***Tuesday, February 16, 2010, Commissioners met in regular session with Chairman Ron Smith, Commissioner Dan Dinning, and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser. Commissioner Walt Kirby was out of the office attending the Region I Mental Health Board meeting in Coeur d’ Alene.

9:00 a.m., Commissioners held an elected officials/department heads meeting. Present were: Road and Bridge Department Office Manager Renee Nelson, Road and Bridge Department Superintendent Jeff Gutshall, Clerk Glenda Poston, Planning and Zoning Administrator Mike Weland, Prosecutor’s Office Manager Tammie Goggia, Solid Waste Department Superintendent Claine Skeen, Courthouse Maintenance Jerry Kothe, Noxious Weeds Supervisor Duke Guthrie, Extension Office Educator Carol Hampton, Sheriff Greg Sprungl, Chief Deputy Clerk Tracie Isaac, Assessor Dave Ryals, and Chief Probation Officer Jackie Bacon.

Donna Capurso joined the meeting at 9:00 a.m.

Commissioner Dinning moved to approve the minutes of January 25 & 26, 2010. Commissioner Kirby second. Motion passed unanimously.

Ms. Nelson said as part of the Title VI non-discrimination policy, the county has to have a Limited English Proficiency (LEP) plan. If someone from the public comes in to conduct county business who speaks little or no English, they will be provided language assistance should they need it. This information is also online. Due to the size of the county and the last census, there doesn’t have to be someone staffed that speaks another language, but someone can be provided should there be a need. There is no charge for this service, but they need to understand there needs to be a reasonable amount of time given to provide this service.

Judge Justin Julian joined the meeting.

The LEP plan pertains to any language, according to Ms. Nelson. Ms. Nelson provided “I speak cards” for 38 languages to the elected officials and department heads. The person with limited English is to mark the card for the language they speak. Boundary County has a certain number of people that speak Endo-European, according to Ms. Nelson. So far no one has asked for assistance. Ms. Nelson asked to be notified when someone does come in requesting language assistance as she is supposed to keep track every year.

Ms. Nelson provided a memo that explains the plan. There is also a written complaint procedure and if there are any complaints, Ms. Nelson has to forward the complaint to the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD). Ms. Nelson said it was suggested a sign is posted in the Courthouse and the Sheriff’s Office that states there is language assistance in Spanish upon request and to contact Chief Deputy Clerk Tracie Isaac. The person will also be informed the service is free of charge and a translator would be provided in a reasonable amount of time.

Ms. Nelson said she is the Non-Discrimination Coordinator for Boundary County. Ms. Nelson said any county entity that receives federal funds or assistance must follow these regulations and if the county doesn’t meet these requirements, federal funds can be pulled. Chairman Smith asked Ms. Nelson to meet with Planning and Zoning Administrator Mike Weland and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser to discuss which sign in sheets for Title VI need to be used at public hearings.

Ms. Nelson left the meeting at 9:10 a.m.

Chairman Smith informed those present the legislative conference calls begin today and today’s call begins at 1:00 p.m. The rest of the meetings will take place on Mondays at 10:00 a.m.

Chairman Smith discussed the proposed four day work week. Commissioners had requested employees provide Commissioners with their input. Chairman Smith said out of the responses and concerns, there was one employee who was not in favor of the change. The other employees who had concerns were the court clerks and they just aren’t sure how it would work. If the county switches to four tens, the Courthouse will open to the public at 8:00 a.m. and will close at 6:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. There will be no Courthouse access except for court related business on Fridays, but the public will have two additional hours per day Monday through Thursday to do business.

Treasurer Jenny Fessler joined the meeting.

Chairman Smith used the county’s indigent as an example and he explained how this schedule would benefit people who need to conduct an indigent related interview. Chairman Smith said this is just a plan, and no one has approved it. Chairman Smith said he thinks 98% of the employees are in favor of this schedule, but there are some that aren’t in favor. When the court clerks sent their input back, they did state they would work out a schedule that would work for them. Originally, the Prosecutors Office staff was in favor of the four ten-hours schedule, but they may be having second thoughts. Chairman Smith said the bailiff and Courthouse maintenance person would work the regular 8:00 a.m., to 5:00 p.m. shift. The savings in utility usage may not be a great deal and it may be a savings for employees not having to drive that extra day per week, but it should be a tremendous help to the public by having an extra hour in the morning before they have to be at work and an extra hour after work. Judge Julian said his concern is about security. Judge Julian stated if the bailiff would remain on his current schedule until 5:00 p.m., he would have concerns with no courthouse security being available the last hour of the day. Judge Julian said it is the last hour of the day when people are often angry or frustrated. Chairman Smith said he doesn’t think there is any way to have someone there unless the bailiff worked until 6:00 p.m. Commissioner Dinning questioned if there would be less concern if the bailiff worked 9:00 a.m., to 6:00 p.m.

Commissioner Dinning asked about rotating employees. Chairman Smith said he knows by the comments from employees that they weren’t in favor of that. Chief Deputy Clerk Tracie Isaac asked about working with a one half hour lunch. Chairman Smith said the proposal included a full hour lunch.

