|
Monday,
June 20, 2011,
Commissioners met in regular session with
Chairman Ron Smith, Commissioner Walt Kirby, and
Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser. Commissioner
Dan Dinning was out of the office participating
in a KVRI Forestry meeting and field tour.
9:00 a.m., Road and Bridge
Superintendent Jeff Gutshall joined the meeting
to give the departmental report. Boundary County
Emergency Services Incident Commander Bob Graham
and Rick Bateman with the Farm Service
Administration also joined the meeting.
Mr. Gutshall did not
present a written report. Mr. Gutshall said he
will forward the Federal Highways report on the
sloughing on Deep Creek and the
Westside Road. Mr.
Gutshall said he was told that he most likely
couldn’t document that the issue of the damage
to Deep Creek Road
near Ruby Creek Road
occurred during the spring precipitation.
Transcanada is coming up to
work on the Moyie River
Road
tomorrow. Mr. Gutshall said the grinding on
Fawn Lane
has been delayed by one week so that project
will most likely begin next Monday.
Commissioner Kirby moved to
approve the minutes of May 30 & 31, 2011 and
June 6 & 7, 2011. Chairman Smith yielded the
chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Graham said the
Moyie
River is down to 7.3 feet, which is
below action stage and projections are to be
steady at that level for the next week. The
Kootenai River
level is 1763 and is expected to come down
two to three feet. Mr. Graham said if
Boundary
County has 80 degree weather with
thunder storms as predicted the river level may
change, but he no longer thinks it will exceed
flood stage. Mr. Graham said when the water
flows come down Mick Shea at the Libby Dam has
been able to keep
Boundary
County out of flood stage.
Mr. Graham presented
Commissioners with information from the
Extension Office about seepage and agriculture
damage. The agriculture disaster proclamation is
requested if assistance is needed and if
Boundary County’s
proclamation is approved, some of the farmers
may receive financial help. Mr. Graham said to
qualify he understands that it takes one farmer
losing 30% of one crop and if there is more
damage, only 10% of additional damage is
necessary for any other farmers once that 30%
was reached. Mr. Graham said Extension Office
Educator Jennifer Jensen did find that Joe
Figgins has sustained more than 30% damage as
did Jim Marx with this timothy crop. Mr. Graham
said a proclamation including
Boundary
County is needed from the Governor
and he has found that
Boundary County
is already included in the Governor’s
proclamation to the Department of Agriculture.
Mr. Graham said the Governor included
Boundary
County in his letter. Mr. Graham
said information from the Governor mentions a
survey and this has already been sent to the
Secretary of Agriculture. Mr. Graham explained
that this information does not go through the
Bureau of Homeland Security, but instead goes
directly to the Governor’s Office. Mr. Graham
said when Boundary
County declares a disaster it should
specify a period of time. On matters of an
agriculture disaster declaration, if
Boundary County
qualifies, the funds available to the farmers
may not be accessible for a couple of years so
the proclamation should mention a couple of
years. If after one year
Boundary County
still has actions going, the declaration can be
extended, but it needs to cover the period of
time the need exists.
Mr. Bateman said in the
past the declarations were used to implement
various programs. Mr. Bateman said once the
decision is made and those programs are open, it
can take a year or two to service, but he
doesn’t think that has to do with the
declaration. It was said that over the last 25
years it is assumed
Boundary
County has declared an emergency a
majority of those years. A declaration could’ve
been made by adjacent counties and it allows
farmers to apply for loans. It was said this
method has been very unpopular and it isn’t
known if that has ever been utilized. Mr. Graham
said if a county adjacent to
Boundary County
declares an agriculture emergency,
Boundary
County would be covered as well.
Kootenai
County has declared an emergency so
Bonner County
doesn’t have to. Mr. Graham said
Boundary
County would have to declare an
emergency if
Washington State
or Montana
doesn’t. A list of the acreages has been
submitted and Boundary
County is not included so unless
Washington
or Montana
declares, Boundary
County is not included. Mr. Graham
said it would be an excellent idea for
Boundary
County to declare an agriculture
disaster.
Commissioner Kirby moved to
adopt Resolution 2011-39. A resolution declaring
an emergency disaster declaration for seepage.
Chairman Smith yielded the chair to second.
