County Commission minutes, June 3-4

June23, 2013

***Monday, June 03, 2013, Commissioners met in regular session with Chairman Dan Dinning, Commissioner LeAlan Pinkerton, Commissioner Walt Kirby, and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser.

 

Clerk Glenda Poston joined the meeting.

 

Blue Sky Broadcasting Reporter Mike Brown was in attendance of the meetings throughout the morning.

 

Bonners Ferry Herald Reporter Laura Roady joined the meeting.

 

Commissioners gave the morning’s opening invocation and said the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

9:00 a.m., Road and Bridge Department Superintendent Jeff Gutshall joined the meeting to give the departmental report. Mr. Gutshall presented a written report.

 

Commissioner Pinkerton informed Mr. Gutshall there has been another washout on Fleming Creek Road.

 

Mr. Gutshall provided Commissioners with a copy of the memorandum of understanding with Stimpson Lumber Company pertaining to the storage of rock at the snowmobile park for a Stimpson Lumber Company project.

 

Mr. Gutshall said work to install a culvert on Lookout View Road near the Grove residence started last week. Road and Bridge will place the new concrete picnic tables purchased from the Waterways grant. Mr. Gutshall said Road and Bridge has gone over and above the county’s obligation for that grant. Gravel has been hauled to Green Pasture Road. Next week Road and Bridge will grind out Moon Shadow Road and this project should go fast as all utilities have been pre-located. Mr. Gutshall said he needs to get some of the lights working on the Copeland Bridge and he will look into the cost of having the wiring redone. Mr. Gutshall said he should have chipsealing done before the Fourth of July.

 

Commissioner Kirby moved to go out for semi-formal bids for the asphalt concrete paving project for Moon Shadow Road. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.    

 

Commissioner Kirby moved to authorize the Chairman to sign the memorandum of understanding with Stimpson Lumber Company to stockpile rock at the snowmobile park until July 30, 2013. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously. 

 

The meeting with Mr. Gutshall ended at 9:25 a.m.

 

Ms. Roady left the meeting.

 

9:30 a.m., Courthouse Maintenance Jerry Kothe joined the meeting to give the departmental report. Mr. Kothe mentioned Dirks Tree Care said they would come out on a weekend to trim trees around the Courthouse. Commissioner Pinkerton said he noticed that when people park behind the Extension Office annex building they line up in such a way it makes it difficult for drivers to pull out as cars are parked from the telephone pool at one end to where the ambulance units are parked at the other end. Mr. Kothe said drivers can also go out the other way. Commissioners said they would like to see the parking lot striped so people can drive out at the one side to the east.

 

The meeting with Mr. Kothe ended at 9:35 a.m.

 

9:50 a.m., Chairman Dinning said there is a private individual who has agreed to allow Sheriff’s Office deputies to practice shooting on his property. A new agreement has been drafted, but Prosecutor Douglas has rewritten it to include more protections for the county. Prosecutor Douglas said he couldn’t recommend Commissioners sign the original agreement as written. Chairman Dinning said he doesn’t feel comfortable signing an agreement the Prosecutor won’t endorse so he would like the Sheriff and Prosecutor to work on an agreement together.

 

Commissioners received close-out documents from the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The documents are in regards to an agreement for Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees being held by the Sheriff’s Office. Being that Boundary County did not hold any of the Department of Homeland Security’s detainees, funds totaling $720.00 will be returned to the Department of Homeland Security.   

 

Commissioner Pinkerton moved to authorize the Chairman to sign the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement close-out document, Reference #HSCEDM-12-P00014/P00004. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.

 

10:00 a.m., Solid Waste Superintendent Claine Skeen joined the meeting to give the departmental report. Mr. Skeen said in talking about the issue with the amount of hours for part-time employees, considering 28 hours would work better for his department.

 

Mr. Skeen said he is conducting a monitored site study between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Mr. Skeen said if he has to adjust his part-time employees’ hours, he would propose closing the existing monitored sites for two hours rather than have another part-time employee cover those two hours in order to keep the hours of the existing part-time employees down. Mr. Skeen reviewed the number of cars that came to the various monitored sites between a specific period of time. Commissioner Kirby suggested opening the sites one hour later and closing them one hour earlier. Mr. Skeen said he would like to make any changes the same for all sites. Mr. Skeen said he estimated his budget would need an additional $56,000 per year if he had to provide medical insurance benefits to his part-time employees. That is approximately $8,000 per single employee.