Chairman Smith said he spoke to the Road and Bridge Department about their holiday schedules. Monday was a holiday so Road and Bridge staff work two eleven hour days to make up for that holiday as they are on the four-ten hour schedule. If Road and Bridge employees would have worked Monday, they would have worked 10 hours so he doesn’t think it is fair they have to work extra. Mr. Gutshall said the reason is they have to show 40 hours worked for the week. Mr. Gutshall said his employees don’t think it is unfair, they just thought that is how it goes. Assessor Ryals said he felt it was unfair. Sheriff Sprungl said that would probably cause problems by doing that. Commissioner Dinning said a title company said people obtaining loans or time sensitive documents that have funding guidelines would have problems with financing if they needed access to the Courthouse on Fridays. If the Courthouse is closed on Friday and a transaction closes late on Thursday, and Monday is a holiday, financing will not go through with that set rate, so there are side affects that would hurt. The access to be able to record documents in a timely fashion would be affected. Judge Julian said on the issue of working eleven hours in one day to make up for a holiday off, he isn’t sure about, but someone may want to speak to Attorney Phil Robinson about the Fair Standards Labor Act (FSLA).

Ms. Goggia asked how the public will be notified. Chairman Smith said Commissioners would invite the media to a meeting to discuss it. Mr. Weland asked about polling the public via the media. Clerk Poston said by Idaho Code, the Clerk’s Office has to be open on certain days for election purposes. Commissioner Dinning asked if the court clerks could do recordings. Clerk Poston said no. Commissioner Dinning asked about recording and asked if maybe one court clerk could help record.

Judge Julian left the meeting at 9:28 a.m.

The elected officials/department heads meeting ended at 9:30 a.m.

9:30 a.m., County Outside Auditor Leonard Schulte, Clerk Glenda Poston, and Chief Deputy Clerk Tracie Isaac joined the meeting to review the county’s audit report. Mr. Schulte said he just had a few pages of the county audit to review along with a page of minor issues. Mr. Schulte said this is the actual auditor’s report and this report is similar to prior years with minor differences. The Scope identifies the period of time and items audited. Mr. Schulte said he didn’t audit the hospital’s records, as they were audited by another party and provided to him. The Sheriff’s commissary funds were also audited. The audit includes the standards under which the audit was performed. Mr. Schulte said the actual opinion and his opinion of the financial statements were presented fairly. Mr. Schulte said maybe clarification is needed on government activities and what is a major fund. There is specific criteria based on accounting standards and it is generally 10% of overall assets and revenue of the county. Mr. Schulte said he has a clean opinion.

Mr. Schulte said Page 11 is the government statement of net assets and it shows assets, liabilities and equities. There are government activities, business activities, and the totals and component unit, which is the hospital. Mr. Schulte reviewed the government activities total, assets, fixed assets, and net of depreciation. Mr. Schulte said some assets use how it is limited and they are funds held in trust for landfill closure. The audit shows total liabilities of over $2,239,000, which consists primarily of compensated absences payable and current maturities. $784,000 is the long term portion of that. Most significant of liabilities is the estimated landfill closure. Mr. Schulte said net assets for the county totals $9,506,000. Equity also consists of restricted assets. Unrestricted net assets total $3,433,000.

Restorium assets total $364,000, liabilities total $8,224. Commissioner Dinning said the Restorium evidently has a net value of $260,000 even though the value is significantly higher. Mr. Schulte said when it comes to fixed it is the historical costs. Those present discussed the estimated closure costs.

Those present reviewed Page 32 and Mr. Schulte said years ago, county principals didn’t catch up in the real world and there was no recognition of real future costs building to close the landfill. The cost to close the landfill needs to be measured. Mr. Schulte said he took the capacity of the landfill, how much of the capacity is used, and what the future costs may be. Mr. Schulte said this is the most recent information he has. Commissioners asked if $1,000,000 in closure costs is still a steady number. Mr. Schulte said the figure changes everyday. Chairman Smith said now it is saying that covering the landfill is going to cost more than it did in the past. Post closure care costs and monitoring for 25 years are still based on old costs. Mr. Schulte said it is based on 55% filled capacity at this point. Commissioner Dinning said in reading on, it says in looking at $1,800,000 in closure costs and he questioned if the plan is for $1,000,000 or $1,800,000. Commissioner Dinning said the county has roughly one-third saved now. The county has 25 more years based on the current figures. If the county had to close the landfill today it would cost $1,800,000. Commissioner Dinning questioned if the county had to close the landfill due to the 20 ton limit would it cost $1,800,000. Mr. Schulte said he agrees that it probably isn’t going to cost $1,800,000, but it also won’t be as low as $1,100,000. This is based on the landfill being able to continuing operating, that there is available capacity, and it would be several years before it had to be covered. Commissioner Dinning said in planning long term, if costs stay static, does the county need to come up with $800,000. It was said the county needs to save $60,000 per year. Clerk Poston said $50,000 was saved last year.

