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***Monday,
June 10, 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.,
Road and Bridge Superintendent Jeff Gutshall
joined the meeting to give the departmental
report. Mr. Gutshall presented a written report.
Mr. Gutshall discussed the recent Title VI
inspection conducted by the Idaho Transportation
Department. This is a topic that will be added
to the agenda for the upcoming elected
officials/department heads meetings.
Mr. Gutshall said Moon
Shadow Road is ready
to be ground up and he is looking at either
extending the culvert or digging it up. Mr.
Gutshall said Road and Bridge installed a couple
cross culverts on
Copeland Road.
Mulching on Lookout
View Road should be
completed today. Dust abatement was done last
week on District Five Road and
Fawn Lane. Road and
Bridge will mow the main roads to get the brush
knocked down.
Plans, specifications and estimates have been
submitted for Lion’s
Den Road
and Deep Creek for the emergency projects,
according to Mr. Gutshall. Contracts for those
projects should be coming.
Grading and watering will continue this week and
Road and Bridge will start road patching closer
to July.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to authorize the
Chairman to sign the Local Public Agency’s
Certificate of Completion of Right-Of-Way
Activities for the Westside Road/Lion’s Den
Slide, Project No. A012(933), Key No. 12933.
Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed
unanimously.
Mr. Gutshall discussed trying biodiesel in some
of the Road and Bridge vehicles. Mr. Gutshall
said documents show the biodiesel will meet
standards. Mr. Gutshall said Jim Dyck of Dyck’s
Oil and Auto has indicated he may have to look
at blending the biodiesel into his system down
the road. Those present discussed using slip
tanks.
The meeting with Mr. Gutshall ended at
9:30 a.m.
9:30 a.m.,
Courthouse Maintenance Jerry Kothe joined the
meeting to give his department report. Mr. Kothe
presented a written report. Mr. Kothe said Dirks
Tree Care has trimmed three of the Courthouse’s
trees around the Courthouse so far.
Commissioners reviewed various maintenance tasks
completed.
Mr. Kothe and Commissioners discussed the leak
at the RV dump site. Mr. Kothe will talk to the
Parks and Recreation Board about fixing the
leak. Chairman Dinning asked about reducing the
time it takes Mr. Kothe to mow the Courthouse
lawn and fields and for Mr. Kothe to let
Commissioners know what it will take. Mr. Kothe
said he’s thought about mowing more often so the
grass doesn’t have to be picked up.
The meeting with Mr. Kothe ended at
9:40 a.m.
Commissioners tended to administrative duties.
Commissioner Kirby moved to continue the
discussion on the Western Competitive Grant and
Western Fire Manager’s Grant proposals until
2:05 p.m.
Commissioner Pinkerton second. Motion passed
unanimously.
Solid Waste Superintendent Claine Skeen stopped
by Commissioners’ Office.
Chairman Dinning said
Boundary
Community Hospital
has an emergency generator they were using
during construction that
Bonner General
Hospital
had received through a grant. Mr. Skeen informed
Commissioners that he had been asked by a
Hospital staff member if he could return the
generator to Bonner
County. Commissioners gave their
approval for Mr. Skeen to return the generator
to Bonner General
Hospital. It was
said that Boundary
County
will now be added as a contact for use of this
generator.
10:30 a.m.,
Jeff Odland with Frontier Communications joined
the meeting for the purpose of discussing
improvements to the Courthouse telephone system.
Mr. Odland said the county’s Nortel Northstar is
a good system, but is also quite old with no
support for it so the county will need to
upgrade this system at some point. Mr. Odland
explained the issues associated with the current
telephone system failing and purchasing parts
for the existing system from secondary sources.
Mr. Odland said from the budgetary standpoint
the cost per telephone for a new system would be
approximately $500 to $600.
Chairman Dinning asked Mr. Odland if he would
put together a quote for the county. Mr. Odland
said Nortel as a company doesn’t exist today as
they have sold to another company.
Mr. Odland said he was able to implement a new,
reduced rate long distance plan for the county.
