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Monday,
July 25, 2011,
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 present during meetings
throughout the day.
Commissioner Dinning moved
to approve the minutes of July 4 & 5, 2011.
Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed
unanimously.
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 said he
received a letter from a resident on
Katka Road informing
him there is a fair amount of sand on the road
left over from the winter, which causes a
concern for safety. Mr. Gutshall said he hasn’t
gotten to all of the areas that need sand
brushed off. Mr. Gutshall said this issue has
been noted and he will try to get the water
truck out there, but right now Road and Bridge
is working on the emergency situation on Deep
Creek Loop.
Commissioner Kirby said a
resident living on the
Westside Road
informed him there is a pothole forming on the
road and he asked if Road and Bridge could patch
the hole.
Mr. Gutshall spoke of the
work to repair the slough on Deep Creek Loop and
he said he has a sign posted at the site. Mr.
Gutshall said he has made pavement cuts that he
will pull out and refill with an asphalt patch.
Mr. Gutshall said this portion of work falls
under the spring emergency declaration, in which
costs are reimbursable. Mr. Gutshall briefly
spoke of the culverts that will be installed.
Mr. Gutshall said two projects associated with
the emergency are programmed with the Local High
Technical Assistance Council (LHTAC), but the
hold up is that Congress has not approved any
funding for these projects yet. Mr. Gutshall
informed Commissioners that work falling under
the category of mitigation may not happen for
one year, but he is authorized for patching.
Paving does show up in the emergency and
mitigation categories, according to Mr.
Gutshall. Mr. Gutshall said he wants to move the
two culverts into the emergency category since
it wouldn’t be until after winter before that
issue is fixed. Mr. Gutshall said he will get
this area on Deep Creek Loop patched and ready
for two lanes again.
Mr. Gutshall said Road and
Bridge will finish the week with asphalt
patching and the following week will be
Durapatching. Mr. Gutshall suggested taking a
visit to the new crusher as the production of
chips has doubled. This machine is a real
success and the cost of wear to the machine has
almost gone to negligible unlike before. The
County is in good shape for rock production for
a long time, according to Mr. Gutshall.
Those present briefly
referred to an aerial map in preparation of the
discussion on rights-of-way involving Donna
Standley.
9:16 a.m., Donna Standley joined the
meeting.
Mr. Gutshall and
Commissioners briefly discussed work on
Fawn Lane. Mr.
Gutshall said Chuck Valentine with Valentine
Surfacing got back to him to inform him he may
not be able to grind
Fawn Lane
in August, which will be a problem so he is
working on that. Mr. Gutshall said
Fawn Lane and Blume
Hill are in good shape. Commissioner Dinning
asked if the grinding and cement treated base
(CTB) for Fawn Lane
could be done in September and Mr. Gutshall said
possibly. Mr. Gutshall said there is someone
local that may be able to do the job and may be
less expensive.
Chairman Smith asked the
status of striping the back parking lot and Mr.
Gutshall said the County needs to get quotes for
that.
Chairman Smith briefly
discussed the proposed agreement that pertains
to the City of Bonners
Ferry and the County
trading services. Mr. Gutshall said he would
contact Attorney Robinson about the agreement.
Mr. Gutshall said Ms.
Standley was asking about the County
right-of-way near her residence. The
County Road and
Bridge Department maintains up to the
Haarstick’s driveway or right to the end of the
woods and that is how it has been since he has
been employed at Road and Bridge. Mr. Gutshall
indicated he didn’t know the status of
rights-of-way or maintenance beyond that area
Ms. Standley had talked about. Mr. Gutshall said
it isn’t the County that does work beyond Ms.
Standley’s residence. Mr. Gutshall said if there
are concerns about the County right-of-way
beyond the maintenance road, Ms. Standley could
meet with the Commissioners to request
abandonment as long as other property owners
don’t have their access cut off. If someone has
legal use of the right-of-way, they could have
legal right to grade it, according to Mr.
Gutshall. Ms. Standley said the last time she
met with Commissioners about this, Commissioner
Dinning said this right-of-way couldn’t be
abandoned as it was access to the mine. Ms.
Standley said she just wants to know who has the
right to do work on that road and she mentioned
that someone released 100 chucker chicks back in
that area. Ms. Standley said she noticed someone
was going back beyond the property and now the
road was rougher than it had been before. Ms.
Standley said her question is who has the right
to do that. Ms. Standley said her other question
pertains to the easement or county right-of-way,
not road right-of-way, at the end of what is now
Crescent Road. Ms. Standley said it is where her
cabin is. Ms. Standley presented Commissioners
with a description of the property that is
excluded from her deed and is the County
right-of-way. This access doesn’t lead to
anything, but private land, according to Ms.
