|
***Monday,
April 4, 2011, 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.
Mr. Gutshall presented a written report. Mr.
Gutshall said all Road and Bridge employees took
an eight hour Mining Safety Health
Administration (MSHA) training course last week
and received certification. Road and Bridge
employees completed the Idaho Counties Risk
Management Program (ICRMP) training as well. Mr.
Gutshall said he thinks 100% of his employees
took the ICRMP training.
Mr. Gutshall said roads
sustained damage this year, but for this type of
weather it could have been a lot worse. Mr.
Gutshall said he isn’t able to estimate the
total cost for this type of damage. Mr. Gutshall
said he has been able to issue more permits for
hauling and open more roads. Mr. Gutshall said
he hasn’t received many complaints about load
restrictions, but there have been a lot of
drivers sneaking around.
Mr. Gutshall said Road and
Bridge will begin with rock work up north for
construction. The area consists of less than one
and one half miles on Farm to Market Road and
that road is starting to dry up. Mr. Gutshall
said his department should be fairly busy this
spring. As far as grading, conditions aren’t too
bad right now.
Mr. Gutshall and
Commissioners discussed a Supreme Court decision
involving the Latah County Highway District. The
Highway District was maintaining a narrow road
that came into the system in the 1930’s,
according to Mr. Gutshall. Someone put in a
fence 15 feet off the centerline and the Highway
District took the fence down. The people who put
up the fence sued and lost. In Idaho Code, it
states all prescriptive right-of-ways shall be
50 feet. If that use was established by the five
years of use, anything those people would have
done would not count and does not change that
statute. Mr. Gutshall said he spoke to Attorney
Louis Marshall about the timber within that 50
feet and he said those logs would belong to the
County. Mr. Gutshall said he doesn’t know. The
County has right-of-way in the National Forest
in order to maintain county roads.
Mr. Gutshall said he would
like to postpone the road tour that is scheduled
for tomorrow. Chairman Smith informed Mr.
Gutshall what areas he would like to check out
during the next road tour.
Mr. Gutshall said he put in
a good Surface Transportation Program Rural
(STPR) project for phase III of Deep Creek Loop
and this project placed 1st for
District 1. Mr. Gutshall said this project is
high on the roster, but not for the amount of
funding that is allocated each year.
Mr. Gutshall said
Bonner
County got their bid in early this
year for road oil for chip sealing and they were
able to get the same price as last year.
Bonner County
hauls their oil, according to Mr. Gutshall. Mr.
Gutshall said last year he waited on the bid
price and he got a better deal than
Bonner
County, but this year the cost
increased before he got his bid out. Mr.
Gutshall said he contacted Stephen Van De Bogert
with Western States Asphalt to see if he could
piggyback on Bonner
County’s bid and he should hear back
from him today to answer whether or not
Boundary
County can piggyback on
Bonner
County’s bid.
Mr. Gutshall said Road and
Bridge has received the gooseneck trailer so the
bid bond can be released.
Commissioner Kirby moved to
release the bid bond to Rowan Machinery for the
gooseneck trailer as this equipment has been
received. Commissioner Dinning second. Motion
passed unanimously.
Mr. Gutshall said he is
working on the slough area on Deep Creek Loop.
Assessor Dave Ryals joined
the meeting at
9:30 a.m.
County resident, Channing
Nagel stopped by Commissioners’ Office.
Those present discussed a
culvert on Moyie River
Road just north of
the Don
Olson
Bridge, which is plugged due to
beaver dams. Mr. Nagel said the railroad has
already cleaned out their culvert. This is a
culvert that crosses a certain property and Mr.
Gutshall said he spoke to that property owner
last fall. Mr. Nagel said the problem this time
is the beavers that are building dams. Mr.
Gutshall said he is going to check this out for
himself and see what is going on. Mr. Gutshall
said the culvert was clean in the fall so he
will take a look. Mr. Nagel said the beavers are
building dams in the County culverts and the
railroad’s culverts and it isn’t easy to clear
them out.
Mr. Gutshall and Mr. Nagel
left the meeting at
9:37 a.m.