Mr. Odland said he could look at further cost
savings and he mentioned voice over internet as
one option. Chairman Dinning said he would have
the county’s IT Committee get together to
discuss this.
The meeting with Mr. Odland ended at
10:45 a.m.
Commissioners reviewed claims for payment. Fund
totals are as follows:
Current Expense
$29,432.73
Road & Bridge
33,361.61
Airport
2,574.47
District Court
2,512.02
Justice Fund
30,619.76
911 Funds
1,602.44
Indigent & Charity
7,598.57
Parks and Recreation
6,772.42
Revaluation
2,061.39
Solid Waste
15,571.75
Veterans Memorial
159.59
Weeds
181.48
Restorium
21,450.56
Waterways
380.66
Grant, Emergency Communication
207.99
Grant, Fire Mitigation
11,901.85
TOTAL
$166,389.29
Citizens are invited to inspect detailed records
on file in the Courthouse (individual claims &
Commissioners’ allowance & warrant register
record 2013).
11:00 a.m., Commissioners, Deputy Clerk Nancy
Ryals, Restorium employee Sheila Benson,
Restorium Board Chairman Larry Dirks, and Denny
Wedel with Bonners Ferry Builders met to conduct
a workshop to review finances of the Restorium
elevator grant. Cory Trapp with Longwell + Trapp
Architects and Grant Administrator Sherri
Wastweet with Panhandle Area Council
participated in the meeting via conference call.
The meeting ended at 11:30 a.m.
Commissioners recessed for lunch at
11:35 a.m.
1:30 p.m., Commissioners reconvened for the
afternoon session with Chairman Dinning,
Commissioner Pinkerton, Commissioner Kirby, and
Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser.
1:30 p.m.,
Brad Niemeyer with JUB Engineers joined the
meeting to update Commissioners on the status of
the proposed land acquisition for the
Boundary
County Airport.
Airport Manager Dave Parker, County Civil
Attorney Tevis Hull, Boundary Volunteer
Ambulance President Ken Baker and Blue Sky
Broadcasting Reporter Mike Brown were also
present.
Mr. Niemeyer presented the project schedule
pertaining to the process of land acquisition
that he had also forwarded to the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA). The key date for
submittal of the grant package to the FAA is
July 26th for the 2013 grant. The
properties for the Dinning, Speed, Byler, and
Merrifield families were included and there will
be some relocation efforts for three of the four
properties.
Chairman Dinning asked if the documents listing
the property owners can be separated as the
process moves forward. Chairman Dinning said he
doesn’t have a problem with three of the
property owners, but his uncle is one of those
owners so he should excuse himself from that
specific property.
Mr. Niemeyer presented Commissioners with a
draft of the determination of value. Mr.
Niemeyer said one of the documents show a
property in the color green, which is a full
parcel owned by Craig Wheatley. Mr. Niemeyer
said Mr. Wheatley may have combined his parcels,
but he would have to confirm that. Mr. Niemeyer
mentioned sending the FAA information pertaining
to getting the northwest portion of that
property airspace for a 35 foot tall building,
in which the FAA has 45 days to respond. Mr.
Niemeyer said the airport needs to do what it
can to acquire property for the runway and he
doesn’t want to make a recommendation to
purchase more property than what is needed.
Acceptance from Mr. Wheatley would have to be
received as well. Mr. Niemeyer said he doesn’t
know if Mr. Wheatley is aware of what has been
submitted, but a packet of information will be
put together for him. Gary Gates who works out
of the Helena,
Montana
Airport District Office will be handling this
process.
Mr. Niemeyer said Charles Howard owns about 47
acres southwest of the airport and he discussed
providing an alternative access for that
property, but the FAA has a problem with that
area so the process has been delayed. The FAA
will have to review information and alternate
solutions so this will put the Howard property
into the 2014 grant. This delay changes JUB
Engineering’s scope of services for the airport
and county. Mr. Parker said it seems like Mr.
Howard is amiable to the purchase of some or all
of the property.
Mr. Niemeyer and Mr. Parker left the meeting at
1:50 p.m.