Standley. Commissioner Dinning asked if there
was an aerial map to determine property owners
and he asked Mr. Gutshall about the County’s
future need of this access. Ms. Standley said
her conservation easement prohibits her land
from being broken up. Ms. Standley said she is
requesting this information because someone with
an aggressive tread on their vehicle has gone
well beyond the County’s right-of-way. Ms.
Standley said the Trow Creek Water Association
has ingress and egress rights to cross her
property and she understands one access cannot
be closed. Mr. Gutshall said maybe it is a
question for the County’s attorney as to what
people can do to a County easement. It was said
Ms. Standley’s request to abandon the
right-of-way would only apply to the extension
of Crescent Road, not
Goat Mountain
as that can’t be abandoned. It was questioned if
someone created the mess by working on the road.
Ms. Standley said her son and Trow Creek Water
Association are the only two with property
access.
Ms. Standley and Mr.
Gutshall left the meeting at
9:35 a.m.
Commissioners tended to
administrative duties.
Chairman Smith spoke
briefly of letters he would like to write
praising the work of Mick Shea, Libby Dam
Operator and Jonathon Livingston with the
National Weather Service. Those present
discussed the work that was done due to the
river level and it was said there should only be
seepage now, but that is something you can’t do
anything about. Commissioner Dinning said there
will still be dike and bank erosion.
Commissioner Dinning said
he was made aware the Kootenai Tribe has
recently flown over the
Kootenai
River for the river restoration
project. By coincidence, because of seepage, the
damage to crops will be visible, according to
Commissioner Dinning. Chairman Smith informed
Commissioners that
Boundary County
was not included in receiving relief from
agricultural damage.
Commissioner Kirby moved to
approve the minutes of July 18 & 19, 2011.
Commissioner Dinning second. Motion passed
unanimously.
10:00 a.m., Park and Recreation Board
Chairperson Pam Copeland joined the meeting to
discuss purchasing a lawn mower for the Park and
Recreation Department. Clerk Glenda Poston also
joined the meeting.
Ms. Copeland said the Park
and Recreation Board would like to purchase a
lawn mower. The cost is approximately $11,000
and this balance could be paid off in three
monthly payments. Chairman Smith explained that
Commissioners are the Board to make the purchase
as the Park and Recreation Department falls
under the County
Commissioners. Ms. Copeland said the
plan is to make three yearly payments with the
first payment coming out of this current budget
year.
Those present discussed the
Park and Recreation Department budget. Clerk
Poston said the budget for Park and Recreation
is currently standing at $72,000. Commissioners
asked what is showing for cash carry forward and
Clerk Poston said $33,000 to $34,000. Clerk
Poston said the actual budget left is $32,900
and there was a question of what the Park and
Recreation Board has yet to spend out of the
current budget. Clerk Poston said there isn’t a
problem with the first lawn mower payment coming
out of this budget year. Chairman Smith
questioned why two payments couldn’t come out of
this budget year and Clerk Poston said she would
question what expenditures will still be made.
Ms. Copeland said the only thing out of the
ordinary is the Park and Recreation Board has
agreed to pay for tennis court repairs at a cost
of $1,800. Commissioner Dinning asked if it
would mess the schedule up to have the first
payment made on October 1, 2011, but Clerk
Poston said in order for delivery, the first
payment needs to have been made. Ms. Copeland
said the Park and Recreation Board is getting a
deal on a demo model so the arrangement needs to
be made before the lawn mower is offered to
someone else. Chairman Smith said if there are
no more expenditures the budget will have
approximately $20,000. The repairs spent for the
tennis courts is only $1,800 to $2,000. Clerk
Poston reminded those present about the
electrical work the City of
Bonners Ferry is going to
do. Ms. Copeland said that cost is approximately
$7,000. It was agreed the first lawn mower
payment could still come out of this year’s
budget. Ms. Copeland said if there is only one
payment to be made, could she look at what Clerk
Poston has for Park and Recreation Department
expenses. Commissioner Dinning asked who owns
the large Kubota and Clerk Poston said the
Kubota was purchased equally using funds from
the Courthouse and Park and Recreation budgets.
Ms. Copeland said she has seen the lawn mower
that is currently being used and it is the size
of one she would use at her home so she is
looking for a model that is more industrial. Ms.
Copeland said she will need a copy of the Park
and Recreation budget, the County budget, and
Commissioners minutes approving the purchase of
the lawn mower. The total is approximately
$12,000 and there will be three even payments of
$3,900.