Assessor Ryals said he is
having difficulty and running into an issue in
the Motor Vehicle Office when the office is
closed during the lunch hour. Assessor Ryals
said he has not filled a vacant position in his
office so he would like to authorize overtime
pay for his auto license staff. Assessor Ryals
said he is requesting this for the times when
one auto license staff member is not at work as
this would allow the other employee to work
during their lunch hour so he doesn’t have to
shuffle with the office staff upstairs. Assessor
Ryals said he does have budget for this as he
left a position in his office vacant. This cost
will also be in the next budget, according to
Assessor Ryals. Commissioner Dinning said if
there is one person in the office and they work
through their lunch, doesn’t the personnel
policy allow them to work nine hours without a
lunch hour. Assessor Ryals said he has spoken to
both employees and they would waive whatever it
is they need to waive. Chairman Smith said
overtime doesn’t count until the employee has
worked 40 hours. Commissioner Dinning questioned
how working a nine hour day without a lunch hour
fit into the Fair Labor Standards Act. Assessor
Ryals said this overtime may equate to possibly
32 hours per year and less than $1,000.
Assessor Ryals left the
meeting.
Commissioner Kirby moved to
approve the minutes of March 28 and 29, 2011.
Commissioner Dinning second. Motion passed
unanimously.
Commissioners tended to
administrative duties.
Commissioner Kirby moved to
approve the Property Tax Exemption Application
for the Bonners Ferry Gun Club, Parcel
#RP62N02E086900. Commissioner Dinning second.
Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Dinning moved
to authorize the Chairman to sign the 2007
Bureau of Homeland Security Amended Grant Award
#2007-GE-T7-0014 in the amount of $69,188.85.
Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed
unanimously.
Commissioner Dinning moved
to authorize the Chairman to sign the
Independent Contractor Agreement with Rick
Fawcett doing business as Whisper Mountain
Professional Services to complete the work
associated with planning, writing, and
coordinating an emergency evacuation plan for
Boundary County.
Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed
unanimously.
Commissioners tended to
administrative duties.
Commissioner Dinning moved
to grant an extension of time to receive 2007
taxes for parcel #RP61N01E102850A until
July 1, 2011. Commissioner Kirby
second. Motion passed unanimously.
There being no further
business, the meeting recessed until tomorrow at
9:00 a.m.
***Tuesday,
April 5, 2011,
Commissioners met in regular session with
Chairman Ron Smith, Commissioner Dan Dinning,
Commissioner Walt Kirby, and Deputy Clerk
Michelle Rohrwasser.
10:00 a.m., Solid Waste
Superintendent Claine Skeen joined the meeting
to give the departmental report.
Commissioner Dinning moved
to stipulate to hold off on the appeal hearing
for indigent application #2011-17 until the
Veterans make their eligibility determination.
Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed
unanimously.
Mr. Skeen said he is still
looking two months out before co-mingling of
recyclable material begins. The building for
co-mingling is still under construction in Coeur
d’ Alene. Mr. Skeen said he is looking at
approximately 100 feet by 230 feet of asphalt at
the landfill where the boxes are. Mr. Skeen said
he has tried to keep rock in that area, but it
doesn’t work well. Commissioner Dinning asked if
this will tie into the existing entrance area.
Mr. Skeen said asphalt will start from the
office and extend 100 feet north. Mr. Skeen said
he will do away with the fuel tank. Mr. Skeen
said hopefully with this budget he will be able
to get an above ground oil tank. The asphalt
will tie into the area near the recycle bins to
the east and extend 230 feet to the west. Once
the County begins co-mingling, Mr. Skeen said he
will do away with the small bins and will put a
roll off container in their place. The 230 feet
of concrete will reach west of the shop area.
Commissioner Dinning asked if it would be best
to just put a roll off container in the building
where the cardboard is now. Mr. Skeen said yes,
but you have to be able to tip the container.
Mr. Skeen said once the area is asphalted, he
would propose a pole barn building in that area
to get people out of the weather. Mr. Skeen said
once co-mingling begins, all recyclables will go
into the same roll off container, except for
glass which will go into another pile.
