Light BOCC meeting focuses on planning commission workshops
SANDPOINT — Bonner County commissioners moved quickly through a light agenda at Tuesday’s business meeting.
The Bonner County planning commission is in the comprehensive planning process and sought commissioners' approval on the locations and number of workshops planned for the land use component of the comprehensive plan. The workshops are designed to allow public input on components of the plan before they are brought to the planning commission for a public hearing.
The commission has six workshops planned: Dec. 3 at the Bonner County Administration Building in Sandpoint; Dec. 10 at the West Bonner Library in Priest River; Dec. 17 at Northside Elementary in Selle Valley; Jan. 7 at the Blanchard Community Center in Blanchard; Jan. 14 at Sagle Elementary in Sagle; and Jan. 28 at Clark Fork Jr./Sr. High School in Clark Fork.
Commissioner Asia Williams suggested that more locations should be considered, including workshops in Cocolalla and Coolin, to ensure the most participation possible during the winter months when travel is difficult.
Several public commentors said they felt the workshops had not been adequately advertised to the public and asked that the workshops be delayed to allow for more communication to the community.
Commissioners passed a motion to move forward with the workshops but amended it to include the potential for further workshop locations.
The board also approved the purchase of new $10,000 safety training software. Williams said the software had been chosen after a series of workshops and input from county department heads.
Ron Stultz, director of justice services at the county, sought approval for a grant application, which commissioners passed. If attained, the grant would allow officers to use a new device to search electronic devices for evidence of child exploitation. While the device would not show what specifically was on the electronic devices it was attached to, it would provide an indicator that some evidence of exploitation may be present and allow justice services to pass the electronic device to other departments for follow up.
Commissioners approved the reimbursement request of Commissioner-elect Brian Domke totaling $486. The money was used to pay for Domke to attend the IAC Fall County Officials Institute, a conference for county officials from across Idaho.
Williams gave a brief update on the Bonner County EMS situation toward the end of the meeting. She said that the board was looking into a potential levy override that would allow the ambulance district to collect additional property tax dollars.
She also said she is meeting with Bonner EMS community partners to get their input on the situation and that the county is planning to use an external partner to ensure Bonner EMS staff can provide input without fear of consequences.
To learn more about the comprehensive planning process go to the comprehensive plan section of the planning department’s webpage on the Bonner County website.