Commissioners Minutes, June 6-7 |
| June 21, 2011 |
|
Mr. Gutshall spoke of the
work on the Mr. Gutshall said crews are
still hauling rock to finish the Farm to Mr. Gutshall said the
crusher is running great and Road and Bridge is
getting chips ready for the chip sealing
program. The grinder is up at Chairman Smith spoke briefly about the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) in relation to requesting the speed limit at the Deep Creek Loop intersection be reduced. John Niewieroski left a
message with Commissioners requesting the
County’s assistance in rolling the field at The meeting with Mr.
Gutshall ended at Commissioners explained to the high school students the process of Commissioners’ meeting and taking minutes. Commissioner Kirby moved to approve the minutes of May 16 & 17, 2011. Commissioner Dinning second. Motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Dinning moved
to amend the agenda at Chairman Smith said he is
going to write a letter to Colonel Wright with
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers thanking him
for correspondence in regards to Chairman Smith said in the last week or two, signs of vandalism for the class of 2011 have been showing up and somehow the word needs to get out to the kids as to the after effects of graffiti. If graffiti is written on a public building or facility, taxpayers’ money is what used to cover it up. If graffiti is sprayed onto private property, the property owner has to spend money to clean it up. Chairman Smith said he thought about submitting something to the newspaper about the effects and costs involved in cleaning up the graffiti. Chief Deputy Rich Stephens said the kids talk to each other and there is a lot of pressure if they realize how graffiti has a negative impact for school age students. Chief Deputy Rich Stephens said there was a huge fight to get this school levy passed and the taxpayers will pay, and now it looks to be that students are doing the graffiti. The community will question why they should support the school levies for kids when the students are doing this. Chief Deputy Stephens added that the public and businesses support scholarships for local students. Assistant Chief of Police Joel Minor said a letter in the newspaper is best as it doesn’t point fingers to the students as a whole. Police Chief Minor said Commissioners have held a meeting to voice support for the school levy and Chairman Smith has submitted a letter in the newspaper before and he felt a letter on graffiti coming from Chairman Smith would be best. It was said these are the same taxpayers the school district has asked for support day in and day out and it is time to show respect. Chief Deputy Stephens said the 2011 high school class will be going to work soon and they may be the ones paying to fix this damage as well. Chairman Smith mentioned the County and City working together to try to prevent graffiti. Ms. Naccarato said this graduating class has quite a bit of money left over and that can be used to have the taggers cover the graffiti and it would be a public display for the taggers. Ms. Naccarato said she would monitor the clean up. Ms. Naccarato said graffiti is disrespectful and it would be easy to have the taggers clean up what has been done as they are used to paying fines and that type of punishment. Assistant Chief Minor said he thinks that would help the taxpayers see that everyone is getting behind this to get it taken care of. The meeting with Chief
Deputy Stephens and Assistant Police Chief Minor
ended at It was said funds requested by Search and Rescue are separate from Title III monies. The funds generated for Search and Rescue and Boundary Volunteer Ambulance come from auto licensing fees, according to Clerk Poston. Clerk Poston said she would review the funding that has been coming to the County on a yearly basis in the form of fees, but it has been approximately $2,800 per year. Commissioners said before any funds to the Ambulance Association are affected, he would like to meet and talk about it again. Clerk Poston, Chief Deputy
Clerk Isaac, and Deputy Clerk Ryals left the
meeting at Commissioner Dinning moved
to support the Run for the Fallen. This is Commissioners tended to administrative duties. Commissioners discussed re-districting Commissioners districts, which is to be done every January that precedes a general election. Clerk Poston further reviewed Idaho Code on re-districting. Mr. Falcon said he could download census data to look at the County’s population. Chairman Smith asked if a newer map could be hung in the Courthouse Lobby that would better depict the Commissioner districts. Commissioner Dinning said he recalled there having to be a certain percentage of population within each district. Clerk Poston said she would locate more information on re-districting. Commissioner Dinning asked
Mr. Falcon how working with Frontier
Communications on E911 matters is going. Mr.