Commissioner Dinning said he was talking about
putting the bins side by side.
Mr. Skeen said he has
$25,000 in his budget for a new excavator. Mr.
Skeen said he has four quotes on used excavators
and last week he received an approval from
Attorney Phil Robinson on the quotes. This
equipment can be used to move box springs and
mattresses, construction debris, load tires, and
dig holes, trenches, and ditches. Mr. Skeen said
he didn’t specify brands of excavators in his
quotes. Mr. Skeen said he contacted Cal Russell
and John Cummings with Amer-Can contacted the
other vendors. Mr. Skeen explained that Mr.
Cummings deals more with this type of equipment.
The four quotes were received as follows:
Boundary Tractor/Yamaha for a 2007 Kubota
totaling $19,000, eQuip Enterprises LLC for a
2007 Kubota totaling $27,500, Interstate Truck &
Equipment for a 2006 Kubota totaling $22,900,
and Country Tractor & Garden for a 2006 Kubota
totaling $24,999.
Commissioner Dinning moved
to accept the quote totaling $19,000 from
Boundary Tractor, Yamaha for a 2007 Kubota
Kx121-3 Excavator. Commissioner Kirby second.
Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioners and Mr. Skeen
discussed tonnage and recycling. Mr. Skeen said
tonnage has been reduced and recycling products
has tripled. Commissioner Dinning said he
doesn’t think it would cost the City of Bonners
Ferry anything to have their private hauler
alternate picking up garbage one week and
recyclables the next week.
Chairman Smith asked if the
tire pile is still at the landfill. Mr. Skeen
said yes and five loads will most likely be
taken out when it is time. Those present resumed
the discussion on recycling. Mr. Skeen and
Commissioners discussed the garbage that flies
out of vehicles onto the road. Mr. Skeen said
littering is illegal with a fine of up to $250.
Commissioner Dinning
discussed the distances of the manned sites.
Commissioner Dinning said if the County isn’t
going to do anything to force the private hauler
or City into accepting some form of recycling or
separating materials out, the County needs to
tell the private contactor they won’t accept
their loads. Chairman Smith said he doesn’t
think there is the ability to do that. Chairman
Smith said if the County establishes a manned
site in the City limits, it is doing the same
thing for City residents and the County
residents. Commissioner Dinning said the County
residents pay $10 more than City residents.
Chairman Smith explained that he sorts his
recyclables. It was said if something isn’t done
in the City to have City residents sort
recyclables, it is unfair. Chairman Smith said
the difference is if there is a roll off
container for garbage and one for recyclables.
Commissioner Dinning said he doesn’t have a
problem with that, but why have a manned site in
the City if the landfill is only three miles
away. Chairman Smith said some people in the
County only live three miles from the County
manned sites. Those present questioned the
history of implementing the fee. Chairman Smith
said in his mind, all of this would be resolved
if we had a site within the City limits.
10:55 a.m., City Council Member Tom
Mayo joined the meeting at Commissioners’
request.
Chairman Smith explained
how he sets his garbage out less often since he
recycles and at the last City/County meeting the
Mayor said he would think about alternating
garbage and recyclable routes. Chairman Smith
asked Mr. Mayo if there had been any more
discussion about this at the City and Mr. Mayo
said no. Mr. Mayo mentioned a survey the City
conducted that showed 80% of City residents are
recycling. Chairman Smith said if that is the
case, there shouldn’t be a problem, but he
doesn’t think that is actually the case. Mr.
Mayo explained that Mr. Frederickson’s route is
not only limited to the City, his route extends
to the County as well. Commissioner Dinning said
co-mingling is almost ready to begin and the
County needs the City to get on board with some
sort of recycling. Mr. Mayo said the City thinks
the residents are doing a great job and there
isn’t a way to disprove that. Mr. Mayo said if
the citizens are doing the job the City thinks
they are, that would reduce cost for
Frederickson’s Bonners Ferry Garbage.
Mr. Skeen said according to
the waste stream study, Mr. Frederickson’s loads
have been reduced. Mr. Mayo said the County
doesn’t have a study from October through
February to compare what was done last year by
Mr. Frederickson. Mr. Skeen said he did a waste
stream study last year as well. The City is
bringing in a ton of cardboard every week or
every other week, according to Mr. Skeen.
