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County commission minutes, July 1-2

July 12, 2013

***Monday, July 1, 2013, Commissioners met in regular session with Chairman Dan Dinning, Commissioner LeAlan Pinkerton, Commissioner Walt Kirby, Clerk Glenda Poston 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 presented a written report. Mr. Gutshall spoke of work on Moon Shadow Road that’s to last the rest of this week. The dust abatement and road stabilization on the detour route to be used for the Deep Creek Loop project has been completed and now Road and Bridge crew are putting down fabric and rock. Road and Bridge will move on to grind up Copeland Road and rock will be made for patching.

 

Mr. Gutshall discussed patching a portion of road over Cabinet Mountain Water District’s waterline near Shamrock Road and Blue Sky Road, and it was mentioned that Cabinet Mountains Water District Engineer Mike Klaus will talk to his board about that. Mr. Gutshall said beyond that Road and Bridge will chipseal Copeland Road from the bridge to Westside Road and on Westside Road toward Elk Mountain Farm.

 

Mr. Gutshall spoke of an agreement for the Deep Creek Bridge project. Chairman Dinning was able to sign the agreement as per a prior motion to sign any documents related to the Deep Creek Bridge projects.   

 

Chairman Dinning signed the Idaho Transportation Department Local Professional Services Agreement No. 8542 for Deep Creek Bridge #2, Project name: STC-5907 Deep Creek Bridge #2, Boundary County, Project #BR-5907(101), Key No. 08773.  

 

Mr. Gutshall said Road and Bridge has old diesel that is being utilized so they will use that tank for biodiesel once it is empty. Commissioner Pinkerton suggested mixing the fuels together. Mr. Gutshall said he feels better just trying to use up the old fuel rather than mixing them.

 

Commissioner Pinkerton mentioned receiving a call from Mr. Nishek about any county interest in a potential gravel pit. Mr. Gutshall said he didn’t think it would be feasible.

 

The meeting with Mr. Gutshall ended at 9:20 a.m.

 

Commissioners tended to administrative duties.

 

9:30 a.m., Courthouse Maintenance Jerry Kothe joined the meeting to give the departmental report. Mr. Kothe presented a written report and reviewed various tasks. Mr. Kothe said he fixed the steering on a mower and that Mike Kelley has repaired the area at the RV dump and has filled that area and tamped it down. Commissioner Kirby suggested contacting Mr. Gutshall about doing the asphalt at the RV dump site.

 

Those present discussed how the high river level affects the ball fields. Commissioner Pinkerton asked the status of the air conditioner in the Judge’s chambers. Mr. Kothe said he hasn’t done anything about that yet, but he thinks the unit just needs to be replaced. Mr. Kothe contacted Pend O’Reille Mechanical and learned they don’t install air conditioners. Mr. Kothe said he will take outside dimensions of the existing case.

 

Mr. Kothe said he hasn’t heard from the person who is working on the courtroom benches in a couple weeks.

 

The meeting with Mr. Kothe ended at 9:33 a.m.

 

Commissioners tended to administrative duties.

 

10:00 a.m., Solid Waste Superintendent Claine Skeen joined the meeting. Chief Probation Officer Stacy Brown also joined the meeting.

 

Mr. Skeen and Commissioners discussed a potential new drinking water system offered by Ivan Wedel. Mr. Skeen said currently he spends $1,200 to $1,500 per year for his department’s water and water dispensers. The cost for Mr. Wedel’s water machines is $4,000. Mr. Skeen said to make a long story short it would cost approximately $5,000 to purchase a machine. Ms. Brown said she spends $10.95 per month to rent a water cooler and her department averages 15 gallons of water per month. Chairman Dinning asked why not drink out of the tap and Mr. Skeen said the water is bad and tastes funny. Mr. Skeen said he currently uses the Culligan water system as there is no other water at the monitored sites to at least wash hands. The total purchase for the new water system would be $6,000 as Mr. Skeen would need five dispensers. It would take approximately five years to pay the new machine and consumables off. Mr. Skeen said the new water system was brought to the landfill and water became tinted after sitting in the sun. Mr. Skeen said this new system would be good for the home, but he isn’t sure about his department. Ms. Brown said as little water as her department uses, there wouldn’t be any savings for her. Mr. Skeen said this is just information for Commissioners. There would be savings years down the road, but the current system is working very well. Mr. Skeen added that if water bottles, caps and the machine are purchased, there is also his time to fill the various bottles.

 

Mr. Skeen said he’s spoken to Crystal Denton at the Sheriff’s Office about community service.

