Commissioner's minutes |
| June 7, 2011 |
|
Mr. Gutshall did not provide a written department report. Mr. Gutshall said Road and Bridge is out crushing now and that is going well. Road and Bridge is stockpiling gravel at an unprecedented rate, according to Mr. Gutshall. Mr. Gutshall said he used Tom Oxford’s grinder on the grader and he explained how it hooks to the grader. Mr. Gutshall said after grinding up one or two miles of road you’re changing an expensive amount of teeth. Mr. Gutshall said he looked
for the other culvert on the Mr. Gutshall said the Durapatcher is out again this week. Mr. Gutshall informed Commissioners that Deep Creek Loop has settled even more so he has posted the areas as a one lane road. Mr. Gutshall spoke of cutting the area that has settled and filling it with gravel. Mr. Gutshall informed Commissioners that he will try to do something with the grant application for the Public Lands Highways Discretionary Program once he learns more about his budget. Commissioners discussed
joining Mr. Gutshall on the Mark Owens met with
Commissioners to discuss abandoning Mr. Owens said he would
like to reopen the issue of decommissioning the
road that is behind his house. Mr. Owens said
first of all, there is very little use of this
road and he has video records to show this. Mr.
Owens explained that The meeting with Mr.
Gutshall and Mr. Owens ended at Chairman Smith said he looked at the Park and Recreation budget and he doesn’t see how they can work on their budget for next year since they are operating on a lump sum. Chairman Smith explained that budgets are due today, but he would like to help the Park and Recreation Board with their first budget. Mr. Dougherty said he would like to thank Ms. Copeland for the work she did in trying to put the budget together. Chairman Smith mentioned the budget to be turned in today is for the next fiscal year.
Chairman Smith said everyone needs to come to an understanding that the County is fortunate to have this Park and Recreation Board and there has to be trust. Commissioners don’t want to micromanage how the Park and Recreation Board will spend their budget and if it was to the point that Commissioners needed to micromanage that, then the Board needs to be replaced. Chairman Smith said by saying that, if the Park and Recreation Board has budget and there is something they want to purchase, he has a problem if they need to run it by Commissioners. Commissioner Dinning said the only thing that surprised him in the Park and Recreation Board minutes was seeing the cost of $8,000 to $10,000 for electricity for the concession stand as that is a lot of money. Ms. Hittle said the concession stand is grant money. Ms. Copeland said the Park and Recreation Board meets every two weeks. Chairman Smith said if Commissioners don’t get the Park and Recreation Board meeting agenda ahead of time, the Board can just contact the Commissioners to inform them of the matter to make sure there aren’t any problems and to make sure there is budget for that item. Ms. Carle asked if that means the Park and Recreation Board should contact Commissioners if a purchase or expenditure is above a certain amount. Commissioner Dinning explained that he had noticed an expense and he didn’t mean for that purchase not to go through, he just wanted to know what was going on. Commissioners said the Park and Recreation Board does need to notify them if they are doing something on County property. Mr. Dougherty said he appreciates Commissioners’ candor and their trust. Mr. Dougherty said he is used to operating in a fairly efficient fashion and when the Park and Recreation Board was appointed, he new the quality of the individuals. Mr. Dougherty spoke of the need to keep good financial records. Chairman Smith said he had spoken to Chief Deputy Clerk Tracie Isaac about job descriptions for the Park and Recreation Department. The Park and Recreation Board had been informed by Commissioners they would have an employee for a six month period that position would be paid for that period of time out of the Park and Recreation budget and the remaining six months this employee will work for the County as Courthouse maintenance and be paid out of the Courthouse budget. That position is a County employee, according to Chairman Smith. Those present reviewed the job description for the Park and Recreation employee to perform duties related to the Park and Recreation Department. Chairman Smith said the supervisors will be the Park and Recreation Board and the ultimate supervisors are the Commissioners. The Park and Recreation Board won’t have the ability to discipline or terminate one of their employees, according to Chairman Smith. Those present discussed the other two positions, which are the sports director and groundskeeper. Chairman Smith said he doesn’t think those two positions should be considered County employees and instead should be hired or terminated by the Park and Recreation Board. Only the payroll for the sports director and groundskeeper should be run through the County. Commissioner Dinning said those two positions had been County employees in the past. Chief Deputy Clerk Tracie Isaac confirmed this. Commissioner Dinning explained if the sports director and groundskeeper are getting paid, responsibility ultimately comes back to the County. Chairman Smith said the Fair Board hires their own employees and that comes from taxpayer dollars. Clerk Poston informed Commissioners that Fair employees do drive County vehicles. Commissioner Dinning said Fair employees are also drug tested, which is County policy. Those present debated on the process of hiring people for the position of sports director and groundskeeper and further questioned if this was a County process. Chairman Smith said if the employee in the position is a County employee, their salary has to match the County pay scale and currently it does not match. Ms. Copeland said the pay does not match the pay scale because the Park and Recreation Board hadn’t been made aware of this information. Chairman Smith said if the position is considered a County position, the employee needs to have the same type of paperwork and be on the same pay scale. Ms. Carle asked if this position could be compensated in the same manner that Ms. Hittle had been paid when she filled the position of sports director. Ms. Hittle said she had been paid by the Fair Board. Chairman Smith explained the County employee pay scale. Chairman Smith explained
how Ms. Hittle is related to him and explained
that a relative of a Commissioner cannot work
for the County. Chairman Smith also gave the
example that a son or daughter can’t work for
her mother or father if the mother or father was
a department head or elected official. Mr.
