STATE OF IDAHO
County of Idaho
AUGUST SESSION August 28, 2012 THIRD TERM DAY
9:30 a.m. The board convened with Commissioners Skip Brandt, Jim Chmelik and James Rockwell and Kathy Ackerman, Clerk present.
The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Jim Gorges presents contract for the construction of restrooms in the Search & Rescue Building-signed. Gorges presents estimate for OSB materials and installation-discussion. Chmelik moves to get a firm quote on materials and labor. Rockwell seconds. Motion carries with all in favor. Gorges requests consideration of a Search & Rescue Fund to cover costs of searches and unforeseen expenses that are incurred by volunteers who are helping-would also cover costs of maintaining equipment-this would be an account that could also accommodate fundraisers and donations-discussion. Commission has no objection-Gorges will work it out with Ackerman.
Brandt moves to approve minutes of the August 21 meeting as amended. Rockwell seconds. Motion carries with all in favor.
Approval of one week of emergency sick leave for District Court employee, Lindsay Greig.
Approval of extension for budget certification for Kidder Harris Highway District to September 11, 2012.
10:00 a.m. Jim Carpenter with ITD regarding Elk Meadows Bridge-they conducted an inspection at the request of the Federal Highway Administration and the recommendation was to close the bridge-ITD will be closing the bridge this Wednesday as a matter of public safety. They understand the issue with ownership-they are proposing at the request of the Federal Highway Administration for public safety repairs that they anticipate will cost around $50,000-it will be a short term fix that will result in a one lane bridge for one way traffic. Rockwell regarding the potential of other residents in other areas/subdivisions to declare their roads and bridges open to the public-could mean an expectation that ITD and/or FHA will pick up the expense for repairs and maintenance. Meinen questions whether this repair means that ITD or FHA are taking future responsibility for the bridge-Carpenter advises this is a repair to address public safety only and constitutes no declaration of ownership or responsibility. MacGregor questions if ITD’s involvement came at the request of the residents of Elk Meadows Subdivision. Discussion. MacGregor regarding the report that lists Idaho County as the owner of the bridge-advises that in his correspondence with Kathleen Slinger, there is clear dialog that indicates that they aren’t affixing ownership of the bridge to Idaho County-MacGregor requests that the report be corrected to reflect this.
Carpenter regarding upcoming projects-discussion.
10:30 p.m. Don Fletcher presents proposal for webhosting for the County website-current hosting is outdated-website could be updated and upgraded to make the site more visually appealing-more accessible to public for policy discussions. Discussion.
11:00 a.m. Syd regarding claims-
Current Expense $ 44,822.27 County Road and Bridge $ 19,740.76
Airport $ 55,822.68 Emergency Com. $ 5,782.81
District Court $ 463.03 Title III-New $ 17,731.56
Indigent $ 11,155.61 Appraisal $ 1,346.90
Solid Waste $ 12,199.74 Election Consolidation $ 14.37
Noxious Weeds $ 91,005.14 Waterways $ 1,200.00
Snowmobile 25-B $ 10.10
Total Expenditures $ 261,294.97
Brandt moves to approve payment of claims. Rockwell seconds. Motion carries with all in favor.
11:30 a.m. Brandt moves to go into Indigent proceedings pursuant to IC 31-874. Rockwell seconds. Roll call-all in favor.
3 Approval, 1 Denial, 0 Suspended/Tolled, 0-N1, 0 release-N1, 0-Liens, 0-Lien Release
11:45 a.m. End Executive Session
11:50 a.m. Break for lunch.
1:00 p.m. The Board reconvenes.
1:00 p.m. Jerry Zumalt regarding Emergency Management Performance Grant-this is a yearly matching grant that pays most of his salary, plus other incidentals. Discussion. Brandt moves to approve grant application. Rockwell seconds. Motion carries with all in favor.
1:30 p.m. Kirk MacGregor regarding Airport Ground Lease with the Grangeville Hanger Association-this is a renewal of the previous agreement-discussion. Rockwell moves to approve the Grangeville Hanger Association lease as written. Chmelik seconds. Motion carries with all in favor.
1:45 p.m. Rockwell moves to put the funds collected as donations and print sales for Warbird Weekend back into the Economic Development budget line. Brandt seconds. Motion carries with Rockwell and Brandt in favor. Chmelik absent.
Cook presents a sketch of proposed new signage for airport-discussion.