 

Mr. Skeen said he will conduct another waste stream study in July and he’s noticed that recycling seems to increase each year.

 

In speaking about events such as Take It or Leave It at the landfill, Commissioner Dinning said he wants to keep liability down when it comes to people running around the landfill.

 

Mr. Skeen said he will work with Blue Bird Recycling out of Coeur d’ Alene rather than having to ship recycled materials to Spokane.

 

Mr. Skeen asked about the budget and briefly mentioned he hadn’t included a fee increase.

 

The meeting with Mr. Skeen ended at 10:14 a.m.

 

Commissioners discussed what to add to the agenda for the joint city/county meeting. Commissioner Kirby spoke of what it would take to bring a sewer system to the Three Mile area. It would take forming a sewer district and applying for a grant, according to Commissioner Kirby.

 

10:30 a.m., Chief Probation Officer Stacy Brown joined the meeting to give the departmental report. Ms. Brown said numbers are down for the Youth Accountability Board (YAB). Four people have successfully completed the program and one person transferred back to the judicial process. Overall the numbers are still climbing, according to Ms. Brown.

 

Ms. Brown presented Commissioners with the number of cases for her department programs. YAB has 12 cases, Juvenile Probation has 56 cases with nine cases still pending final adjudication, adult misdemeanor has 75 cases, and unsupervised probation is low at 257 cases, but is starting to increase. This is the total probation case load, according to Ms. Brown. Chairman Dinning asked what the amount is that adults on probation pay. Ms. Brown said adults pay $20 per month while adults on unsupervised probation and juveniles do not pay. Ms. Brown said she’s looking at what the juveniles could be charged and what has been successfully collected. A urine analysis costs $3 and the cost to send them in is $6 for a total of $9.

 

Ms. Brown said the Border Patrol left very nice furniture for her office when they relocated so there will be other furniture to surplus. Clerk Poston suggested circulating a list of the surplus office furniture or items to the other county departments who could possibly use it.

 

Ms. Brown mentioned she would like to attend a restorative justice class that is at no cost to the county. Ms. Brown said she just needs Commissioners’ signature on the paperwork so she can attend.

 

Commissioner Kirby moved to go to 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. 10:55 a.m., Commissioner Kirby moved to go out of executive session. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.

 

County resident Liz Sloot joined the meeting.

 

11:00 a.m., Restorium Administrator Karlene Magee and Restorium Advisory Board Chairman Larry Dirks joined the meeting for the Restorium Department report. Ms. Magee presented Commissioners with an updated QuickBooks Report. Ms. Magee explained how Medicaid billing works and informed Commissioners of delays in receiving notification of Medicaid rate changes. Ms. Magee said she contacted Medicaid and she now has the ability to locate information on any changes online. The errors in billing were that everyone thought they were paying what was owed. Ms. Magee said that was correct. Chairman Dinning asked Ms. Magee to show her QuickBooks report to the County’s outside auditor to make sure it’s the information he is looking for. Chairman Dinning mentioned the possibility of recouping some of the lost revenue.

 

Commissioners, Mr. Dirks and Ms. Magee discussed the cost overrun for the elevator grant.

 

Clerk Glenda Poston and Deputy Clerk Nancy Ryals joined the meeting at 11:20 a.m.

 

Chairman Dinning mentioned the change order for the Restorium elevator project and Deputy Clerk Ryals said there have been two change orders. Not all grant fund requests have been received yet so there are a couple bills that haven’t been paid, which means the true balance owing for that line item will not be reflected, according to Deputy Clerk Ryals. Deputy Clerk Ryals mentioned that Sherri Wastweet with Panhandle Area Council said the change orders were for a fire door and the magnet so the fire door would close automatically if the fire alarm went off. Commissioner Kirby said he would hate to have to pay for something that someone else forgot. Chairman Dinning said he would like an expense and income sheet from day one with what had been agreed to be paid and what the cost of the fire door and magnets are. Chairman Dinning said if the $20,000 that is supposed to come to the county is received in the meantime, hold onto it until this is figured out. Deputy Clerk Ryals said $7,198 is still owing to Bonners Ferry Builders from February.

 

Deputy Clerk Ryals left the meeting at 11:29 a.m.

 

The meeting with Mr. Dirks and Ms. Magee ended at 11:30 a.m.

 

11:30 a.m., Commissioners discussed the request to hold town hall meetings. Present were: Blue Sky Broadcasting Reporter Mike Brown, Bonners Ferry Herald Reporter Laura Roady, Liz Sloot, Tia Avery, Christine Dodge, Shane Dodge, Pam Stout, Kourtni Roy, Mike Pierce, and Carl Stout.

