County commission minutes, December 17-18 |
| January 11, 2013 |
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*** Blue Sky Broadcasting Reporter Mike Brown was in attendance of the meetings throughout the morning. The Road and Bridge Department Report was cancelled in order for Road and Bridge Superintendent Jeff Gutshall to help plow snow on county roads. Commissioners tended to administrative duties. Mr. Gunter reviewed the status report with Commissioners. Four different sources of funding have been awarded to the county as follows: Fuels Amplification Project, Community Fire Protection, Stimulus Funding (SPII), and Community Protection Plan. Chairman Smith mentioned the Western States Grant had been turned down. Mr. Gunter said there is a little over $20,000 left from the Fuels Amplification Project and the amount of acreage treated will exceed the 116 acres listed in the report.
In March 2012,
In August 2012, Those present discussed the Western States Grant and Mr. Gunter said it doesn’t look like a few counties in District 1 will receive this grant. Mr. Gunter said there are funds available that will carry over into this next year. Chairman Smith informed Mr. Gunter and Mr. Wolcott that Commissioner Dinning will take his place at the Wildland Urban Interface meetings after he leaves. Commissioners questioned when the Fire Safe Program was started and Mr. Wolcott said the project started in year 2003. Those present reviewed the proposed rates in Inland Forest Management’s contract. Mr. Wolcott said the contact lists one dollar more per hour over last year, but overhead costs have decreased. The contract only involves funds that are committed and received. Mr. Wolcott said Inland Forest Management will probably spend more time than the “not to exceed amount” will allow, but he understands he will absorb that cost. Commissioner Dinning moved to sign the Amended Inland Forest Management Contract for 2013 as represented by Mr. Wolcott. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
The meeting with Mr. Wolcott, Mr. Gunter and
Deputy Clerk Ryals ended at Boundary Volunteer Ambulance President Ken Baker joined the meeting. Commissioner Kirby moved to sign the letter to Boundary Volunteer Ambulance regarding contract negotiations. Commissioner Dinning second. Motion passed unanimously. 10:00 a.m., Commissioner Dinning moved to recess as the Board of County Commissioners and convene as the Governing Board of the Boundary County Ambulance Service District. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.
10: Commissioners mentioned to President Baker the need to sit down and begin negotiations and President Baker said he would like the new board members to participate in that with Commissioners. The new board members will attend a Boundary Volunteer Ambulance meeting this Thursday with the prior board members, according to President Baker. Chairman Smith and Commissioners discussed asking the various offices within the Courthouse to provide them with a list of maintenance issues that need to be taken care of in their offices. Chairman Smith said a list of these tasks should be presented to Mr. Kothe when he comes in for his department report. President Baker and Commissioners briefly discussed work involved with the portion of the county’s maintenance shop being utilized by Boundary Volunteer Ambulance. President Baker said a man door has been installed in between the two garage doors and a garage door opener has been installed on the bay door Boundary Volunteer Ambulance uses. President Baker left the meeting. Commissioners answered Mr. Brown’s questions pertaining to future negotiations with Boundary Volunteer Ambulance. Commissioners tended to administrative duties. Commissioner Dinning moved to adopt Resolution #2013-10. A resolution increasing the Restorium Fund Budget due to contribution from the Memorial Fund for the Restorium Elevator Project. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously. Resolution #2013-10 reads as follows:
RESOLUTION 2013-10
INCREASING THE RESTORIUM FUND BUDGET
DUE TO CONTRIBUTION FROM THE MEMORIAL FUND FOR
THE RESTORIUM ELEVATOR PROJECT
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners,
County of Boundary, State of Idaho, did
establish an operating budget for the Boundary
County Restorium for fiscal year 2012-2013; and
WHEREAS, the Restorium Advisory Board has agreed
to contribute $8,900.00 from the Restorium
Memorial Fund to help fund the Restorium
Elevator Project; and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate to transfer cash out
of the Restorium Memorial Fund Revenue Account
Number 9125-00-100-00 in the amount of $8,900.00
and increase the Restorium Budget Revenue
Account Number 36-00-100-00 and the Restorium
Budget Expense Account Number 36-00-558-00,
Reserve, in the amount of $8,900.00; and
WHEREAS, the addition of this revenue does not
affect the tax levy for
NOW THEREFORE, upon motion duly made, seconded
and unanimously carried,
IT IS RESOLVED that the transfer of cash from
the Restorium Memorial Fund Revenue Account
Number 9125-00-100-00 in the amount of $8,900.00
and the increase to the Restorium Budget Revenue
Account Number 36-00-100-00 and the Restorium
Budget Expense Account Number 36-00-558-00,
Reserve, in the amount of $8,900.00 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 December, 2012
BOARD OF
s/__________________________
RONALD R.