Brinkman said he thinks everyone is getting hung
up on the how the Fair Board operates and how
the County operates. Commissioner Dinning said
the Park and Recreation Board is no different
from the Restorium Board for example, but they
are given latitude to run the facilities. The
County appoints the Park and Recreation Board so
the County is responsible for them. The Fair
Board is a totally separate entity and they can
do what their policies allow. Clerk Poston
further explained that the Fair Board has their
own Idaho Code statutes. Commissioner Dinning
said the Park and Recreation Board would operate
like any other entity in Ms. Copeland said the
frustration is that in the beginning the Park
and Recreation Board had been told they could
hire to fill the sports director position and
could pay this person whatever they felt right
and this is what they were told in a
Commissioners’ meeting. Ms. Copeland said it is
frustrating that the Park and Recreation Board
has now hired someone and this person was told
they would make a certain amount. Ms. Copeland
said the Park and Recreation Board needed this
direction beforehand. The new sports director
will have to be told they are making $9.42
instead of $9.50. Ms. Carle said the Park and
Recreation Board members were told to “go and
do” and there were no policies given to them.
Ms. Copeland said the pay scale was given to her
Board, but they didn’t think they had to follow
it. It is just a communication thing and that is
getting fixed now, according to Commissioner
Dinning. Clerk Poston said information that is
available from her office would be the County
Personnel Policy. It was said the Park and
Recreation Board will have to draft their own
policy. Ms. Copeland said she would like to have
some sort of structure. Mr. Dougherty said the
Park and Recreation Board will draft by-laws and
have the opening statement be that the Park and
Recreation Board will operate under Idaho Code
and Those present questioned
the permit paperwork for the transformer.
Commissioner Dinning said he is guessing this is
to get power to the entire grounds. The cost
from the City of Commissioner Dinning moved to authorize the Chairman to sign the Bonners Ferry Utility Service Application for the Park and Recreation Board. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously. Clerk Poston informed those present that if grants are sought, that also has to go through Commissioners. Mr. Tompkins said he understood it was agreed by the Fair Board to pay so why the transfer of funds. Ms. Copeland said the Board was told they would have their budget and then they were told everything they do has to go through the County for a paper trail. Ms. Copeland said for
clarification if the Park and Recreation Board
has a question, Commissioners can just be
notified in order to be kept informed.
Commissioner Dinning said it makes it really
easy to have just one contact person. Ms.
Copeland said as far as the power situation, she
is a spokesperson, but Mr. Tompkins knows more
about it. Chairman Smith was asked to attend the
Park and Recreation Board’s next meeting held in
the Fair Board’s office at The meeting ended at Ms. Whalen said this year
the Health District’s formula is based on
population being 70% of the budget and valuation
being 30% of the budget. Ms. Whalen informed
Commissioners the Health District is not
requesting an increase or decrease from the
counties, but are requesting level funding. The
fiscal year 2012 budget decreases 3.9% from the
revised fiscal year 2011 budget. The decrease
has affected the State formula in a negative
way, according to Ms. Whalen. Due to Mr. Fenton referred to the 3.9% decrease for fiscal year 2012 and he said revenue was budgeted conservatively. Mr. Fenton said Page 3 is a summary of the Panhandle Health District budget. The current budget for fiscal year 2011 is $10,019,700 and there has been a decrease of 3.9%. The Health District is asking for level funding, which would be a total of $1,051,600. The State’s participation for year 2012 has a decrease of $62,500. Commissioner Dinning questioned the status of the reserve established for building and land. Mr. Fenton said there is just under three months of cash reserves. The Health District does have some funds set aside, according to Mr. Fenton. There is $50,000 designated for electronic medical records and another $50,000 is needed for conversion services. Mr. Fenton said there is 43% budgeted for contracts in fiscal year 2012. Mr. Fenton reiterated the State appropriation decreases $62,500 down to $1,046,900. The total State decrease from fiscal year 2009 is $412,100. There are no changes in licenses and fees (environmental permits). Page 6 of the print out from Mr. Fenton shows State/County funding comparison from fiscal year 1981 to fiscal year 2011. Mr. Fenton said the graph shows that county funding was higher than State funding in 1993. Fiscal year 2012 will be the first time county funding will be higher than State funding since 1993. Chairman Smith said for clarification that if counties don’t participate in funding, it affects funds received from the State and Ms. Whalen and Mr. Fenton agreed. Mr. Fenton referred to
State and county funding per capita for years
1980 through 2010. Dollars have been adjusted
for inflation. Based on population in year 1980,
per capita funding from the counties was $8.83
and in year 2010 per capita funding was $5.04.
Commissioner Dinning asked if an analysis for
costs of individuals served has been run.