Commissioner Dinning moved
to approve the purchase of a lawn mower for the
Boundary
County Park
and Recreation Department from Boundary Tractor
at the cost of $11,700 with equal payments of
$3,900. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed
unanimously.
Ms. Copeland asked if she
needs to make an adjustment to how line items
are formed in the next budget and Chairman Smith
said no, as long as the figures aren’t changing.
Ms. Copeland spoke of the
status of repairs to the Godwin House. Ms.
Copeland said the Park and Recreation Board’s
consensus is that the idea of making different
improvements to the Godwin House isn’t feasible
and only improvements to what the structure
already has will be made. Tim Fulton of Fulton
Construction has approached the Park and
Recreation Board and asked if it was possible to
do the cement work this year because he is
available right now. The cost for this work is
$5,700, but that cost would come out of
insurance claim funds for the damage to the
Godwin House. Chairman Smith said his suggestion
is to do the cement work after October 1, 2011. Commissioner Dinning
asked if there is anticipated revenue yet and
Clerk Poston said it is in the next budget.
Commissioner Dinning questioned if the County
has the ability to call it unanticipated
revenue.
Clerk Poston said the
budget has been published and she can adjust
line items so the Park and Recreation Department
would have less the next budget year because it
was anticipated. If the Park and Recreation
budget was reduced by $6,000 it would leave
$105,000 as it is currently $111,000. Out of
that budget, Fulton Construction would be paid
$5,700 for his work. The County could make that
expenditure this year, but the budget will be
$5,700 less for next year because it was done.
Improvements to the Godwin House will be minimal
as the Park and Recreation Board just needs a
place to meet and have some storage, according
to Ms. Copeland. Carpeting in the Godwin House
won’t be replaced and just linoleum will be put
in.
The meeting with Ms.
Copeland ended at
10:40 a.m.
Commissioners tended to
administrative duties.
Commissioner Kirby moved to
adopt Resolution 2011-40. A resolution
reimbursing various County funds for election
expenses paid. Commissioner Dinning second.
Motion passed unanimously. Resolution 2011-40
reads as follows:
Resolution
2011-40
Reimbursing
Various
County
Funds
for Election Expenses Paid
WHEREAS,
Boundary County received funds from the State of
Idaho for the purpose of conducting the March 8,
2011 and May 17, 2011 Boundary County School
District #101 elections, and
WHEREAS, Boundary County has expended
funds out of various county funds for salaries,
postage and meter supplies, and copy charges for
the purpose of conducting those elections, and
WHEREAS, the state election funds
received were deposited into revenue account
01-00-337-09 and it is appropriate to transfer
$14,403.52 in state election funds from that
revenue account into the various Current Expense
account line items from which the expenses were
paid as follows:
Account Number
Amount
01-01-401,
Salaries - Officer
2959.32
01-01-402,
Salaries – Deputies
8868.01
01-01-407,
Salaries – Overtime
359.35
01-10-404,
Salaries – Supervisor
661.12
01-03-406,
Salaries – Employee, Part-Time
299.52
01-19-402,
Salary – Resource Planner
459.20
01-18-440-01,
Postage & Meter Supplies
221.00
01-01-440,
Supplies – Office
576.00
WHEREAS, it is also appropriate to
transfer state election funds cash received in
the amount of $245.07 into the Justice Fund
expense accounts from which expenses were paid
and increase the Justice Fund Budget Revenue and
Expense Accounts as follows:
Revenue Account
Expense Account
Amount
08-00-391-18,
Reimbursements
08-01-402, Salaries – Deputies
158.26
08-00-391-18,
Reimbursements
08-01-407, Salaries – Overtime
86.81
WHEREAS, it is also appropriate to
transfer state election funds cash received into
the 911 Fund from which an expense was paid and
increase the 911 Fund Budget Revenue Account
number 09-00-391-18, Reimbursements, and Expense
Account number 09-00-405, Salaries, Employee,
Full-Time, in the amount of $702.40.
NOW THEREFORE, upon motion duly made,
seconded and unanimously carried,
IT IS RESOLVED that state election funds
received and deposited into revenue account
number 01-00-337-09 in the total amount of
$15,350.99 be transferred into the various
accounts as outlined above 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 25th
day of July, 2011
COUNTY
OF
BOUNDARY
BOARD OF 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
By: Michelle
Rohrwasser, Deputy
Recorded as
instrument #251342
Commissioner Dinning asked
about the involvement of the Justice Fund and
Clerk Poston responded two of the Court Clerks
stayed after hours to help count absentee
ballots.