Motion passed unanimously. Resolution 2011-39
reads as follows:
RESOLUTION
2011-39
DISASTER
DECLARATION
WHEREAS,
based on representations and assurances made,
there is an imminent threat to property in
Boundary
County
as the result of excessive moisture conditions,
and
WHEREAS,
Idaho Code §46-1011 authorizes Boundary County,
State of Idaho, to declare a local disaster
emergency to authorize the furnishing of aid and
assistance, to activate the response and
recovery aspects of any applicable local or
intergovernmental disaster emergency plan;
NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED AND IT IS HEREBY DECLARED THAT:
Section 1:
The
Boundary County Board of Commissioners, State of
Idaho,
declares that a disaster emergency exists within
Boundary
County,
State of
Idaho,
due to existing and potential excessive moisture
conditions, creating an imminent threat to
property.
Section 2:
Such
disaster may require State of
Idaho
and Federal emergency assistance to supplement
local efforts to protect, mitigate, avert, and
lessen the threat of impact of the disaster.
Section 3:
This
declaration shall take effect and be in force as
of the date of its passage, and shall continue
for a period of one (1) year or until rescinded,
amended, or modified by the Boundary County
Board of Commissioners, whichever occurs first.
Section 4:
The
Boundary County Board of Commissioners, State of
Idaho
hereby authorized the Clerk to attest and
execute this declaration.
PASSED this 20th
day of June 2011.
BOUNDARY
COUNTY
BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS
s/_____________________________
Ronald R. Smith,
Chairman
s/_____________________________
Dan R. Dinning,
Commissioner
s/_____________________________
Walt Kirby,
Commissioner
ATTEST:
s/___________________________
GLENDA POSTON,
Clerk
By: Michelle
Rohrwasser, Deputy
Recorded as
instrument #251119
The meeting with Mr.
Bateman, Mr. Gutshall, and Mr. Graham ended at
9:50 a.m.
Deputy Clerk Nancy Ryals
joined the meting at
10:10 a.m.
Commissioner Kirby moved to
accept the assignments to the Catastrophic
Health Care Cost Program as follows: 75.5% on
indigent account #2010-4; 77.5% on indigent
account #2010-16; 62.7% on indigent account
#2009-46; 11.9% on indigent account #2010-12;
76.6% on indigent account #2010-19; 13.8% on
indigent account #2010-20; 67.4% on indigent
account #2010-24; and 72.2% on indigent account
#2010-31. Chairman Smith yielded the chair to
second. Motion passed unanimously.
10:25 a.m., Planning and Zoning
Administrator Mike Weland joined the meeting at
Commissioners’ request to discuss Planning and
Zoning matters. Mr. Weland left the meeting.
10:35 a.m., Commissioners
and Deputy Clerk Nancy Ryals spoke to Idaho
Association of Counties Deputy Director Tony
Poinelli to discuss indigent issues and get
clarification on the Pre-Existing Condition
Insurance Program (PCIP). The call ended at 10:40 a.m., and Deputy Clerk Nancy Ryals left the meeting.
Commissioner Kirby moved to
cancel taxes totaling $302.82, specials totaling
$75.74 for a total of $378.56 plus late fees and
interest for year 2010 on parcel
#SR61N01W135101A due to error. Chairman Smith
yielded the chair to second. Motion passed
unanimously.
Commissioner Kirby moved to
grant an extension of time to pay year 2010
personal property taxes, PPB0000339010A totaling
$1,324.46 plus any late fees, interests, and
costs until July 30, 2011. Chairman Smith
yielded the chair to second. Motion passed
unanimously.
Commissioner Kirby moved to
sign the In-Kind Agreement letter for the
Boundary County Youth Crisis and Domestic
Violence Hotline. Chairman Smith yielded the
chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.
11:00 a.m., There being no further
business, the meeting recessed until tomorrow at
9:00 a.m.
Tuesday,
June 21, 2011, Commissioners met
in regular session with Chairman Ron Smith,
Commissioner Dan Dinning, and Deputy Clerk
Michelle Rohrwasser. Commissioner Walt Kirby was
out of the office due to illness.
9:00 a.m., Commissioners held an
elected officials/department heads meeting.
Present were: Chairman Ron Smith, Commissioner
Dan Dinning, Clerk Glenda Poston, Treasurer
Jenny Fessler, Assessor Dave Ryals, Chief Deputy
Clerk Tracie Isaac, Road and Bridge
Superintendent Jeff Gutshall, Chief Probation
Officer Stacy Brown, Extension Office
Receptionist Sheila Pruitt, Restorium
Administrator Karlene Magee, Prosecutor’s Office
Manager Tammie Goggia, Solid Waste
Superintendent Claine Skeen, Sheriff Greg
Sprungl, and Deputy Clerk/Court Supervisor Rose
Sprungl.