SMITH, Chairman
s/__________________________
DAN R.
DINNING, Commissioner
s/__________________________
WALT KIRBY,
Commissioner
ATTEST:
s/_____________________________________________________
GLENDA POSTON, Clerk of the Board of
Recorded as instrument #255998
Commissioners tended to administrative duties. Mr. Koon submitted a letter requesting reappointment of Hospital board members. Commissioner Dinning mentioned that Jim Paulus is now a member on the Ambulance Association and didn’t know if that could be a conflict.
Commissioner Dinning moved to reappoint Elden
Koon, Geri Garten and Jim Paulus to the Hospital
Board of Trustees with a term to expire Mr. Johnson said the Hospital sustained a loss of $14,000 in November. Overall there was a loss for the year as the Hospital didn’t bring in depreciation and bad debt. Mr. Johnson said there is a lot of indecision in regards to the Hospital’s budget due to upcoming changes and you can’t predict what will happen. Chairman Smith said he attended the GEM Plan meeting where the President’s health care plan was discussed. Chairman Smith said employees will be taxed on their W2’s starting year 2014 on the amount their employer paid for medical insurance on their behalf and there will also be a $63 fee per person for their insurance plan. Chairman Smith said due to a grandfather clause it’s possible the county won’t have to pay the $63. Mr. Johnson said there will also be an excise tax on medical supplies. Those present continued the discussion on President Obama’s healthcare plan. Chairman Smith said he has been able to get the GEM Plan to issue no more than a 5% increase in health care costs and if more money was needed, it came out of surplus. Chairman Smith said even though the increase was kept at 5%, the surplus funds increased. Those present discussed local physician related matters. Mr. Johnson said the Festival of Trees raised $45,000 to $46,000 gross and netted approximately $34,000, which are good numbers. Linda Hiatt was a driving force this year for the Festival of Trees, according to Mr. Johnson. Those present briefly discussed the Hospital’s representative that is to sit on the new Ambulance District Board as per the agreement between the county and Boundary Volunteer Ambulance. Mr. Johnson confirmed that he is willing to sit on the new board when it’s formed.
The meeting with Mr. Koon and Mr. Johnson ended
at
There being no further business, the meeting
recessed until tomorrow at
*** Chairman Smith brought up the subject of computer use. Commissioner Dinning asked those present to watch the amount of unnecessary internet use at work and explained having issues when he had tried to participate in a webinar, but kept getting kicked off due to high internet usage already going on. The possibility of improving the internet service was questioned and Assessor Ryals said this issue came up not too long ago and the ability to improve service wasn’t there. Chairman Smith asked Mr. Studer about internet services. Mr. Studer said in the school district the schools have various band widths. Mr. Studer said he is not aware of the Courthouse’s current band width, but at the schools 30 students can be on internet working and there aren’t any problems. Assessor Ryals reiterated that he had done some investigations into expanding band width and the matter pretty much went nowhere.
Government Employee Medical (GEM) Plan update.