Commissioner Kirby informed
Commissioners that the City of
Bonners Ferry
has drilled a well on their property near
Riverside
Park.
Clerk Poston left the
meeting at 10:39 a.m.
Chairman Smith said he is
going to speak with Attorney Phil Robinson about
the issue of motorized boats on lakes in
Boundary County.
The booklet from the Idaho Department of Fish
and Game states electric motors only, but Mike
Brown pointed out that statement was about
fishing so he wants to look into it.
Commissioner Dinning said to his knowledge you
can have a motorized boat, you just can’t have
it running. Commissioner Dinning questioned if
there has been any abuse.
10:40 a.m., Chief Deputy Treasurer
Sue Larson joined the meeting.
Commissioner Dinning moved
to grant an extension of time to receive 2010
year taxes for parcel #MH63N01E293740A until
August 3, 2011. Commissioner Kirby
second. Motion passed unanimously.
Ms. Larson left the meeting
at 10:45 a.m.
Commissioners tended to
administrative duties.
There being no further
business, the meeting recessed until tomorrow at
9:00 a.m.
Tuesday,
July 26, 2011,
Commissioners met in regular session with
Chairman Ron Smith, Commissioner Dan Dinning,
Commissioner Walt Kirby, and Deputy Clerk
Michelle Rohrwasser.
Commissioner Kirby moved to
approve the minutes of July 11 & 12, 2011.
Commissioner Dinning second. Motion passed
unanimously.
Commissioners tended to
administrative duties.
10:00 a.m., Commissioner Dinning said
there is a concept instituted by Jim Riley
called the Community Forest Trust. This program
will involve Commissioners from five
Idaho counties to act as
the Board for this project and the proposal
requests 200,000 acres of land across the State
of Idaho
to be used for management practices. The Idaho
Department of Land’s (IDL) ownership will not
transfer and the management responsibility will
go to Idaho Department of Lands and all of the
actions will adhere to
Idaho
rules, regulations, and laws, according to
Commissioner Dinning. This proposal pertains to
the national forests.
Commissioner Dinning said
the intent is to manage these lands on a
sustainable basis and to coordinate with local
collaboratives from each county so there is
input on management. After IDL is paid their
costs for management, the balance of money out
of sale proceeds will go back to the Federal
Treasury to offset the money that has been sent
to Idaho
from the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program.
Commissioner Dinning said if this pilot program
generated $500,000 from a project, the SRS fund
amount of $1,000,000 could still be received by
the County, but the $500,000 could be
distributed to the Idaho
counties. Chairman Smith questioned eventually
doing away with SRS funds and Commissioner
Dinning said all of this money will go to the
State. Commissioner Dinning said no matter what
is done, the intent of legislation is to show
that federal regulations imposed on the Forest
Service is limiting debt reduction and all
things associated with the national debt right
now. Commissioner Dinning said this pilot
program would last for five years or for the
duration of the next SRS reauthorization,
whichever is longer. Chairman Smith asked if
counties know what to expect in SRS funding and
Commissioner Dinning said this money would be
much lower. Chairman Smith asked if Congress
would say it would be better to discontinue SRS
and let counties do this. Commissioner Dinning
said by proper management and going to another
formula instead of SRS, it shows the State can
provide funding not in the federal treasury.
Commissioner Kirby said he
is sure the proceeds won’t match anything near
the cost of managing the lands. Commissioner
Dinning said the Congressional legislation is
going to address this. Commissioner Dinning said
this is just a concept and not final and there
are concerns about language involving outside
parties. Commissioner Dinning said the Community
Forest Trust Board will want the Tribes involved
and this program also talks about working with
collaborative groups. Commissioner Dinning said
the proposal discusses formulating information
to pass on to Congress for the purpose of moving
forward with this project. Commissioner Dinning
said to understand that this is not adopting all
language, but just adopting the concept.
Commissioner Dinning said once Commissioners
approve to support the pilot project, he will
send notification to Mr. Riley. Commissioner
Dinning said this program will not affect
payment in lieu of taxes (PILT) in any way.
Commissioner Dinning moved
to support the Community Forest Trust Pilot
Project as presented while understanding the
document will change to accommodate needs as
they arise. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion
passed unanimously.
Chairman Smith asked if it
would help or hurt to encourage others to
finalize this project. Commissioner Dinning said
this information will be presented to other
counties through the Idaho Association of
Counties.
Commissioner Dinning said
the Board that oversees this project will
consist of five Commissioners across the state.
Commissioner Dinning moved
to sign letters of support to the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers and to the National Weather
Service. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion
passed unanimously.
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
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