Chairman Smith said the
question of a rate increase was raised at the
GEM Plan Board meeting he attended last week.
Chairman Smith said
Boundary County
plugged in a 5% increase for budget purposes
even though the GEM Plan Board hadn’t decided on
the rate. Chairman Smith said Mutual Insurance
is the administrator for GEM Plan and it costs
approximately 5% for their administrative work.
Chairman Smith said
Boundary
County became a GEM Plan member in
April 2004. Since that time,
Boundary
County has paid premiums totaling
$7,677,943, but has had claims totaling
$8,886,708.00, which is $1,200,000 more paid out
than contributed.
Chairman Smith spoke of the
President’s proposed health care program. If a
company makes any changes to its medical
insurance it could lose its insurance
grandfather clause, requiring that company to
provide for certain medical procedures that are
quite expensive. Chairman Smith said half of the
small businesses will discontinue health
insurance benefits for employees if the
President’s health care program is passed.
Chairman Smith said a lot of the changes go into
affect in year 2014. Chairman Smith said he
believes County employees realize the benefits
of having GEM Plan coverage.
Mr. Gutshall asked if the
insurance deficit for
Boundary County
had been decreasing over the last two or three
years. Chairman Smith provided a breakdown of
loss ratios as follows: a 1.9 loss ratio for
year 2004, 1.8 for year 2005, 0.9 to the good in
year 2006, 1.038 loss for year 2007, 1.072 for
year 2008, 1.111 loss for year 2009, 0.981 to
the good for year 2010; and for year 2011 the
loss ratio is 0.774. There have been three years
the County has been on the positive side,
according to Chairman Smith. Mr. Gutshall asked
about the trend for funds as a whole, but
Chairman Smith said he didn’t have that
information. Commissioner Dinning asked Chief
Deputy Clerk Tracie Isaac if she is aware of
what could be done to reduce that ratio.
Chairman Smith said he is aware that two other
counties may soon join the GEM Plan. Chairman
Smith said it is good to have this insurance for
County employees, but it can be expensive.
Commissioner Dinning said if the employees
understood where the County is in totality for
benefits, maybe we could look into opportunities
to reduce claims by not going to the doctor for
unnecessary issues.
Clerk Poston mentioned
reviewing claims and Mr. Gutshall said it is
important for the employee to keep track of what
is going on in reference to billing as mistakes
on claims have been caught. Commissioner Dinning
said if insurance expenditures were reduced by
10% it would be a huge savings. Chief Deputy
Clerk Tracie Isaac said GEM Plan reimburses half
of the Weight Watcher’s monthly membership fee
for employees covered by the GEM Plan.
Those present discussed
various rumors that get started in the
community.
Commissioner Dinning
informed the elected officials and department
heads there will be a Grizzly Bear DNA study.
This study is expensive and covers the
Cabinet-Yaak ecosystem. Results of this study
will provide an undisputable population count.
One Grizzly Bear study was done in the Glacier
ecosystem and 150 bears had been originally
estimated, but there was actually closer to 750
Grizzly Bears.
The elected
officials/department heads meeting ended at
9:36 a.m.
9:40 a.m., Sheriff Greg Sprungl, City
of Bonners Ferry Police
Chief Rick Alonzo, Road
and Bridge Superintendent Jeff Gutshall joined
the meeting to discuss graffiti.
Chairman Smith said a few
weeks ago, the high school leadership class job
shadowed elected officials and he felt it was a
good time to discuss the issue of graffiti that
was showing up for the class of 2011. The
teacher of this leadership class was also
present said she would be more than happy to
oversee the cleanup work if any of the kids were
caught.
Chairman Smith said since
then, he has received a call from George Shutes
with the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD)
to discuss more graffiti that has shown up.
