County commission minutes, May 13-14
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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 |
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