Commissioners discussed the status of ambulance
service for the county. Chairman Dinning said
going forward in this process of providing
ambulance service to the county, what do
Commissioners do and how do we want to go about
it. There has been communication between
Boundary Volunteer Ambulance’s (BVA) attorney
and County Civil Attorney Hull. Commissioners
can look into alternatives for ambulance service
going forward and if the county gets to the
point where there isn’t an agreement in place in
some nature with someone, it puts the county
behind the eight ball in negotiations and
Commissioners don’t want to be there. Going
forward Commissioners can work with BVA in
drafting a contract that is agreeable to both
parties and in the meantime can prepare for that
agreement not to work out and plan to contract
with other providers.
Commissioner Kirby said there are only two ways
to go, one of which is to write a contract and
hand it to BVA or take another look at the
contract that was handed to Commissioners and
make changes. Chairman Dinning said another
alternative is to go out for quotes and that
would put everyone on the same playing field.
Commissioner Kirby said it’s an appropriate way
to do business.
Commissioner Pinkerton said he wants to know if
there can be negotiations pertaining to the
contract Commissioners received. Commissioner
Pinkerton said this matter has been going on
since before he became a Commissioner and there
is still no resolution so there seems to be an
impasse. What is the most cost effective and
economical for the county? That’s what
Commissioners are looking for including
something that is state required. Commissioner
Kirby said that’s the county’s way of doing
business and it’s pretty solid. The county can
produce a budget that is easy to understand and
it’s the county model of doing business.
Commissioner Kirby said the absolute basic needs
should be met and not worry about the money as
that can increase over time. Commissioner Kirby
said there are a couple of stumbling blocks that
he can see and he suggested BVA learn to use the
county method that makes some kind of
governmental sense. Chairman Dinning said the
county wants to know what it will cost to
provide the basic level of service and in doing
so, how do we get there and get to the point of
making a decision. The county is mandated to
provide ambulance service at the basic level and
that is what the county is going to do. If it
comes to the point of a higher level of service,
that will be addressed.
Commissioner Pinkerton said the county is
required by state to provide the basic level of
service, and that is the cost the county needs
to look at and be responsible for. This is a
business, according to Commissioner Pinkerton.
The county needs to be responsible to provide
basic service. If there is any expansion of
service, that is a business decision and
Commissioners cannot determine that need.
Expansion of that service, in excess of what is
required, is a business decision based on
BVA.
Commissioner Kirby said the county had a
contract with BVA for a small amount of money
and they did a wonderful job, but said they
couldn’t go on that way. The volunteer business
model wasn’t working for them so they either use
that model or go out of business. The county has
to look at that and could say, that is true and
BVA needs more funds for what they do.
Commissioner Kirby said it’s up to the county to
decide if that is too little money for what BVA
really does. Commissioner Kirby said BVA has
proven they can’t do it for only so much per run
and they need more money per run. BVA needs to
be paid the going rate for that service, and
that is what BVA is asking for and basically
beyond that. The Commissioners need to look at
what the basic cost is.
Commissioner Dinning said going forward, what is
the thought about this. Commissioner Pinkerton
said there are a number of options.
Commissioners should not stop the negotiations
with BVA, County Attorney Hull and Attorney
Woods and in the interim it would be foolish to
sit back and wait and hope things go right.
Commissioner Pinkerton said Commissioners need
to have alternatives so he personally feels the
county should go out for proposals. It would be
ideal if the negotiations with BVA go well, but
Commissioners need to open other doors as that
door is closing. The county needs to have those
options available and Chairman Dinning said he
agrees. Commissioner Kirby said BVA has said to
Commissioners, go ahead and don’t sign up with
BVA and see what ambulance service costs, so
let’s go ahead and find out what it costs.
Commissioner Pinkerton said the county could go
online to look for already written requests for
proposals and then it would be a matter of
paring it down. Chairman Dinning said going
forward negotiations with BVA will continue and
in the meantime for the benefit of the
community, Commissioners will look at preparing
for the eventuality of there being no agreement
with BVA. Chairman Dinning said he’s been in
this situation before and he doesn’t like it.