 

Mr. Pierce said they would like Commissioners to hold a town hall meetings once per month or once every other month in the evenings as there are people who can’t always get away from work during the day to attend Commissioners’ meetings. There are a lot of people in the community with good thoughts and ideas for the benefit of the community and of course there will be questions. There are some issues regarding days of the week that would work so if Commissioners approved holding town hall meetings, Thursday looks better, but it was said the day would be workable. It was said it’s understood that not all issues would be resolved, but a meeting would give people and Commissioners time to do research on issues raised.

 

Chairman Dinning said input is always welcome as Commissioners don’t always see a perspective that needs to be seen, but he also doesn’t want a meeting to become unproductive and accusatory. If there is a concern, people can go ahead and address those concerns and Commissioners will see what can be done, but Chairman Dinning said he has seen meetings become very unproductive. Ms. Avery said she agrees that it doesn’t do any good to sit and argue. Commissioner Kirby said holding a meeting sounds fine to him.

 

Chairman Dinning said Commissioners are significantly busier than a lot of people recognize. It was said it would be extremely valuable for the public to be present as opposed to just one or two people and if a meeting could be structured along those lines, Commissioners could schedule a meeting. Ms. Avery said if four meetings are all Commissioners can do, she will work with that. Mr. Pierce said he would like to see six meetings scheduled. Chairman Dinning asked what is there that’s foreseen that needs to be addressed every two months. Mr. Pierce said speaking of agendas Agenda 21 is full of things to look at. Chairman Dinning asked where Mr. Pierce sees the county fitting in Agenda 21. Mr. Pierce said not having done a lot of research on Agenda 21, but it’s a grass roots thing where it’s coming in at. It was said Agenda 21 has not been put through in a situation where everyone knows what’s taken place with it. Chairman Dinning said he doesn’t want a town hall meeting to be unproductive and to take a position and debate it for a length of time. Chairman Dinning said he’s aware of Agenda 21 and of the allegations and he asked what action would Boundary County be expected to take to counteract those. Mr. Pierce said that is what the meeting would be about so those things could be discussed and questions asked.

 

Chairman Dinning said he gets a lot of things handed down from the state level in which the county can’t counter or go beyond so he would like these meetings to be as productive as possible. Ms. Avery said if there are issues with Agenda 21 and nothing can be done, then we need to see if researching having more people behind Commissioners would help as it’s also to Commissioners’ benefit if the public can help. Ms. Avery said if she could help, she is all for it.

 

Ms. Sloot said one example of a reason to have a meeting is that the Fish and Wildlife Service has just started to consider delisting the grizzly bear and if that is done, where do Commissioners stand on taking gates down on Forest Service roads. Ms. Sloot said the whole purpose for the gates is to keep the grizzly bear in the forest so if the bear is off the off endangered list, why are gates needed. Chairman Dinning said the gates are to keep people out and right now the Fish and Wildlife Service is looking at just delisting the Glacier population. There is DNA analysis going in for the bear in the Cabinet-Yaak area and those results are coming out this fall so we will have a population estimate. The same thing will hopefully be accomplished in the Selkirks. It’s a slow process and until there is scientific documentation that meets the court’s criteria, there is no use going there, according to Chairman Dinning. With the assumption one big area will be delisted there still has to be a management plan put in place and that plan is where the managing agencies can keep gates closed to manage further. There can still be a management plan on the land and until there is some method with the ability to still interact within that, there’s only the ability to go to court. Chairman Dinning said he can agree and would love for every gate to be open, but can he legally challenge that, he doesn’t know. Ms. Sloot said the reason for town hall meetings is for Commissioners to explain issues to those in the public who can’t come to meetings during the day.

 

Commissioner Pinkerton said he thinks it’s important to have town hall meetings as a representation of people work during the day. Commissioner Pinkerton said it’s clear why there are meetings during the 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. hours, which is because of the people Commissioners have to talk to on the business side of things, but the information flow between people being represented to understand the concerns, etc., or for the people to update Commissioners can be done at another meeting. It’s not the same type of meeting as a regular board meeting, according to Commissioner Pinkerton. Ms. Sloot said she would suggest people who wish to speak on a certain subject call in ahead to be put on agenda if we’re going to move to do this. Commissioner Pinkerton said there will have to be someone to set an agenda and there should at least be a guideline of what’s to be discussed.