 

The meeting with Mr. Skeen ended at 10:10 a.m.

 

10:10 a.m., Chief Probation Officer Stacy Brown provided a brief department report. There are 70 adults on adult misdemeanor probation, 55 juveniles on probation with seven more soon to be added. Unsupervised probation is down to 272 adults and the Youth Accountability Board (YAB) has decreased to eight juveniles. Chairman Dinning asked what the highest occurring offenses are for juveniles and adults. Ms. Brown said petty theft for juveniles and DUI’s for adults.

 

Ms. Brown informed Commissioners there are approximately 600 hours in the community service program that need to be performed.

The meeting with Ms. Brown ended at 10:15 a.m.

 

10:15 a.m., Commissioners considered the application for an alcoholic beverage license for Overtime Inc., dba Panhandle Restaurant and for the transfer of the alcoholic beverage license for The Pizza Factory. Present were: Chairman Dinning, Commissioner Pinkerton, Commissioner Kirby, Clerk Poston, and Deputy Clerk Rohrwasser. The proceedings were recorded.

 

Commissioner Pinkerton moved to approve the 2013 County Alcoholic Beverage License Application for Overtime Inc., dba Panhandle Restaurant to sell bottled and canned beer on or off premises and wine by the drink pending receipt of the 2013 State of Idaho Retail Alcohol Beverage License, the 2013 City of Bonners Ferry Retail Alcohol Beverage License and 2013 Panhandle Health District Permit. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.

 

Commissioner Pinkerton moved to approve the transfer of 2013 County Alcoholic Beverage License Application from Morgen Fodge dba Pizza Factory to Pizza Factory Inc. dba Pizza Factory pending receipt of the 2013 State of Idaho Retail Alcohol Beverage License, the 2013 City of Bonners Ferry Retail Alcohol Beverage License and 2013 Panhandle Health District Permit. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.

 

The meeting to consider the beverage license applications ended at 10:20 a.m.

 

Commissioners tended to administrative duties.

 

11:00 a.m., Restorium Board Chairman Larry Dirks and Restorium Administrator Karlene Magee joined the meeting to provide the Restorium report.

 

Ms. Magee said Auditor Leonard Schulte has her QuickBooks reports and they are what he wanted to see in a report. Ms. Magee said Mr. Schulte just advised her to create one additional column for the months.

 

Those present discussed what amount is still owing as it relates to the elevator project.

 

Deputy Clerk Nancy Ryals joined the meeting at 11:05 a.m.

 

Chairman Dinning said there is some confusion over the amount of $12,000 as it relates to the grant. Deputy Clerk Ryals said that amount was for bills still outstanding as of that last meeting, but those are now paid so a new report was created. Deputy Clerk Ryals said she would contact Panhandle Area Council about the possible additional funding.

 

Ms. Magee said the number of residents at the Restorium is 32. There is one room available so the first person on the waiting list has been contacted and Ms. Magee said she is just waiting for their return call.

 

Ms. Magee said the Restorium’s pickup works after all. The battery and alternator are fine so the issue could’ve been just from the pickup sitting all winter and having bad gas, and Ms. Magee said she thinks it needs a tune up. Ms. Magee said she feels the car sits more than the pickup truck. It’s a Saturn that was donated to the Restorium and it seems to be in good shape, according to Ms. Magee.

 

Mr. Dirks asked if a public hearing date has been chosen for a Restorium room rate increase. Chairman Dinning said not yet.

 

Ms. Magee said a fire inspection is due sometime this August or September, but she doesn’t expect any other inspections anytime soon.

 

The meeting with Mr. Dirks and Ms. Magee ended at 11:25 a.m.

 

11:25 a.m., Commissioner Kirby 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 Pinkerton second. Commissioners voted as follows: Chairman Dinning “aye”, Commissioner Pinkerton “aye” and Commissioner Kirby “aye”. Motion passed unanimously. 11:26 a.m., Commissioner Kirby moved to go out of executive session. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously. 

 

11:30 a.m., Extension Office Educator Carol Hampton joined the meeting to discuss establishing proposed fees for renting the Extension Office meeting room. Ms. Hampton said she is no longer renting room for indefinite periods of time and is now setting a limit such as up to two months out. Groups such as the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), Kootenai Valley Resource Initiative (KVRI), etc., can be ongoing rentals, but not so for other groups, according to Ms. Hampton.

