BOCC facing busy agenda
SANDPOINT — After several weeks of a lighter-than-normal agenda, Bonner County commissioners are facing a busy agenda at Tuesday's business meeting.
Among the items on the agenda is the proposed return of the Priest River Senior Center to the city of Priest River. The building was transferred to the county from the city via a quitclaim deed several years ago; however, officials have since determined owning the property is not in the county's interests.
The move was approved by the Priest River City Council on Monday, Aug. 5. If approved by the BOCC, the property would be deeded back to the city via a quitclaim deed, a way to transfer ownership without payment having to exchange hands.
The proposed transfer will be presented to the board by Commission Chair Luke Omodt, who is also slated to discuss an extension request from the Lake Pend Oreille School District. LPOSD officials are asking the county to be able to submit its tax levy information to the county by Sept. 16 instead of Sept. 5.
"Our board may authorize an emergency levy that requires counting the average daily attendance during the first week of school," Brian Wallace, LPOSD chief financial and operations officer, said. "We are starting school on Sept. 3, 2024, this year and will use the first three days of school for our enrollment counts."
Wallace said in a letter to county officials that the district anticipates board trustees will meet the week of Sept. 9-13 to consider a potential emergency levy.
Commissioner Asia Williams is slated to discuss her Commissioners Chat program as well as ongoing concerns, issues, and pending litigation. She is also slated to open the mic to questions from the public.
Commissioners are slated to discuss juvenile detention agreements with Boundary County as well as with Lincoln County, Mont. The two-year agreements outline the conditions under which Bonner County will house youth at its juvenile detention center, with the two neighboring counties paying $125 per day.
The agreements have already been approved by the Boundary County and Lincoln County commissioners, according to a county board packet detailing the proposals.
Among items set for consideration under the consent agenda are a liquor license for Sunshine on Cedar, a clerical correction to a Bonner County Sheriff's Office invoice, and approval of an unspecified BCSO invoice for more than $5,000.
Higher-than-expected lawn maintenance brings recreation assistant Kerry Delair from Parks & Waterways before the board to request proposed budget adjustments for the Parks and Waterways departments. If approved, the request would transfer $7,100 from one line item budget to another to cover the additional funds needed.
Another transfer request — this one for $8,000 — is needed due to unexpected damage and theft of buoys.
Facilities Manager Teddi Lupton will present a sidewalk project and a $31,600 proposal to replace the Administration Building's lobby heating and cooling unit. Lupton is asking for $11,995 to build two concrete sidewalks from the county Administration Building to the new EMS station/office complex being built across Division Avenue.
The new RTU heating and cooling unit would come from the contingency fund, and the price includes the removal of the old unit, Lupton said in a memo included in the BOCC board packet.
County Clerk Michael Rosedale will present two batch claim requests totaling nearly $700,000 in demands for the fiscal year 2024. Treasurer Clorrisa Koster is presenting a request for additional petty cash funds for the sheriff's office in order to have cash on hand to make change for an increased number of cash-paying customers.
Two executive sessions are scheduled, the first dealing with Planning Commission personnel and the second on hiring public defenders and at the Auditor's Office.