 

Ms. Stout said four times would be a sufficient number to meet and as often as tea party meets, they can be updated. It would be preferred to hold a town hall meeting in a facility that is large enough and so that people can count on the meeting being held on specific dates.

 

Commissioners discussed various possible locations to hold meetings. Chairman Dinning said the best way to have a structure as far as an agenda is that anyone who wishes to speak should contact Commissioners’ Office with a name and contact number. Commissioners said they would discuss the locations to have a meeting.

 

The meeting to discuss holding town hall meetings ended at 11:54 a.m.

 

There being no further business, the meeting recessed until tomorrow at 12:05 p.m.      

 

***Tuesday, June 4, 2013, Commissioners met in regular session with Chairman Dan Dinning, Commissioner LeAlan Pinkerton, Commissioner Walt Kirby, and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser.

 

9:00 a.m., Boundary County Emergency Services Director Dave Kramer joined the meeting with newly appointed County Public Information Officer Mike Meier. The purpose of the meeting is for Commissioners to meet Mr. Meier.

 

Bonners Ferry Herald Reporter Laura Roady and Boundary County Economic Development Specialist David Sims also joined the meeting.

 

Mr. Kramer introduced Mr. Meier to Commissioners and explained the position of public information officer had been expanded so the county can make sure someone is available to provide information and to have the ability to incorporate this position more often. Mr. Meier just attended public information officer training and another course on dealing with the media. Mr. Sims will also attend a class in the future, according to Mr. Sims.

 

Mr. Kramer said one advantage is being able to work with the North Idaho Public Information Network so there will be both the local resources as well as contacts through the North Idaho Public Information Network. The role as public information officer is to support whatever agency the public information officer is working with to put together the facts of the incident and to get the blessing from that agency before releasing the information. Chairman Dinning said it may be beneficial to have Mr. Meier and Mr. Kramer join the department head/elected officials meeting.

 

Chairman Dinning said a majority of incidents Boundary County deals with is flooding, fires, etc., and most of those responding agencies have a public information officer so it’s good to have someone. Commissioner Pinkerton said he feels a public information office is extremely important and he said he was curious what Mr. Meier would like to do with the day to day, month to month or year to year incidents as he’s also seen places destroyed by public information. Mr. Meier said the local community needs to be marketed and to let the locals know both the good and bad information so they will trust what is going on in local government. One great thing about a public information officer is it gives someone a place to go to for information and allows responding agencies the ability to do their work in an incident. Mr. Kramer said through Emergency Management, information can be provided on training behind the scenes and informational press releases such as flood seasons and fire seasons.

 

Mr. Kramer mentioned trying to turn a corner and putting the public information officer out in front to get information out. Commissioner Pinkerton suggested Mr. Kramer put a tree chart in place so when there is a matter the first order of duty for the public information officer on call is to contact the media and take that duty off of Mr. Kramer or the responding agency that needs to focus on their incident. So the structure is already in place.

 

Mr. Kramer spoke of the levels of public information training courses held. The core group would be Mr. Meier, Mr. Sims and Mike Weland as backup. Chairman Dinning spoke of having coordination with the local responding agencies and Mr. Meier said he’s spoken with all the fire chiefs and has discussed getting information out. Commissioner Pinkerton spoke of getting the correct information out and deciding which information is important to pass on. Commissioner Pinkerton said he feels strongly that a public information officer shouldn’t speak for an agency’s own public information officer who is already working the scene.

 

Mr. Kramer informed Commissioners the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is tomorrow from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

 

Mr. Meier said a public information officer hasn’t been used much in Boundary County so it is all open territory. Commissioner Pinkerton and Mr. Meier spoke of the benefits of establishing a relationship with the media.

 

The meeting with Mr. Kramer, Mr. Meier and Mr. Sims ended at 9:30 a.m.

 

9:30 a.m., Shane Robinson and Bill Hayes with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services joined the meeting. Mr. Robinson explained that he works in conjunction with the Idaho Wool Growers ad deals with all sorts of problems associated with wildlife. Wildlife Services has a memorandum of understanding with the Fish and Wildlife Service to deal with certain animals and the Department of Fish and Game has him to take care of predators. Mr. Robinson said he doesn’t deal much with bears getting into garbage, but he gets usually gets involved when animals kill livestock. Mr. Robinson said he has dealt with beavers causing issue with culverts, etc., but the majority of his work consists of predators and livestock. Chairman Dinning said Mr. Robinson’s service has been a benefit to the community. Mr. Hayes is Mr. Robinson’s county representative.