 

Ms. Hampton mentioned a matter involving meetings backed by a religious organization in relation to the Probation Office. Chairman Dinning informed Ms. Hampton that from the county’s perspective the county doesn’t need to know this. Ms. Hampton said she would leave a note for the appropriate person or party to contact the Chief Probation Officer if there are narcotics anonymous or alcoholics anonymous meetings as juveniles can’t be forced to attend meetings if the meeting is religious based. Chairman Dinning said Commissioners would have the county’s civil attorney review the room rental documents.     

 

Chairman Dinning briefly discussed the Extension Educator position with Ms. Hampton.

 

Ms. Hampton left the meeting at 11:44 a.m.

 

Commissioner Kirby moved to cancel year 2009 taxes totaling $285.05, $5.47 in translator fees, $67.62 in solid waste fees, $20.38 in late fees, $526.70 in costs and $424.08 in interest for parcel #RP60N01W288401A as per the Commissioners’ recommendation. The amount of $634.76 was returned to Cabinet Mountain Water District for collection. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.

 

Commissioner Kirby moved to grant a 90 day extension of time to pay year 2009 taxes for parcel #RP62N01E123400A with a condition that another extension would not be approved. The 90 day extension will end on September 30, 2013. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Commissioners voted as follows: Chairman Dinning “aye”, Commissioner Pinkerton “nay” and Commissioner Kirby “aye”. Motion passed.

 

Commissioners recessed for lunch at 12:00 p.m.

   

1:30 p.m., Commissioners reconvened for the afternoon session with Chairman Dinning, Commissioner Pinkerton, Commissioner Kirby and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser.

 

1:30 p.m., Commissioners conducted a conference call with Brad Niemeyer of JUB Engineering. Chairman Dinning said Commissioners had received the new updated offer letters for acquiring land near the airport. County Attorney Tevis Hull has approved the letters as well. Mr. Niemeyer said if Commissioners are okay with the offer letters and appraisals, they need to sign the determination of value letters. Roxanne Grimm with Epic Land Solutions will present the letters to the property owners in person on Wednesday. Commissioners are not committed to condemn the properties by the offer letter and if the offer is not accepted, the county and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would discuss needs for property at a condemnation standpoint in order for the county to move forward.

 

Chairman Dinning said Commissioners had also received input from Assessor Ryals regarding his estimate of value. It’s recognized that the Assessor’s data is older than what an appraiser would use as well as a different appraisal method was used. Mr. Niemeyer said Commissioners need to discuss whether or not to accept the licensed appraiser’s information and to review the appraiser’s information and this is concerning four parcels.

 

Chairman Dinning left the room due to a possible conflict of interest concerning two of the properties.

 

Commissioner Kirby moved to appoint Commissioner Pinkerton acting Chairman in the absence of Chairman Dinning. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.

 

Commissioner Kirby moved to accept the appraiser’s determination of value totaling $32,000 for the Byler property. Acting Chairman Pinkerton yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.

 

Commissioner Kirby moved to accept the appraiser’s determination of value totaling $180,000 for the Dinning property. Acting Chairman Pinkerton yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.  

 

Commissioner Kirby moved to accept the appraiser’s determination of value totaling $190,000 for the Merrifield property. Acting Chairman Pinkerton yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.

 

Commissioner Kirby moved to accept the appraiser’s determination of value totaling $125,000 for the Speed properties. Acting Chairman Pinkerton yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.  

 

Chairman Dinning returned to the meeting.

 

Commissioner Pinkerton moved to approve the offer letter for the parcels previously approved. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Niemeyer said he needs to have a county representative be the contact person in regards to issues that arise from relocation. Commissioners said they needed to speak to Attorney Hull about that.

 

The call with Mr. Niemeyer ended at 1:40 p.m.

 

Commissioners spoke to Attorney Hull briefly via telephone regarding airport land acquisition matters.

 

Blue Sky Broadcasting Reporter Mike Brown joined the meeting at 1:45 p.m.

 

Commissioners tended to administrative duties.

 

Mr. Brown left the meeting.

 

2:30 p.m., Clerk Glenda Poston joined the meeting for the purpose of conducting a budget workshop with Commissioners.

 

The workshop ended at 3:50 p.m.

 

There being no further business, the meeting recessed until tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.

 

***Tuesday, July 02, 2013, Commissioners met in regular session with Chairman Dan Dinning, Commissioner LeAlan Pinkerton, Commissioner Walt Kirby, Clerk Glenda Poston, and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser.

