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Commissioners minutes, January 16-17 |
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February 1, 2012 |
Monday, January 16, 2012, Commissioners did not
meet due to the Human Right’s Day Holiday.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012, Commissioners met in
regular session with Chairman Ron Smith,
Commissioner Dan Dinning, Commissioner Walt
Kirby and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser.
Commissioner Dinning moved to amend the agenda
for today at 11:30 a.m., to include a matter
accepting a vehicle quote received for the
Sheriff’s Office as it is a time sensitive
matter. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed
unanimously.
Commissioner Dinning moved to approve the
minutes of January 9 & 10, 2012. Commissioner
Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
11:30 a.m., Chief Deputy Sheriff Rich Stephens
joined the meeting to discuss Sheriff’s Office
employee vacation hours. Chairman Smith reviewed
the amount of vacation hours and compensatory
hours allowed to be carried into the following
year.
Personnel Director Tracie Isaac joined the
meeting at 11:35 a.m.
Chairman Smith asked Personnel Director Tracie
Isaac if she has taken any extra hours away from
employees who have carried too many hours over.
Personnel Director Tracie Isaac said not yet as
the employees have until the end of December
2011 to use those hours. Chairman Smith said the
holiday hours are to be used in the month they
are accrued, but sometimes the offices with 24
hours coverage are not able to allow employees
the time off. Commissioner Dinning said
Commissioners work with the Road and Bridge
Department on this matter as winter is their
busy season. Personnel Director Tracie Isaac
said Road and Bridge employees are allowed to
carry those extra hours over until March. Chief
Deputy Sheriff Stephens asked if the Sheriff’s
Office employees could have until the end of
March to use up that additional time. Chairman
Smith said for him to be in favor of the
extension, if by March 31st those hours haven’t
been used, Personnel Director Tracie Isaac will
need to cut the additional hours remaining.
Commissioner Dinning asked Chief Deputy Sheriff
Stephens if the given amount of time is really
doable for the Sheriff’s Office and Chief Deputy
Sheriff Stephens said he thinks it is workable.
Chairman Smith suggested Sheriff Sprungl take a
look at the hours employees have accrued by
September to check status at that time.
Commissioner Dinning moved to grant an extension
of time until March 31, 2012 for Sheriff’s
Office employees to use up additional days off.
Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed
unanimously.
Personnel Director Tracie Isaac left the meeting
at 11:40 a.m.
Chief Deputy Sheriff Rich Stephens presented
Commissioners with quotes for a new vehicle for
the Sheriff’s Office. Chief Deputy Sheriff
Stephens said the Sheriff’s Office contacted
four dealers, but only two dealers responded.
Taylor & Sons Chevrolet, Bud Clary Auto Group,
Dave Smith Motors, and Knudtsen Chevrolet were
contacted, but only Taylor & Sons Chevrolet and
Bud Clary Auto Group responded.
The quote received from Taylor & Sons Chevrolet
for a 2012 Chevy Tahoe Special Service Vehicle
was $29,468.75 and the quote from Bud Clary Auto
Group for a 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe was $29,627.
Commissioner Dinning asked about quotes from
Riverside Auto and Chief Deputy Stephens said
Riverside Auto is not able to submit a quote for
what was being requested.
Commissioner Dinning moved to accept the quote
from Taylor & Sons Chevrolet for a 2012
Chevrolet Tahoe Special Service Vehicle at a
cost of $29,468.75. Commissioner Kirby second.
Motion passed unanimously.
Chief Deputy Sheriff Rich Stephens left the
meeting at 11:50 a.m.
Commissioners recessed for lunch at 12:00 p.m.
1:30 p.m., Commissioners reconvened for the
afternoon session with Chairman Smith,
Commissioner Dinning, Commissioner Kirby, and
Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser.
Commissioner Dinning moved to cancel 2011 year
taxes totaling $150.64, late fees totaling
$1.51, plus interest for parcel
#MHM0130000024UA. Commissioner Kirby second.
Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Dinning moved to cancel value
totaling $136,040 and taxes totaling $1,264.54
for year 2011 for parcel #RP61N01E190961A in the
name of Cowart Living Trust due to the Idaho
Board of Tax Appeals decision. Commissioner
Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Dinning moved to adopt Resolution
2012-8. A resolution to increase Current Expense
Commissioners’ budget due to receipt of
unanticipated funds. Commissioner Kirby second.
Motion passed unanimously. Resolution 2012-8
reads as follows:
RESOLUTION 2012-8
INCREASE CURRENT EXPENSE COMMISSIONERS BUDGET
DUE TO RECEIPT OF UNANTICIPATED FUNDS
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners,
County of Boundary, State of Idaho, did
establish an operating budget for the Current
Expense Commissioners Fund for fiscal year
2011-2012, and
WHEREAS, $421.65 has been received from the
State of Idaho Office of Species Conservation as
reimbursement for travel expenses for
Commissioner Dan Dinning to attend an Idaho
Roadless Rule Meeting in Boise on November 29,
2011 and November 30, 2011; and
WHEREAS, the Current Expense Commissioners Fund
for fiscal year 2011-2012 is in need of this
additional revenue; and
WHEREAS, the addition of this revenue does not
affect the tax levy for Boundary County; and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate to increase the
Current Expense Fund Revenue Account Number
01-00-391-81 in the amount of $421.65 and the
Current Expense Commissioners Expense Account
Number 01-05-439, Travel - Other, in the amount
of $421.65.
NOW THEREFORE, upon motion duly made, seconded
and unanimously carried,
IT IS RESOLVED that the increase in the Current
Expense Fund Revenue Account Number 01-00-391-81
in the amount of $421.65 and the Current Expense
Commissioners Expense Account Number 01-05-439,
Travel - Other, in the amount of $421.65 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 17th day of January, 2012
COUNTY OF BOUNDARY
BOARD OF COUNTY 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
Recorded as instrument #252893
1:55 p.m., Commissioner Dinning moved to go into
closed session under Idaho Code #31-874.
Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed
unanimously. 1:56 p.m., Commissioner Dinning
moved to go out of closed session. Commissioner
Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Dinning moved to sign the approval
for non-medical assistance for indigent
#2012-10. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion
passed unanimously.
2:00 p.m., Blue Sky Broadcasting News Reporter
Mike Brown and County resident Bruce Whittaker
joined the meeting.
Chairman Smith spoke on the matter of the
Caribou Critical Habitat and of adopting a
resolution on coordination. Chairman Smith said
the resolution Commissioners plan to adopt has
been reviewed and approved by the county civil
attorney, Phil Robinson.
Chairman Smith reviewed the cover letter to
accompany the resolution that will be mailed to
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Commissioner Dinning moved to adopt resolution
2012-9. A resolution approving Boundary County’s
participation in the coordination process on the
matter of Caribou Critical Habitat. Commissioner
Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
Resolution #2012-9 reads as follows:
RESOLUTION 2012-9
BOUNDARY COUNTY COORDINATION
WHEREAS Boundary County is a unit of local
government in the State of Idaho; and
WHEREAS Boundary County is therefore entitled to
engage in the coordination process with all
federal agencies as mandated by Congress; and
WHEREAS Boundary County exercises the local
police powers to protect public health, safety
and welfare reserved to the States and to the
People under the Tenth Amendment to the United
States Constitution; and
WHEREAS the proper exercise of those reserved
powers requires that all federal agencies engage
in the coordination process with this County;
and
WHEREAS the statutes of the State of Idaho
require that state agencies engage in
coordination with Counties, and the protection
of the public health, safety and welfare of the
people of Boundary County requires engagement in
such coordination.
