Housekeeping chores fill city's agenda

SANDPOINT — Aside from welcoming the Idaho Community Review team, the City Council spent most of its time on housekeeping issues last Wednesday.

A line of fee increases received no commentary from local residents and was passed without issue. The increases impact a variety of city fees, including construction parking permits, new user water fees, tourist home permits, youth sports, fingerprinting, and sewer and water service connection deposits for new construction.

City officials assisted a remodeling of Bonner County Public Defender offices by waiving building permit fees totaling $2,203.33. The move will relocate county public defenders in the downtown offices formerly used for Department of Motor Vehicles services.

“It’s a much-needed project,” said City Attorney Scot Campbell. “The public defenders have been shoved aside into a very small house over by the administration building, and ... this will move them into a location convenient to the courthouse.”

To make sure the city puts its best foot forward during audit season, council members approved some possible loans to Bonner Business Center. This will allow the facility to handle some necessary equipment repairs and other maintenance needs. City Treasurer Shannon Syth said the facility had enough revenue coming in through rent payments to pay its bills, but she worried it wouldn’t arrive in time for a Sept. 30 deadline. The city agreed to cover any needed payments, and the Bonner Business Center will return any borrowed money to the general fund as revenue arrives.

“I’d really hate to go into the audit season with a negative cash flow,” Syth said.

City officials next authorized disbursement for health insurance rebates for municipal employees.

Finally, council members approved an updated method for determining senior citizens eligible for discounts on their utility bill. According to Councilwoman Carrie Logan, she was contacted by a resident who was only a few dollars over the income limit. Upon investigation, that resident found the standards for eligibility hadn’t been updated since 1998. Council members voted to update the program using federal food stamp guidelines. That will keep the program updated annually with an appropriate qualifying income level.

According to Syth, very few people end up qualifying for the utility discount, so the impact to city finances should be minimal.