Commissioner Kirby said if BVA takes another
shot at providing their basic services,
wonderful and if another ambulance provider does
as well, Commissioners will look at what is best
for the taxpayer. Commissioner Pinkerton said he
believes where BVA wants to go, but what the
county will require for the county’s and
citizen’s money is where Commissioners need to
get to. As a board, Commissioners have to
establish first and foremost what level of
service they need to pursue such as basic life
support (BLS), intermediate life support (ILS)
and advanced life support (ALS) and what it will
cost the taxpayer. ISL and paramedic level is
not even required in Idaho Code. President Baker
said state statute is so vague that it doesn’t
give anything to bite into.
Chairman Dinning said Commissioners will look at
the basic level of service so organizations know
what to provide, and Commissioners will have to
start digging into other things. Commissioner
Kirby said in his ignorance what he sees locally
is basic ambulance service. If there is an event
and BVA is on standby, BVA needs to be paid for
doing that, according to Commissioner Kirby.
Commissioner Kirby said the county wants to pay
for the basic service.
President Baker spoke of the community’s poverty
level and how most people don’t have insurance
or the ability to pay. Commissioner Pinkerton
said he wouldn’t expect BVA to run for $8,000
per year. The county needs to make sure to have
an ambulance service in the community so the
county will meet those state requirements.
Beyond that is an incremental or a business
decision that BVA would have to make and that is
a billable thing over and above what the county
provides. The county’s funding should be a
building foundation for BVA to build from,
according to Commissioner Pinkerton.
Commissioner Pinkerton said the county needs to
have two different directions to go and whereas
Commissioners are hopeful in negotiations to get
on the same page with BVA, they also have to put
other feelers out there to see what service
providers are available.
Attorney Hull
said he and BVA Attorney Brian Woods can take
what they’re hearing from their respective
clients and see if there can be a meeting of the
minds, which does require some back and forth.
The Commissioners will have to decide if they
can live with what is presented and if they
can’t, the county will have to move on.
Chairman Dinning said the situation is where it
was at exactly one year ago. Commissioner Kirby
said the Commissioners need to get something in
place.
President Baker asked if Commissioners would
like to have another meeting with the BVA Board.
Chairman Dinning said Commissioners will think
about things and he added that there are two
boards consisting of eight people and coming to
a consensus to please eight people, you can’t
just sit down and do that. So Commissioners need
to sit down and address this separately.
Chairman Dinning said he’s not opposed to a
meeting as long as it’s productive and not “he
said she said.”
Commissioner Pinkerton said if Commissioners go
out for additional bids, we also need to
determine how many ambulance units are needed to
cover the area to meet the criteria, to identify
response areas and how many ambulance staff
members are on payroll. Commissioner Pinkerton
said he would look for requests for proposals
and Commissioner Kirby will look for a structure
or director before next Tuesday.
The meeting to discuss ambulance service ended
at 2:30 p.m.
2:30 p.m., Commissioner Pinkerton moved to go
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
Kirby second. Commissioners voted as follows:
Chairman Dinning “aye”, Commissioner Pinkerton
“aye”, and Commissioner Kirby “aye”. Motion
passed unanimously.
3:00 p.m., Commissioner Kirby moved
to go out of executive session. Commissioner
Pinkerton second. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to cancel yield tax
totaling $34.98 for year 2012 for parcel
#RP62N01E132553A because the Idaho Department of
Lands put the wrong compliance number on the
wrong parcel thus creating yield tax in error.
Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed
unanimously.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to approve the
minutes of May 20 & 21, 2013 and May 27 & 28,
2013. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed
unanimously.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to amend the agenda
to add discussion and a possible motion
regarding Resolution 2013-23A and to continue
the date of public action to a date set in the
future. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed
unanimously.
Commissioners tended to administrative duties.
3:30 p.m.,
There being no further business, the meeting
adjourned until the joint/city county meeting
held at 6:00 p.m.,
in the Extension Office.