 

Mr. Robinson presented his yearly report of predator activity. Mr. Robinson explained the conditions and behavior patterns of predators that he is able to kill them under, but the problem is being able to confirm the predator of the kill. Mr. Robinson said he has to be able to confirm the depredation in order to put the traps out. Chairman Dinning said what Mr. Robinson does is beneficial to the community and it’s appreciated.

 

The effects of predatory wildlife to livestock were discussed and it was said there had been a fund to help reimburse farmers who have lost livestock. Mr. Hayes said there has gotten to be so many people. Mr. Robinson said he heard there currently is no funding for this, but the state is working to secure funding for next year.

 

The meeting with Mr. Hayes and Mr. Robinson ended at 9:47 a.m.

 

Commissioner Pinkerton moved to approve the minutes of May 13 & 14, 2013. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.

 

10:00 a.m., Commissioners considered the adoption of the Findings and Decision for Planning and Zoning Application #13-019. This is an application for a special event permit to hold a mud bog/rock crawl requested by DelRay Romero. Present were: Commissioners, Planning and Zoning Administrator Dan Studer and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser. The proceedings were recorded. 

 

Commissioner Kirby moved to continue the meeting to address the Findings and Decision for Planning and Zoning Application #13-019, a request for a special event permit for a mud bog/rock crawl requested by DelRay Romero until 10:30 a.m. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Gutshall stopped by Commissioners’ Office to obtain the Chairman’s signature on Deep Creek Bridge #2 construction documents.  

 

Commissioner Kirby moved to authorize the signing of all construction phase documents for Deep Creek Bridge #2. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Gutshall said he has older equipment that he could try using biodiesel.

 

Mr. Gutshall and Commissioners briefly discussed rock crushing.

 

Mr. Gutshall left the meeting at 10:30 a.m.

 

Commissioners said the county has tax deeded properties that have not sold at public auction and now the county can negotiate with anyone for those properties. Chairman Dinning said he wants this process to be fair and questioned the process of advertising under sealed bid.

 

10:35 a.m., Commissioners resumed the meeting to consider the Findings and Decision for Planning and Zoning Application#13-019. An application for a special event permit requested by DelRay Romero to hold a mud bog/rock crawl event. Present were Commissioners, Planning and Zoning Administrator Dan Studer and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser. The proceedings were recorded.

 

The Findings and Decision included a synopsis of the public hearings and the list of conditions the application was approved under. The conditions are as follows: hours of operation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the event will occur on Saturday and Sunday only; all participating vehicles shall have mufflers; no alcoholic beverages will be sold or allowed at the event, all necessary permits will be obtained prior to the event and shall include Panhandle Health District, Idaho Department of Water Resources and the Department of Environmental Quality; proof of liability insurance will be provided to the Planning and Zoning Administrator, a limit of 1,000 vehicles on the premise is imposed; and no parking is allowed on county roads or shoulders of roads.  

 

Commissioner Kirby moved to adopt the Findings and Decision as presented dated May 29, 2013 and modified June 4, 2013 for Planning and Zoning Application #13-019. An application for a special event permit to hold a mud bog/rock crawl event requested by DelRay Romero. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.

 

The meeting to adopt the Findings and Decision ended.

 

Commissioners and Mr. Studer discussed holding public hearings for Planning and Zoning matters, the process of listening to public concerns, mitigation measures, and how each request for a permit has its own set of circumstances. 

 

Mr. Studer left the meeting at 11:00 a.m.

 

Commissioner Pinkerton moved that the properties that did not sell at auction be prepared to be sold under the sealed bid process. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.

 

Commissioner Kirby left the meeting at 11:30 a.m.

 

Commissioners tended to administrative duties.

 

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

 

County Civil Attorney Tevis Hull joined the meeting.

 

Commissioner Kirby 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 and Idaho Code #67-2345(1)d, to consider records that are exempt from disclosure as provided in chapter 3, title 9, Idaho Code. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Commissioners voted as follows: Chairman Dinning “aye”, Commissioner Pinkerton “aye” and Commissioner Kirby “aye”. Motion passed unanimously. 2:50 p.m., Commissioner Kirby moved to go out of executive session. Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously. No action was taken.

 

Commissioners tended to administrative duties.

 

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m.

 

 

                                                                        /s/

                                                                        DAN R. DINNING, Chairman

 

Attest:

 

/s/

GLENDA POSTON, Clerk

By: Michelle Rohrwasser, Deputy Clerk