Commissioners handle contracts

SANDPOINT – Tuesday’s county commissioner’s meeting allocated $2,633,253.70 of federal and county funds. The money will be used for routine expenditures, contract changes, and excess revenue allocation, as well as adding additional grant funds to the budget.

No time was wasted before the board of commissioners approved the Bonner County Clerk’s Office spending $55,991.66 on bills that “needed to be paid in a timely manner.”

After that, the office asked the commission to approve two different expenditures — $1,853,840.65 for county claims and demands spending, and $82,537.31 for emergency services spending.

“One thing that happens this time of year, we have the straggling bills coming in from last year that need to be paid. Plus, this year prospectively as well,” Clerk Michael Rosedale said.

Members of the audience asked the commissioners to clarify if any of the spending came from ARPA funding, Chairman Dan McDonald answered that all funds came from the county budget. The commissioners approved the request.

The Road & Bridge Department asked the commissioners to allow $411,259.08 of remaining funds from last year’s budget be added to this year’s budget. The funds will be used for several construction projects that will continue into 2022.

In addition, Road & Bridge asked the commission to add $25,000 of unanticipated revenue to their budget. The money will be used to work on the stretch of road between Rocky Point and Blue Diamond roads. The contract is between the Idaho Department of Lands, and the county. Commissioners approved both items.

The Solid Waste Department asked the commissioners to allow $5,787 of additional funding to be added to the contract between the county and Interstate Concrete and Asphalt for work on the Midway Solid Waste Collection site. The extra funding will be spent on alleviating drainage issues, additional culverts, and expanding a drainage pond for stormwater runoff. The resolution and change order were signed and approved by the commission.

Emergency Management asked the commissioners to change the contract for the Wildfire Mitigation Project. The contract is between the county and Inland Forest Management Inc., although most of the funding will come from IDL grant funds. The county will pay $4,857 of the $27,098 additional funding for the project. Commissioners unanimously approved the change.

The Treasurer’s Office asked the commission to approve $100 be added to the Solid Waste petit cash drawer for the Midway Collection Site. Commissioners approved.

The Airport asked the commissioners to allow $171,650 to be spent on additional paving for the runway repair project. The funding is coming from the unspent portion of last year’s budget for repairing the airport’s runways and taxiways. The commissioner’s tabled the item, citing that they will need to carryover the Airport’s funding from last year to fund the project.

The sheriff’s office asked the commission to allow the transfer of $18,486.11 from one of the department’s accounts to another to cover the cost of cleaning supplies.

The commissioners also approved a $600 contract with Waterfront Property Management for winter vessel moorage for one of the office’s deep-water vessels. The vessel in question used to be kept at Garfield Bay, but sustained damage due to last year’s storms. The vessel will moore at Holiday Shores through March of 2022.

The Board of County Commissioners hold a business meeting every Tuesday atg 9 a.m. that are open to the public. Citizens are encouraged to attend and voice their opinions regarding county affairs. Those interested in virtually attending can stream the meetings on Bonner County’s YouTube channel, or attend by Zoom if they are interested in speaking.