Commissioner Dinning said Commissioners may get
to the point where the County may not accept
garbage from the private contractor. Chairman
Smith said what Commissioner Dinning mentioned
is something not all Commissioners may agree on.
Commissioner Dinning said County residents pay
$10 more and drive further to get to a manned
site. Currently the private contractor is
bringing in all materials and dumping them in
the County landfill including items that should
be recycled. It was said the County residents
are paying more and having to drive a lot
further in addition to recycling. Commissioner
Dinning questioned how to treat everyone equal.
Commissioner Kirby said the
only thing coming from Mr. Mayo is that Mr.
Frederickson also has routes in the County. Mr.
Mayo said he thinks that is working out for Mr.
Frederickson. Mr. Skeen said the information in
the waste stream study that was conducted over a
six month period showed there was definitely a
decrease in garbage brought in by
Boundary
County residents. Commissioner
Dinning said for the percent of City residents
that go to the landfill to recycle that is where
there should be no cost to add curbside to
offset the week and the City residents would be
happy. City residents only have to drive three
miles to the landfill and there is a full blown
recycle system there. Mr. Mayo said if the City
goes with what has been discussed, how would it
be packaged for Mr. Frederickson. Mr. Skeen
explained the set up at the landfill. Those
present discussed keeping recyclables loose and
keeping the garbage in a bag to prevent the
recyclables from being put into the landfill.
11:15 a.m., Community Guardianship
Board Member Dick Hollenbeck and Board
Chairperson Gini Woodward, and County Clerk
Glenda Poston joined the meeting.
Commissioners requested
that Mr. Mayo ask the City to look into the
feasibility of Mr. Frederickson alternating
garbage pick up and recycled material pickup.
Mr. Mayo said he doesn’t see that being a
problem for himself, but maybe it would for
other citizens. Commissioner Dinning said there
are large families that put out more than two
garbage cans, but if they sorted out the
recyclables they would reduce that number. Mr.
Mayo said if this is going to be put on the
residents it would be best to do when they can
co-mingle. Commissioners agreed and they said
the City will find out this will not be a
hardship placed on the residents. Commissioner
Dinning said the County is going to co-mingle at
one point and will want to get everyone on the
same page. Commissioners explained there would
be a cost savings for the residents if they
don’t have to drive to the landfill. The County
takes its recycle bins to Safeway twice per
month for all residents and that generates 1,000
pounds or one ton of recyclables for those two
days. Mr. Mayo informed Commissioners that he
feels the landfill is now more user-friendly.
Mr. Mayo and Mr. Skeen left
the meeting at
11:20 a.m.
Ms. Woodward presented
Commissioners with a document listing the
general functions of the Community Guardianship
Board, the annual report, and a draft of the
revised by-laws. Ms. Woodward said there is an
error in the by-laws so she will send a
corrected copy to Commissioners to send to the
County attorney for review.
Commissioners were informed
of a person the Community Guardianship Board
would like to add as a board member.
Commissioner Dinning moved
to appoint Carol Hampton to the Community
Guardianship Board with a term to expire January
1, 2015 and to change the terms of the remaining
board members as follows: Dick Hollenbeck and
Glenda McCalmant with terms to expire January 1,
2012, Gini Woodward and Jan Allen with terms to
expire January 1, 2013, Karen Pedey and Larry
Dirks with terms to expire January 1, 2014, and
Ruth Ann Wilson with a term to expire January 1,
2015.
Those present discussed
helping Ms. Woodward defray the cost of travel
to an upcoming seminar. It was decided Ms.
Woodward would be given $600 towards travel
costs.
The meeting with Ms.
Woodward, Mr. Hollenbeck, and Clerk Glenda
Poston ended at
11:50 a.m.
There being no further
business, the meeting adjourned at
11:50 a.m.
/s/
RONALD R. SMITH, Chairman
ATTEST:
/s/
GLENDA POSTON, Clerk
By: Michelle Rohrwasser,
Deputy
|