Chairman Smith said Mr. Shutes mentioned he has
been working for ITD for 18 years now and this
is the worst year for graffiti that he has ever
seen. Chairman Smith said ITD is keeping track
of man hours and funds spent on supplies to
clean up graffiti. Chairman Smith said anytime
graffiti is done to a public building the
taxpayers have to pay to clean it up and if a
personal building is affected, the property
owner has to pay so in both cases the taxpayer
is affected. Chairman Smith said during the last
meeting with Assistant Police Chief Joel Minor,
the Assistant Police Chief commented that it
would be good to have Chairman Smith write a
letter to the newspaper as Chairman Smith has
spoken on the radio and has written letters to
encourage people to vote for the
School District
supplemental. The taxpayers came forward and
voted in favor and now there is all this
graffiti done by the same kids benefiting from
the supplemental. Commissioners said by no means
are they talking about the entire senior class
being involved in this graffiti. Chairman Smith
said he feels let down as he tried to get the
supplemental passed and now the taxpayers will
be hit up again.
Chairman Smith said in
addition to the graffiti, two or three of the
drainage grates were taken out of the
Moyie
Bridge by someone and Mr. Shutes
told him if a car or truck drove over the area
where the grate used to be and the tire hit that
hole just right, the vehicle could go over the
bridge. Commissioner Dinning said this is a good
high school class overall and if the graffiti
involves people from this year’s class, it is a
small number involved. Commissioner Dinning
questioned offering some kind of reward. Mr.
Gutshall informed Commissioners of the incidents
of vandalism at the Road and Bridge gravel pit
that could have been life threatening and he
spoke of the cost involved when kids steal road
signs. Commissioner Dinning said he wondered
what kind of reward would engage action and he
questioned $1,000 to $5,000. Police Chief Rick
Alonzo referenced the graffiti done to Veterans’
Park. Mr. Gutshall said he is going to take some
security measures. Chief Alonzo said if
donations are requested in order to start a
reward fund, then donations would probably come
in. Commissioner Dinning said donations are
good, but we need to guarantee the right person
is caught. It was suggested verbiage should
state a $2,000 reward will be offered for the
arrest and conviction. Chairman Smith said
through restitution,
Boundary
County can be reimbursed the amount
of the reward.
The meeting ended at 9:56 a.m.
10:00 a.m., County GIS Mapper Gary
Falcon, Pat Bennett, and Summer McDonald with
the Idaho Department of Labor joined the
meeting. Chief Deputy Clerk Tracie Isaac, and
Road and Bridge Superintendent Jeff Gutshall
also joined the meeting.
Mr. Falcon said Mr. Bennett
approached him to see if he could intern with
him to learn GIS skills. Mr. Falcon said he has
spoken to Mr. Gutshall about this and this
training would give Mr. Bennett the GIS
experience that he needs for college. Mr. Falcon
said he has also spoken to County Mapper Tom
Ulappa. Mr. Gutshall said work is needed on the
road sign inventory and that would give Mr.
Bennett experience in using the GPS unit and
downloading information. Chairman Smith asked if
any of the work would be associated with E911
and Mr. Falcon responded that he is receiving
more information from Frontier Communications
and at one point there will be information that
needs to be found. Mr. Bennett needs 250 hours
for his internship, which is not that much time,
according to Mr. Falcon. Mr. Gutshall said the
Idaho Transportation Department supplied Road
and Bridge with information for the sign and
pavement inventories and a lot of mistakes have
been found so this would be an opportunity for
Road and Bridge to have Mr. Bennett work on it.
Ms. McDonald said this
program is a Workforce Investment Program, which
is a federally funded grant program and is
similar to the summer help program the County
has utilized. Ms. McDonald said the Department
of Labor pays all wages and worker’s
compensation insurance. Ms. McDonald said this
is a great opportunity for someone who is going
to school to be able to take their experience
and use it in the classroom setting.
Those present discussed Mr.
Bennett’s’ employment being considered the same
as a county employee when it comes to driving
for work purposes. Liability coverage would be
through Idaho Counties Risk Management Program
(ICRMP) and Mr. Bennett could take the ICMRP
online training.
Commissioner Dinning moved
to authorize the Chairman to sign the Idaho
Department of Labor Memorandum of Agreement for
Internship and all necessary documents for the
Workforce Investment Program. Chairman Smith
yielded the chair to second. Motion passed
unanimously.
The meeting ended at 10:16 a.m.
Commissioners tended to
administrative duties.
There being no further
business, the meeting adjourned at
11:00 a.m.
/s/
RONALD R. SMITH, Chairman
ATTEST:
/s/
GLENDA POSTON, Clerk
By: Michelle Rohrwasser,
Deputy Clerk
|