1:55 Melissa Johnson regarding request for variance-property was obtained in 2009, but not recorded. She went to have it surveyed and was advised that the property was illegally split-requesting variance. MacGregor regarding procedures for a variance-discussion.
2:15 p.m. Commission presents letter it has drafted to the USFS regarding the relocation of the Supervisor’s Office to Shelley Dumas, Grangeville City Councilwoman. Discussion. Rockwell moves to approve the drafted letter. Brandt seconds. Motion carries with all in favor.
2:30 p.m. Jim Kern and Carl Smids regarding repairs on French Creek Road. Meinen advises that he approached Will Perry with the Payette NF regarding the repairs and was told that the repairs are County responsibility-Meinen believes it is the Payette’s responsibility-Commission agrees. Our lease runs out at the end of the week. Meinen applied to the RAC for the repairs and was told that they would support it, but didn’t feel that it would be funded because they didn’t agree on ownership. Discussion. Chmelik questions whether or not there is an estimate of costs for making the repairs. Kern advises that he has not prepared an estimate because, in his experience, without knowing what specifications the Forest Service might have, an estimate is worthless. Meinen advises that he has no estimate prepared either for the same reasons. Discussion. Cook offers some suggestions for more effective communication with the Forest Service. Mr. Smids advises the steps he has taken in order to communicate with the Forest Service-advises that they were notified within a couple of days of the incident-advises that the road will not last another winter and when it goes it will destroy his property. Commission advises that they will write a letter to the USFS advising our position. Mr. Kern advises that the road will be repaired in order to protect Mr. Smids’ property-advises that they visit with an attorney if need be in order to resolve this issue. County will also review proposed new lease agreement.
Meinen regarding proposed new agreement with Payette National Forest-it has also been reviewed by Mike Cook. They both feel that there are some areas of concern, specifically to include a definition of maintenance. In light of the current situation with Mr. Smids, they feel this needs to be carefully looked at. Discussion. Meinen questions continued maintenance in this area-feels that we need to discuss this further-may need to classify this as ‘primitive’ road-further discussion with the Payette should be considered. Cook advises that this should be reviewed with Kirk MacGregor-discussion.
Meinen regarding merit increase for Justice Major to $14.68-this was previously requested-this is already built into his budget. Rockwell moves to approve the increase. Chmelik seconds. Motion carries with all in favor.
Meinen provides update on other road projects.
3:10 p.m. Mary Mangold regarding proposal for website upgrades-advises that it may be necessary to sit down and set some goals and objectives for the website-discussion. Susie Heckman, a member of the technology committee, regarding presentations from both Mr. Fletcher and Ms. Mangold-explains her use of the website and how her needs have been addressed previously-she feels that we have a responsibility for the content and quality of the website and suggests that the committee begin working on this again to address current needs.
3:50 p.m. Carol Hennesey, Rick Brazell and Marty Gardner provide a new draft briefing paper on the proposed Nez Perce/Clearwater Forest Plan-advises that there is much greater latitude for collaboration-briefing paper includes a schedule of Orientation Meetings that will be held in various locations and facilitated by the University of Idaho. Hennessey outlines plan for public involvement in this process-asks whether or not the County would like to co-host these meetings. Rockwell advises that he believes that this would co-opt us and would lead to an appearance that we are in favor of the plan-Hennessey advises that co-hosting can be many things from simply advising folks to attend to active participation. Brazell advises that his experience is that when Commissioners co-host it provides a venue for all parties to be heard-discussion. Hennessey regarding the hiring of a liaison from the University of Idaho/Professor Ed Crumpy to assist with communication-they have a current contract that allows them to obligate funds-would be a graduate student. Chmelik regarding his skepticism of the collaborative process based on his current experience with the process-asks for a reason for him to be committed. Rockwell advises that he has had similar experience. Discussion regarding the hiring of liaison and the possibility of a contract for finding someone who has on the ground experience-could possibly be matched with the U of I student, but they will need to check that out further. Gardner states that he feels that it is important for the Commission to participate because they represent the largest group of people impacted by this-they would have no voice if the Commission does not represent them-discussion. Commission expresses concern over the idea of co-hosting-will agree to participate upon the condition that the Forest Service work more on the liaison-Chmelik will be the contact.
4:45 p.m. Meeting adjourned.
Chairman:_______________________________ Attest:____________________________