Falcon said Frontier originally found 2,300
errors, but those errors have now been reduced
to 700. Mr. Falcon said he has been getting
calls from various divisions of Frontier
Communications, but those divisions are not
working together. Commissioner Dinning said The meeting with Mr. Falcon and Clerk Poston ended at10:15 a.m. Commissioners tended to administrative duties. Mr. Sims left the meeting. Commissioners tended to administrative duties. Deputy Clerk Nancy Ryals
joined the meeting at Commissioner Dinning moved
to go into closed session under Idaho Code
31-874. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed
unanimously. Commissioner Dinning moved to approve indigent 2011-37 as per the Clerk’s recommendation. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Dinning moved to accept the assignments to the Catastrophic Health Care Program as follows: 29.5% for indigent account #2010-41, 72.1% for indigent account #2010-9, 72.8% for indigent account #2010-10, 5.3% for indigent account #2010-21, 12.6% for indigent account #2010-23, and 86.9% for indigent account #2010-37. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Dinning moved to set monthly reimbursement at a minimum of $25 per month beginning in July 2011 on indigent account #2011-6 plus 30% of any state or federal tax refunds received annually. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously. Deputy Clerk Nancy Ryals
left the meeting at Commissioners discussed the quotes received for cleaning the carpets in the Extension Office. Courthouse Custodian Jim Thompson had presented Commissioners with quotes from two vendors, but one of the quotes included a cost for carpet protector and the other did not. Mr. Thompson went back to one of the vendors to have the cost of carpet protector included so the quotes were for the same service. The quote from Carpet Pro totaled $461.68 and the quote from Streamline Cleaning totaled $585.89. Commissioner Dinning moved to accept quote from Carpet Pro for $461.68 subject to determining the budget. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Baker referenced the mass casualty trailer that sits behind the Courthouse that belongs to Boundary County Emergency Services. Mr. Baker said Dave Kramer with Boundary County Emergency Services has turned over the keys to this trailer to the Ambulance Association to maintain. Mr. Baker explained that this trailer was obtained via a Panhandle Health District grant. Commissioner Dinning asked who was the trailer awarded to and who is to maintain it and Mr. Baker responded that Mr. Kramer of Boundary County Emergency Management was awarded this trailer. Mr. Baker said this trailer is in the County’s inventory. Commissioner Dinning suggested waiting until Mr. Kramer gets back to deal with working this out as there are questions of who is responsible for maintaining the trailer. Chairman Smith said the inventory list would need to be changed from Emergency Services to the Ambulance Association. Mr. Baker left the meeting. 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. Those present discussed receiving a letter from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) requesting records of the public defenders and prosecuting attorneys. Clerk Poston and Attorney Robinson said they would draft a response to the ACLU. Commissioner Dinning questioned if the expenses for the public defenders office is trying to be compared to the prosecutor’s office. Attorney Robinson said that comparison has been tried before and he explained the types of cases that prosecutors handle versus public defenders and the associated costs and salaries. Commissioner Dinning asked if the Idaho Counties Risk Management Program (ICMRP) and the Idaho Association of Counties (IAC) should be notified. Clerk Poston said she would send this information to those agencies. Those present discussed redistricting Commissioners’ districts. Commissioner Dinning questioned if there is a percentage of variation for Commissioner Districts and what is the status. Attorney Robinson said he believes there is a national average. Attorney Robinson said he doesn’t think there is an Idaho Code section for redistricting. The call with Mr. Falcon ended.
