Mudslide compromises Southside Sewer District

SANDPOINT — Emergency Management director Bob Howard recommended Tuesday that county commissioners declare a local emergency following a mudslide that compromised a sewer line in the Southside Water and Sewer District on June 15.

The resolution was approved. The emergency declaration will last for at least 60 days or until the “imminent threat to health and safety” has been resolved.

Airport manager Dave Schuck recommended county commissioners accept a $300,000 grant from the Leading Idaho initiative for snow removal equipment for the Priest River airport. Schuck also recommended the county lease a hangar at the airport in order to store aircraft and conduct aircraft maintenance. The cost of the lease was not shared. Both motions passed.

Risk manager Chris Jostlein recommended a change to county policy regarding non-service animals in county vehicles. The policy was amended to take effect on Aug. 1. Both the amendment and the motion were passed.

County planner Chad Chambers shared two road waiver requests, one near Priest River and the other in the Idaho Club. Both waivers were approved.

Cindy Binkerd of the county’s Human Resources department, introduced three items: a request to recruit a solid waste site attendant and a tech director, a service agreement with Skye Consulting (not to exceed $5,000) for a revision on the county personnel furlough policy, and lastly, a revision to their separation policy to more clearly require county employees to work their final day instead of using their paid time off. All three items passed.

Jessi Webster, county public information officer, shared a request from the Idaho Department of Lands for approval of the auctioning off of endowment lands. The motion passed.