows that the judge is 50/50 on her requests for community service versus detention.

Clerk Poston said maybe it would help to switch to a monthly billing cycle so at least the county would know what services are being utilized. It was said the county will need to estimate usage for Bonner County’s detention center next year. Chairman Dinning said Commissioners will estimate using the reserve fund for Bonner County, but they really don’t know what that figure will be and it’s something Ms. Brown really doesn’t have control over. Chairman Dinning asked if this information could be passed on to the judge.

Commissioner Kirby said if Boundary County is going to use the Bonner County Detention Center, the usage will have to be paid for this year. Commissioner Pinkerton said Commissioners should look at the reserve budget and see how much should be gambled because that is what it is. Commissioner Pinkerton said he doesn’t want to talk to the judge about altering the decision because of the budget. Chairman Dinning clarified that he doesn’t want the judge’s decision to be altered, he just wants him to be aware. Ms. Brown said every single misdemeanor is a potential 90 days in a detention center, etc. Clerk Poston discussed how structured certain Justice Fund matters are such as it pertains to public defenders, but Ms. Brown’s department is funded through District Court. Clerk Poston said right now the cost will have to come from Ms. Brown’s reserves. Chairman Dinning said if the county did have a murder trial that started right away, the affects would be on the next budget year anyhow. Clerk Poston mentioned retaining a murder suspect in jail falls under the Justice Fund, but evaluations fall under District Court. It was said the solution will be to save the Justice Fund reserve for the Bonner County Detention Center.

The meeting with Ms. Brown ended at 11:00 a.m.

Commissioners and Clerk Poston continued their discussion on District Court budget matters for juvenile detention.

Treasurer Jenny Fessler stopped by Commissioners’ Office at 11:15 a.m.

Commissioner Kirby moved to grant an extension of time to pay 2009 taxes for parcel #RP60N01W244050A until June 17, 2013. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.

Treasurer Fessler left the meeting.

Commissioner Pinkerton moved to approve the minutes of May 6 & 7, 2013. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.

There being no further business for the remainder of the day and with no meetings scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, May 14, 2013 due to lack of a quorum, the meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m.



/s/
DAN R. DINNING, Chairman

ATTEST:


/s/
GLENDA POSTON, Clerk
By: Michelle Rohrwasser, Deputy Clerk