6:00 pm., Commissioners hosted the joint City of
Bonners Ferry, City of
Moyie Springs and
Boundary County
meeting held at the
Boundary County,
University of Idaho
Extension Office.
Present were the City of Bonners Ferry Council
members: Connie Wells, Tom Mayo, Mike Klaus, and
Rick Alonzo, City of Bonners Ferry Mayor Dave
Anderson, City of Moyie Springs Council members:
Terry Johnson, Steve Economu, and Bart Klaus,
City of Moyie Springs Mayor Doug Evans, City of
Moyie Springs Clerk Sandy Tompkins, City of
Bonners Ferry Clerk/Treasurer Kris Larson, City
of Bonners Ferry Assistant Administrator
Andrakay Pluid, City of Bonners Ferry
Administrator Stephen Boorman, Deputy Clerk
Michelle Rohrwasser, Don Davis with the Idaho
Transportation Department, Bonners Ferry Herald
Reporter Laura Roady and two members of the
public.
Agenda items included: Highway 95 Corridor
Study, Columbia River Treaty, personal property
tax/foregone recapture, Probation Department
report statistics, sewer systems, update on the
Drug Task Force budget, and an update on the
129,000 pound legislation.
Those present said the Pledge of Allegiance and
introductions were made.
Commissioner Kirby moved to amend Commissioners’
agenda for the end of the meeting to authorize
the Chairman to sign the Western Competitive
Grant and Western Fire Managers Grant documents
as it is time sensitive. Commissioner Pinkerton
second. Motion passed unanimously.
The City of Bonners Ferry
also amended their agenda to take care of a city
matter.
Idaho Transportation Department Region 1
Transportation Planner Don Davis provided a
PowerPoint Presentation on the US 95 Corridor
Study focusing largely on Bonners Ferry’s South
Hill area. Mr. Davis mentioned a public meeting
will be held locally at some point to obtain the
community’s input and comments.
The Columbia River Treaty and foregone taxes
were discussed briefly. Mr. Boorman provided
Commissioners with a Columbia River Treaty
Review 2014-2024, open house comment form.
Chairman Dinning provided a County Probation
Department report listing statistics on the
increased number of juveniles on probation.
The City of Moyie Springs
Council members mentioned
the sewer issue. Chairman Dinning suggested
looking at a long term fix even tough they’re
hoping to fix the issue in the short term.
Commissioner Kirby promoted a sewer system to
the Three Mile area. Mr. Klaus said the City of
Bonners Ferry’s sewer
system is nearly at capacity. City of
Moyie Springs Council
member Steve Economu questioned the possibility
of each city pumping towards a middle ground
such as the Three Mile area.
Chairman Dinning informed those present the
129,000 pound truck legislation is now law and
the Idaho Transportation Department is going
through the rule making process. Chairman
Dinning said anyone can petition for a route to
be included in this legislation, but a study has
to be conducted and he had heard the agency
petitioning should conduct the study. The Idaho
Transportation Department has “red” routes that
may be susceptible to this 129,000 pound
legislation.
Chairman Dinning briefly mentioned the area of
impact and suggested there be a meeting held
before the year is over. Mayor Anderson said the
City of Bonners Ferry
would work on holding a meeting.
Chairman Dinning informed those present the Drug
Task Force may be out of funding before the year
is over so a hard decision may need to be made
if funding doesn’t come in. Mayor Anderson said
the City of Bonners Ferry
may have to have a Plan A and Plan B.
Commissioner Pinkerton said the budget is short.
The next joint city/county meeting will be
hosted by the City of Moyie Springs.
Commissioner Pinkerton moved to authorize the
Chairman to sign the Western Competitive Grant
and Western Fire Managers Grant documents.
Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed
unanimously.
The meeting ended at 7:30 p.m.
There being no further business, the meeting
adjourned at
7:30 p.m.
/s/
DAN R.
DINNING
ATTEST:
/s/
GLENDA POSTON, Clerk
By: Michelle Rohrwasser, Deputy Clerk
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