Commissioners and Attorney
Robinson discussed the vicious dog law and
questioned if any new information has been
heard. Chairman Smith explained the incident
involving a dog attack in
Attorney Robinson explained
the process of responding to dog calls in Attorney Robinson said he isn’t sure what the judge will say because the State says a dog is allowed one bite. Attorney Robinson said he would contact the Sheriff’s Office and the Prosecutor’s Office to inform them the dog ordinance is being redrafted. Commissioner Dinning referred to new legislation that states a dog at large has to have a collar and tag. Commissioner Dinning said Idaho Code has enforcement already. Chairman Smith questioned why the County can’t adopt Idaho Code as the County ordinance. Attorney Robinson said Idaho Code refers to allowing two bites and the Prosecutor’s Office has to receive the notices or reports that the Sheriff’s Office issues. Commissioner Dinning questioned what the advantage is in adopting an ordinance if it is already in effect and Attorney Robinson responded it is limited at best. If no changes are made to the State Code there is no sense in having the County adopting it. Commissioner Dinning said if the County is thinking of adopting State code verbatim, there is no advantage to adopt it. Attorney Robinson stated if the written notices are not issued by law enforcement, you can’t get to first base. The meeting with Attorney
Robinson ended at Clerk Poston said she is waiting to receive the budgets for the Waterways Grant funding and the Boat Safety Grant funding. Clerk Poston said she forecasts $150,000 in payment in lieu of taxes (PILT) so if it comes in at $100,000 that will change things. Chairman Smith asked about reserves. Commissioner Dinning said
he thinks it would be a good idea to budget
$1,000 to $2,000 for the grizzly bear DNA study
that was discussed with Clerk Poston resumed
discussing the proposed budgets to include GEM
Plan, PILT, the Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug
Seizure Account. Clerk Poston said the Extension
Office has submitted a $5,000 reduction in their
budget. Commissioners explained to the Bonners
Ferry Leadership Class students how the Junior
College out of district tuition works. Clerk
Poston said last year Commissioner Dinning spoke of visiting with Andy Brunelle with the Forest Service about Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) and Title III funds. Commissioner Dinning said Mr. Brunelle voiced the ability to use Title III funds. Commissioner Dinning said in talking with Mr. Brunelle and Patty Perry, there will be a need to utilize those funds for a Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration (CFLRA) project. Commissioner Dinning said the Kootenai drainage is going to be addressed in this project. A facilitator will be hired and the project will be tied to the Twenty Mile Project. Commissioner Dinning reiterated that RAC funds are eligible. Commissioner Kirby moved to approve the application for a RAC project for $25,000 to hire a technical assistance person/facilitator to handle the Twenty Mile Creek Wildland Urban Interface Project and the KVRI Kootenai Landscape Project. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously. Commissioners tended to administrative duties. 3:30 p.m., Boundary County
Juvenile Probation Officer Jessica Poston joined
the meeting to update Commissioners on her stay
at the Peace Officers Standards and Training
(POST) Academy. Clerk Poston was also present.
Chairman Smith commented on how well Ms. Poston
did in P.O.S.T. Ms. Poston spoke about the
P.O.S.T. academy and described it as military
style. Ms. Poston explained that there were
training sessions held on real life
circumstances and how to supervise different
case loads. Ms. Poston said she supervises Clerk Poston informed those
present that the Probation Office budgets
include a portion of Ms. Poston said if damage such as graffiti/tagging caused by someone is over $1,000 the tagging could be considered a felony offense. Ms. Poston explained that one juvenile is having problems getting into the military due to felony charges resulting during their childhood. Commissioners informed the afternoon students of the Leadership Class of the discussion earlier regarding consequences from tagging. Ms. Poston said it is not an easy job cleaning up the graffiti as she did it as one of the job duties as a summer job assisting the Park and Recreation department maintenance person. Those present continued talking about P.O.S.T. The meeting ended at There being no further
business, the meeting recessed until tomorrow at 11:00 a.m., Trial Court Administrator Karlene Behringer, Judge Justin Julian, and Clerk Glenda Poston met with Commissioners to discuss the District Court’s upcoming budget. Jane Kirby was also present. It was said the budget for District Court has been accepted as submitted and the Travel and the Law Library line items have been increased. Judge Julian said he had the West Law Research Program and cancelled it as there are other programs that are less expensive. Chairman Smith spoke of his experience taking part of the jail standards inspections. Those present discussed the practice of telephonic meetings and Commissioner Dinning explained the Idaho Association of Counties (IAC) Legislative Review webinar and how much of a cost savings that was. Clerk Poston discussed having a face to face meeting once per year as there are a lot of networking and round table discussions that have a benefit. Commissioner Dinning said a huge percent of Idaho Counties received a letter from ACLU requesting information on public defender contracts. Judge Julian said there has been a push nationwide regarding the quality of the public defenders that are assigned to people. Those present reviewed information on the request for an annual report of case loads. Commissioner Dinning mentioned this is looking for the disparity between the prosecutors and public defenders. The meeting with Clerk
Poston, Ms. Behringer, and Judge Julian 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 |