 

9:00 a.m., Solid Waste Superintendent Claine Skeen joined the meeting. Mr. Skeen said he received information from Waste Management that single stream recycling will be reduced by $25 per ton so recycling will be something the county will have to pay to get rid of. Other markets now consider plastics #3 through #5 as garbage, according to Mr. Skeen. Mr. Skeen said over a two month span 96.94 tons have been hauled out of Boundary County with no revenue generated. A truck load consists of five to seven tons so the cost equates to having to pay $175 for seven tons. The 440 tons of recycling the county has processed would cost the county approximately $11,000 per year. If the market changes, this price will change and it could be back in the positive or it could cost more. Mr. Skeen spoke of pulling out the aluminum to recycle separately in order to offset this cost. Mr. Skeen reviewed his budget.

 

Mr. Skeen, Commissioners and Clerk Poston briefly spoke of budget matters such as reducing hours for part time employees. Mr. Skeen said there is approximately $8,000 in the budget for a Moyie Springs dumpster site along with $7,000 for fencing and electricity. Budget details for the Solid Waste Department were reviewed further to include reducing the fencing cost and $8,000 from the budget.

 

Mr. Skeen left the meeting at 9:15 a.m.

 

9:18 a.m., Chief Deputy Clerk Tracie Isaac joined the meeting at Commissioners’ request.

 

A county employee has submitted a request for use of the Family Medical Leave Act FMLA. Chief Deputy Clerk Isaac said the request would start today if approved and is offered for up to 12 weeks. The county will still pay this employee’s medical insurance.

 

Commissioner Pinkerton moved to approve the request for family medical leave for a county employee. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.

 

Chief Deputy Clerk Isaac left the meeting.

 

9:30 a.m., Clerk Poston and Commissioners conducted a budget workshop. The workshop ended at 11:25 a.m.

 

11:30 a.m., Boundary County Emergency Services Director Dave Kramer joined the meeting to discuss the status of obtaining information for requests for proposals for ambulance service providers. Blue Sky Broadcasting Reporter Mike Brown and Bonners Ferry Herald Reporter Laura Roady also joined the meeting.

 

Chairman Dinning said Commissioners had tasked Mr. Kramer to look into requests for proposals (RFP) for ambulance services. Mr. Kramer said he thought Commissioners would be looking at a broad picture view for ambulance service and he had provided Commissioners with a list of licensed providers throughout the State of Idaho. Mr. Kramer said he met with a few people in the field to get some background, and he had set up a meeting with the Bonner County EMS Chief, Rob Wakeley and learned how they operate the system in Bonner County, to include Newport, Clark Fork, and several fire departments such as Schweitzer Fire Department. One example of the benefits to working with multiple partners is if one agency’s license is pulled, another agency can step in.

 

Mr. Kramer said he has a draft of Sandpoint’s request for proposals when they had looked into services. Some points may be beneficial while other changes may need to be made. Mr. Kramer said he has also made a request to the Sheriff’s Office to obtain the number of at least the last six months’ worth of ambulance calls in the county and the times of response to the scene. Mr. Kramer said he would also like to meet with County Civil Attorney Tevis Hull on this matter.

 

Mr. Kramer said in looking at Bonner County, Mr. Wakeley’s opinion is that our community couldn’t support having advanced life support as it would probably be cost prohibitive. Mr. Kramer said he has very limited knowledge as to what the proposals are and what has been offered. Chairman Dinning said the Commissioners and Attorney Hull will handle negotiations with Boundary Volunteer Ambulance (BVA), and Commissioners will also let Mr. Kramer evolve his RFP knowledge. The county has to have a plan if negotiations cannot be reached.

 

Mr. Kramer suggested a meeting with Attorney Hull to make some recommendations as to what he thinks would be beneficial. Mr. Kramer said he has also worked with BVA for many years, but that was several years ago. Commissioner Kirby said he feels it’s a good idea to spend time with Attorney Hull as any information provided to him would be advantageous. Chairman Dinning said whatever a draft RFP looks like, he’s sure Bonner County would provide advice.

 

Chairman Dinning asked Mr. Kramer if he thought a draft document may be available for Commissioners to review by the 16th of July. Mr. Kramer said that’s possible if Attorney Hull is available. Mr. Kramer said he’s on a learning curve and doesn’t have all the answers.

 

The meeting with Mr. Kramer ended at 11:40 a.m.

 

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 12:00 p.m.

 

 

                                                                        /s/

                                                                        DAN R. DINNING, Chairman

ATTEST:

 

 

/s/

GLENDA POSTON, Clerk

By: Michelle Rohrwasser, Deputy Clerk   

 

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