Selle/Samuels residents query BC P&Z map change motive

Was it human error, or an intentional act to change the borders of a map on the Selle/Samuels Area Comprehensive Plan? This was the question residents asked the Bonner County Commissioners at the public comment period of Tuesday’s meeting. Six members of the eleven member subcommittee tasked with developing the proposed plan told officials they thought there was some deception in the discrepancy.

“We’ve been working on this plan for four years,” Committee chair Fred Omodt said. “We’re all volunteers, lay people who didn’t know any planning and zoning jargon. We didn’t know the elements of land use. But, we represented the residents of Selle Valley and Samuels to create a document about future land use that would be acceptable to County Commissioners.”

Omodt said that the committee had presented P &Z with their final plans and were surprised to note that the official plan that was being distributed to the community prior to a public hearing scheduled for September 24 (5:30 p.m. at Fairgrounds) had changed the borders eliminating various sites including four homes of committee members and the SpaceX transceiver facility.

“I have to question the ability of Planning and Zoning,” he said. “After years of misrepresentation the committee will continue, but will closely monitor activities of Planning and Zoning.”

Susen Fay, the committee’s record keeper, said that the first thirty copies of the final plan had the map the committee had included in their proposal as did the second lot that she requested a short while later. It was when 100 copies were produced for distribution to residents that the map was replaced with the incorrect version.

“The main point of maps is to educate the public in order for them to make a reasonable decision,” she said. “How did the maps get changed?”

Committee member, Betty Anderson told officials that Commissioner Dan McDonald had agreed to be the liaison between the committee and Planning and Zoning. She also said that it was the goal of the committee to come up with a plan that would maintain the valley’s designation as agricultural and to keep growth out.

“The proposed comp plan was undermined before it came before the commissioners,” she said. “Is it any wonder that people have lost faith in Planning and Zoning and in our Commissioners?”

Diane Wheeler who is an alternate on the committee said that she had a conversation with Commissioner Jeff Connolly who told her, “Oops, you’ll have to live with it.”

She asked the Commissioners to “listen to the people. We’ve done our work, and need your support." Vice chairman of the committee, Charles Pope agreed and added “This is one more example of inefficiencies.”

Commissioner McDonald said that he had taken good notes and would look into the matter and discuss it with Planning and Zoning officials.

“I wish you had contacted one of us rather than make a public spectacle of yourselves,” he said.

In other county business, the Sheriff’s Department asked for approval to register with five different online entities that specialize in finding the best prices for goods and materials that the department typically purchases.

The commissioners approved the registrations that have no cost associated with them. Offline Wheeler clarified why five different vendors were necessary.

“Some negotiate pricing for different items and some are the same items with various pricing,” he explained. “So we can look at all, compare pricing and find the best deal possible. When we do the research and find the best price, say car camera system or Motorola radio, we search each database and make the purchase based on price. It’s a win-win for all.”

The Commissioners also accepted a no-match grant for the Sheriff’s Department in the sum of $118,438.92 from Idaho Public Safety Communications Commission to be used for 911 emergency communications technology.

Recreation Department’s Nate Demmons asked for approval to contract for work in Garfield Bay and Road and Bridge Manager Steve Klatt sought approval to purchase CAT Plow Bits. Both were voted affirmative.