BOCC approves credit card cancellations

SANDPOINT — Bonner County commissioners gathered Tuesday to review ongoing concerns, including the board’s examination of credit cards held by county employees. 

As part of a recent initiative to promote responsible spending, Board Chair Asia Williams and Commissioner Ron Korn voted to cancel credit cards deemed unnecessary in an Oct. 28 workshop. 

“The goal from an auditing perspective is to get down to about 30,” said Williams. 

Williams added that she hopes consolidating credit cards may result in better value when booking travel arrangements, and that reducing limits on essential cards could help control spending.

“Some of us have available balances of $5,000. Is that really a realistic value that we need to have available?” asked Williams. 

Commissioners also approved winter agreements for snow removal at Bonner County’s extension office and juvenile detention center. Both contracts were awarded to Lippert Excavation & Pipeline, Inc.; both specify rates of $130 per hour for a plow-equipped truck and $160 per hour for a grader. 

Under the agreements, snow will be removed and piled when 3–4 inches have accumulated. According to Williams, the county sought competitive offers for the service at both sites. 

“This is the best rate available,” Williams told attendees. “I always like people to know we try to find a competitor.” 

Williams later addressed the increased length of commissioner meetings since she began serving as board chair in mid-October. During recent business meetings, the board has fielded public comments before voting on each action item. Previously, public comments were only heard during a specified period. 

“One of the things I'm trying to do is make sure people get to say their piece uninterrupted — it doesn't matter whether we like it or not,” Williams said. 

With that freedom, Williams asked members of the public to direct feedback at elected officials, not staff, to avoid potential violations of employment law. 

“We should not have to litigate as much in our county. That is a huge leakage in our county,” she added. “That's one of the reasons that I absorb and I don't say anything when people say negative things about me, because the mouths of commissioners seem to get us sued and lose us money.” 

Tuesday’s business meeting was the second in three weeks with Commissioner Steven Bradshaw absent. During public comment, one resident expressed frustration with Bradshaw’s recent attendance and asked commissioners to require Bradshaw to share his planned schedule. 

“Can the board require him to come into this building or to participate? We don't have the power to do that,” Williams said. 

“We're not each other's supervisors. The difficult answer is, the people are our supervisors,” she added. “The quality of your elected officials is up to you.”