NOW THEREFORE, it is hereby resolved that
Boundary County establishes the policy that it
will engage in the coordination process with all
federal agencies and with all state agencies;
IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED that since Congress
defined the coordination process in the Federal
Land Policy Management Act, and the United
States Supreme Court has ruled that when
Congress defines a term, the term means the same
in any statute that is in pari-materia, it is
the policy of this County that it will engage in
the coordination process as defined by Congress
in FLPMA.
Duly approved this 17th day of January, 2012.
BOUNDARY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
s/_________________________________
Ronald R. Smith, Chairman
s/_________________________________
Dan R. Dinning, Commissioner
s/__________________________________
Walt Kirby, Commissioner
ATTEST:
GLENDA POSTON, Clerk
By:s/____________________________________
Deputy Clerk
Recorded as instrument #252891
Commissioner Dinning moved to sign the letter to
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that will
accompany Resolution 2012-9. Commissioner Kirby
second. Motion passed unanimously.
Bruce Whittaker explained his thoughts of the
Kootenai Valley Resource Initiative (KVRI)
meeting where the matter of Caribou Critical
Habitat was discussed and he offered his
assistance to Commissioners in any way he could.
Mr. Whittaker informed Commissioners that he
could provide a thesis on this matter that had
been written by someone in Canada. Mr. Whittaker
said caribou prefer old growth forests. The
bottom line is that people don’t really know
what is definitive to generate caribou. There
are differences between the Mountain Caribou,
the Tundra Caribou, and the Woodland Caribou and
DNA testing was done, according to Mr.
Whittaker. The Mountain Caribou was genus of a
species created with another and it stayed in
some of the central and southern ranges of
Alberta, Canada. Mr. Whittaker questioned if US
Fish and Wildlife Service is trying to bring in
the Woodland Caribou or are they bringing in the
Mountain Caribou. Mr. Whittaker said the
Woodland Caribou were brought in the first time.
Mr. Whittaker briefly referred to Paul Flynn’s
attempts involving Idaho Fish and Game in years
1955 and 1956 and he added that he’s looking for
the report for what is being done in the
Continental Mine. Commissioner Dinning said his
understanding is that all these years up until
two years ago, the public has been told there is
a genetic difference between the Woodland and
Mountain Caribou. A biologist who has since
retired was asked if the caribou are genetically
different and the biologist said they were not.
Mr. Whittaker said he will look for that report
on Caribou genetics. The Mountain caribou has
specific genes from both, but is still
different. It is said there is no interaction
with the Selkirk herd or any other herd. Mr.
Whittaker said the only studies he found were
from year 1992 to year 2000 so that is still
talking 10 to 20 years old. Canada doesn’t lock
up tracks and tracks of ground, but instead they
educate people and manage, according to Mr.
Whittaker.
Mr. Whittaker spoke of an article written about
wildlife corridors. If a corridor can be
established from one area to another then it
will be done and that is how government ties up
the ground. Commissioner Dinning said the
western governors have adopted the corridors.
Mr. Whittaker asked about a proposed gate going
in at Katka at the end of the county road. Mr.
Whittaker suggested asking the District Forest
Ranger if a gate is planned.
Mr. Whittaker reiterated that he is available to
help Commissioners on the matter of Caribou if
they want. Commissioner Dinning said the county
has screamed and yelled for 20 years and people
are using this for political advantages, but
something has to hold up in court. Commissioner
Dinning and Mr. Whittaker said they would like
to see an overlay of the Sundance and Trapper
fires. These fires destroyed thousands of old
growth timber, which would be a big majority of
habitat for caribou. Commissioner Dinning
described what areas were burned in the Trapper
fire. Mr. Whittaker said the fires isolated the
herds north of that area as caribou don’t like
to cross that type of ground. The good quality
habitat is extremely isolated. It was said there
is a whole myriad of things that need to be
looked at scientifically. Mr. Whittaker said
another thing is when you travel to the Salmo
area in Canada, there are thousands of acres of
privately owned ground. Mr. Whittaker said he
finds it interesting the farther you are along
Salmo Pass and Kootenay Lake, the higher
altitude is where the animals are at.