Chairman Smith informed those present that he
had attended a GEM Plan meeting last week and
details are still unknown as it pertains to
President Obama’s health care plan. Chairman
Smith brought up issues regarding insurance and
cities. Chairman Smith said Commissioner Dinning said in the upcoming year there is going to be legislation to try to eliminate personal property taxes at the personal level. That is about 10% of county revenue. Assessor Ryals said locally assessed it is less than 4% for personal property, but it’s 17% at the state level including operating property. Assessor Ryals said it is not necessarily a loss of revenue depending on levy rates; it just depends on the shift. Commissioner Dinning said it was stated there cannot be a shift. Commissioner Dinning said all county departments are already conservative, but he doesn’t have a clue as to what will come out of this.
Chairman Smith said this is the last year for
Secure Rural Schools (SRS) funding received by
the county and he knows the county doesn’t levy
for Road and Bridge. When the county no longer
receives SRS funds the county will have to begin
levying for Road and Bridge. It was said even
levying 1% will not make up the loss of SRS
funds. Chairman Smith compared Chairman Smith said this is his last elected officials meeting. Chairman Smith said he has been asked to remain on the Commission on Children and Youth, which he’s been a part of for two years. Chairman Smith said he is also involved with the Counties and Courts Commission and they have asked him to sit on the training council. Chairman Smith mentioned interest in another position within the county and also added that he leave’s the Commissioners’ Office with no regrets. Commissioners reminded those present about providing them with a list of courthouse maintenance and janitorial maintenance issues that need tending to.
The elected officials/department heads meeting
ended at
Commissioner Dinning mentioned to Commissioners
that there is to be a public hearing held by the
City of Mr. Guthrie also provided a Bio Control Report, Small Infestations Report, Mapping Report, Boundary County Neighborhood Co-op Report and Selkirk Cooperative Weed Management Area Year end Report for 2012.
The meeting with Mr. Guthrie ended at 9:55 a.m., Clif Warren with Community Transportation Association of Idaho, Barbara Kovacs with the Seniors Hospitality Center and Boundary County Economic Development Specialist David Sims joined the meeting to discuss the Senior Center’s transportation program.
Mr. Warren explained the efforts to raise grant
match money to operate the senior bus. The
10: Mr. Sims said the bus is local now, but at this point he doesn’t see a good way to have a route service in the county. Commissioners were asked if the Restorium would benefit from using the bus. Commissioners asked if there was an obligation to have a route and Mr. Warren said no although, the state would like to see a plan for how the bus would be used and the expected ridership. Chairman Smith questioned what use the Restorium would have for the bus and Commissioner Kirby said the residents have been given rides to the fair and parades. Ms. Kovacs said this bus has a wheel chair ramp and holds 12 people.
Mr. Sims said he is going to attend the
Restorium Board meeting this Friday and he could
also help put together a plan. It was said for
clarity that the Restorium would be responsible
for fuel and maintenance. Mr. Warren said the
board of directors for the
Ms. Kovacs said the
Meeting with Mr. Warren and Ms. Kovacs ended at
Commissioner Dinning moved to amend the agenda
for today at
10: Chairman Smith said some time back when properties were taken into the area of impact, property owners were allowed to do things to their property as it was now within the city limits as opposed to being in the county. Mr. Boorman said that is a county decision so as he understands it if there is an area of impact, it will allow a higher impact, but that is a county decision not the city’s decision. Mr. Boorman said the area of impact is a planning tool. If the city got to the point of annexing an area, this is what the city would expect those areas to be, such as commercial. Commissioner Dinning said in what information he read, it indicated future annexation. Mr. Boorman said he would bring to Commissioners what is to be on the agenda. Mr. Boorman asked what the county’s goals are in regards to renegotiations of the area of impact and he mentioned he thought 30 days was the magic number for discussion once the letter requesting negotiations was received. Commissioner Dinning said he didn’t know about a certain number of days, but it is just to review the areas.
The meeting with Mr. Sims, Mr. Boorman, Mayor
Anderson and Ms. Pluid ended at
There being no further business, the meeting
adjourned at /s/ RONALD R. SMITH, Chairman ATTEST: /s/ GLENDA POSTON, Clerk By: Michelle Rohrwasser, Deputy Clerk |