Commissioner Dinning said if less people had
been served in 1980 than now, what would that
total? Ms. Whalen said that is one way to look
at it, but when looking at septic systems does
that just represent the one person with the
permit? Commissioner Dinning said he is just
referring to State and county funding. The
report also refers to District funding. The
State has asked that the matching amount to be
included in the budget request shall be a
minimum of 67% of the amounts pledged by each
county, as adopted as part of the budget for the
health districts during the budget formulations.
The report shows the factors used for the State
appropriation formula and how funds are
distributed to the seven health districts. Page
11 of the report is the county formula showing
funding for this fiscal year and the Health
District is not asking for an increase or
decrease. Mr. Fenton reiterated that valuation
is 30% and population is 70% of the budget. It
was said that Ms. Whalen and Mr. Fenton said the Panhandle Health District Office has cut certain positions and some jobs were combined. No salary increases will be offered. The Panhandle Health District will receive a health insurance two holiday premium, according to Mr. Fenton and Ms. Whalen. This two month holiday is where the Health District can skip two month’s worth of insurance premiums. A holiday Chairman Smith explained his meeting to review the Governmental Employees Medical (GEM) Plan. Mr. Fenton said the Health District has been informed there will be no insurance holiday for fiscal year 2013 so there will most likely be an increase. Mr. Fenton’s report shows operating expenditures and increases to the operating expenditures are due to the conversion to electronic medical records, but other expenditures decreased, according Mr. Fenton. Mr. Fenton referred to
capital expenditures and Commissioner Dinning
asked if any new construction was planned. Mr.
Fenton said no buildings are in the plans, but
four vehicles are budgeted as four older
vehicles were surplused in April. Ms. Whalen
reiterated the Health District isn’t looking
into future buildings. A Sandpoint office had
been discussed at one point, but in these
economic times, it isn’t going to happen. Ms.
Whalen mentioned possibly having to rebuild at
the site of the existing building’s location.
The balance on the The meeting with Ms. Whalen
and Mr. Fenton ended at Commissioners tended to administrative duties. The meeting with Mr.
Johnson and Mr. Koon ended at Commissioners tended to administrative duties.
Chairman Smith informed Commissioner Dinning and Commissioner Kirby that he checked with Attorney Louis Marshall about Judith Holly Beaudet’s request that the County hold a public hearing so the Border Patrol representatives can inform the community about their plans for the new Border Patrol facility located near Three Mile. Chairman Smith said the attorney told him there are no grounds to have a public hearing so Ms. Beaudet needs to be notified of this. Commissioner Dinning moved to adopt resolution 2011-26. A resolution amending the Boundary County Personnel Policy, Vehicle Use Policy. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously. Resolution 2011-26 reads as follows:
RESOLUTION 2011-26
AMENDING THE
WHEREAS, Boundary County has reviewed its
employee policy pursuant to the authority
conferred by Article XII, Section 2, of the
Constitution of the State of Idaho and Title 31,
Chapter 8, Idaho code, and
WHEREAS, Boundary County is a political
subdivision of the State of Idaho, operating
under the provisions and the laws of the State
of Idaho, and as such is authorized and
empowered to make decisions regarding its
employees’ benefits; and
WHEREAS, the Boundary County Commissioners find
Appendix A, Boundary County Vehicle Use Policy
of the current Boundary County Personnel Policy,
does not adequately address the age
requirement to operate a Boundary County
vehicle, and
WHEREAS, an amendment to Appendix A, Boundary
County Vehicle Use Policy of the Boundary County
Personnel Policy is needed to address the
inadequacies in the policy,
AMEND APPENDIX A, BOUNDARY COUNTY
VEHICLE USE POLICY OF THE CURRENT BOUNDARY
COUNTY PERSONNEL POLICY, as follows:
3)
ASSIGNED OR PERMISSIVE DRIVERS
b.
In addition to the employee assigned or
permitted to drive a Boundary County vehicle, he
or she may allow others, as necessary, to
operate the vehicle if they have a valid
drivers’ license and are 16 years of age or
older.
PASSED
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 #250628 Commissioners recessed for
lunch at 1:30 p.m., Commissioners reconvened for the afternoon session with Chairman Smith, Commissioner Dinning, Commissioner Kirby, and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser.
Mr. Allegretti said he has
been talking to State of Mr. Allegretti left the
meeting at Commissioner Dinning said
under the Roadless Rule for wildland urban
interface (WUI) and under the community
protection zone, Commissioners tended to administrative duties. 2: Commissioners and Clerk Poston briefly discussed the date when high school students job shadow the elected officials. Clerk Poston left the
meeting at Mr. Osborn left the meeting
at Commissioner Dinning moved to deny indigent application #2011-36 as the application has been withdrawn. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Dinning moved to approve the minutes of May 9 & 10, 2011. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously. Deputy Clerk Nancy Ryals
left the meeting at The meeting with Ms. Brown
and Mr. Sukenik ended at /s/ RONALD R. SMITH, Chairman ATTEST: /s/ GLENDA POSTON, Clerk By: Michelle Rohrwasser, Deputy Clerk |