Commissioner Dinning explained KVRI and said the
meetings are open to the public. This last
meeting was not to accept public comment, but to
get information.
Mr. Whittaker said we need to concentrate on
caribou first, and then work on wolves, but he
feels we’re stuck with grizzly bear as they’ve
always been here. Commissioner Dinning explained
the grizzly bear DNA study.
Mr. Whittaker said you can’t base a study on an
augmented herd as the study would be flawed.
This is also looking at climate change as the
animals will go to where the food is at. Mr.
Whittaker explained that certain types of
caribou don’t like to cross the water.
It was said Commissioners have requested a
public meeting prior to a hearing for the
purpose of engaging in conversation. The US Fish
and Wildlife Service owes it to the community to
answer questions, but the questions need to be
asked respectfully or there will be total chaos.
Mr. Whittaker said meetings have to be
structured somehow. One question to ask the US
Fish and Wildlife Service up front is how they
can provide a study on an augmented herd.
Mr. Whittaker left the meeting at 3:00 p.m.
Commissioner Dinning moved to authorize the
Chairman to sign the Fire Mitigation Project
Management, Professional Services Contract –
Amendment #14 with Inland Forest Management for
the period ending December 31, 2012.
Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed
unanimously.
3:00 p.m., Mike Woodward, Denny Wedel of BF
Builders, and Mike Naumann joined the meeting to
discuss the status of the Waterways Building
addition.
Chairman Smith said Mr. Woodward became a
short-term Boundary County employee for the
purpose of drafting plans as a result of updated
codes. Those present discussed funds involved.
Mr. Naumann said he is short approximately
$5,500. Mr. Woodward said his portion of the
work was between $900 and $1,000. Commissioners
asked how much the permit was going to cost and
Mr. Naumann said the permit is a percentage of
the total amount of the project. Mr. Woodward
said the permit would be approximately $700.
Chairman Smith asked if there is a possibility
to obtain more funds through the grant. Mr.
Naumann said he could write a letter to the
grant organization. Mr. Naumann questioned
making the addition smaller. Commissioner
Dinning suggested Commissioners approach the
City of Bonners Ferry to ask if the fee can be
waived, then have Mr. Naumann ask the granting
agency if they will lend more funds due to
overruns and follow it up with a meeting with
Commissioners to determine the costs. Mr. Wedel
said he wants to be fair if Commissioners need
to rebid. Commissioner Dinning said this is in
essence a change order so if the County can make
this work with BF builders, that is the
preferred way.
Commissioner Dinning asked Mr. Naumann about his
budget. Mr. Naumann said his last budget was
used up, but there is this budget, which is up
to $15,000. It was said that half of the $15,000
is probably ear marked. Chairman Smith said the
Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation needs
to be contacted to see if they will grant more
funds. Mr. Wedel said he followed the blue print
to base the additional cost. Woodward explained
the new building codes the City of Bonners Ferry
has adopted. Mr. Woodward said the end of the
building was designed to only carry the bay that
is there now so this will be holding more
weight. Those present asked about not putting in
a concrete floor. Mr. Wedel estimated $5,000
would be freed up by not putting in a concrete
floor. Mr. Wedel said he will need to figure out
costs of the project with a concrete floor and
without a concrete floor based on the new
engineered drawings. Chairman Smith said to also
get costs for Mr. Woodward’s work and the
building permit fee and whatever that comes to
will determine how much the project is still
short. Commissioners asked Mr. Woodward and Mr.
Wedel if this is the right track to go down and
they said yes. Mr. Wedel suggested Mr. Naumann
step into the storage building behind the
Restorium in order to understand the building
requirements.
The meeting with Mr. Woodward, Mr. Naumann, and
Mr. Wedel ended at 3:25 a.m.
There being no further business, the meeting
adjourned at 3:30 p.m.
/s/
RONALD R. SMITH, Chairman
ATTEST:
/s/
GLENDA POSTON, Clerk
By: Michelle Rohrwasser, Deputy Clerk |
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