The statement of activities is arranged by expenses for different functions and charges for various services performed for those functions. The net expense or revenue is also provided and Mr. Schulte reviewed those totals. $3,765,000 is the net expense for governmental activities. Sales tax and unrestricted revenue is listed for a total of 5,072,000 and that is an increase. This shows whether revenue was more than what it took to operate.

Those present discussed the Community Restorium. The cost to run this facility is $886,000, but the county received $481,491 so that is $404,819 in the red, which was not levied. $404,819 is a net expense and listed below that is the business expense. The net expense is $404,819, property tax is $207,499, sales tax is $27,036, unrestricted at $21,088, and other revenue at $6,100. That comes to $261,828 towards covering that $404,819.

Page 13 provides a different view on major fund classifications. This is a balance sheet in a more typical government view showing assets, liabilities, etc. Those present briefly reviewed figures for Road Bridge.

The Solid Waste Department budget also shows restricted amounts for landfill closure.

Page 15 is of the audit is more of an activity statement as of September 30, 2009. It contains the same major funds, current expense, solid waste, etc. $1,787,000 is the total expenditures. That is $68,000 over. There has been a decrease of $67,000 in fund balances.

The Road and Bridge revenues totaled $3,027,469 and expenditures totaled $3,125,000 so expenditures exceeded the revenue.

Mr. Schulte said Page 19 talks specifically about the Restorium fund and lists a statement of activities. Total revenue for the Restorium is $481,491.00 and expenditures total $886,310 and that is the operating type of activity. The Restorium operated at a loss. The County Restorium covered that loss by taxes levied. The non-operating revenues and expenses totaled $261,723 so revenues were below expenditures by $43,000. There was an actual decrease in assets of $142,991. The balance on page 18 is the fund balance of total assets. $356,266 is the total of the fund balance, but it is primarily tied up in the Restorium building. If the county jumped forward one year and the fund operated the same, if it came down to the same point of decrease one year now, this fund will reflect a deficit of $143,000. Chairman Smith said if the report shows property taxes at $207,499, then maybe prior taxes were higher and it affects the bottom line. The county can increase revenues, which is charges for services or raise taxes.

Commissioner Dinning said Mr. Schulte doesn’t have any issues that rise to the level of being considered a finding and needs pointed out, however, that doesn’t mean everything is wonderful. There are still areas for improvement and matters for discussion deal with the Restorium. There have been significant improvements in maintaining the transactions at the Restorium, but there are still problems as he looked at the reports he receives. Mr. Schulte said there are no control totals. The Restorium has ledger cards and they record charges, payments, and determine a balance due, but nowhere is that information brought together. Mr. Schulte said the Restorium could easily pull up a report, but not give it to him and he wouldn’t know if the information he has is complete or not. Chairman Smith said he saw a report the other day and it showed who had paid rent for their rooms and what their balance was. Mr. Schulte said he is talking about taking that report including all residents, not as an individual, but as the entire Restorium. The next thing is the Restorium doesn’t provide a statement to residents, just a receipt. Mr. Schulte suggested the Restorium generate statements.

Mr. Schulte said when there is an adjustment to an individual account and if there are accounts that are written off, the Commissioners should approve them. Mr. Schulte said he hasn’t received that information. Chairman Smith said Commissioners had approved those accounts in a group.

At various times, the budgets are amended for unanticipated revenue and Mr. Schulte advised of reporting procedures to reconcile budgeted revenues versus unanticipated revenues. Taxes are an item of significant source of anticipated revenue. Mr. Schulte said when he takes the published budget the internal reporting side of things aren’t as clear as he would like to see.

Mr. Schulte said he would like to see a report of anticipated revenue, then the amended revenue accounts that have been added that show the revised anticipated revenue. Clerk Poston mentioned checking with Computer Arts about the program for this report. Mr. Schulte said he would like an itemized list of anticipated revenues and actual tax revenue. If the budget revenue report was to be run now, Mr. Schulte wouldn’t see any budgeted revenue for taxes on the report. Commissioner Dinning said Computer Arts will have to figure out a program for these reports. The county can say revenue wasn’t anticipated, but Mr. Schulte would question what that is based on. Mr. Schulte said when working on the budget, if Road and Bridge needs grant dollars, to him that is unanticipated.

Mr. Schulte discussed a programming function for showing depreciation. The software calculates the depreciation so the county will check with Computer Arts. Clerk Poston said Mr. Weland is starting to compile inventory on county equipment. Clerk Poston said a print out is done for fixed assets and Mr. Weland is taking photos of all buildings, rolling stock, and major pieces of equipment so they will be cataloged. Clerk Poston said it is a work in progress, but Mr. Weland is doing well working on it. Mr. Schulte said the issue is strictly a software issue. Clerk Poston said she would contact Computer Arts, Inc.

The bidding process was discussed and one compliance requirement is to not contract with individuals or companies with debarment issues. The document on debarment is to be sent out with bid packets. This information needs to apply to all purchases. The limit has now been reduced to $25,000.00, when it used to be $100,000.00. The county needs to certify the vendor is not debarred. There is a federal government website that provides a place to track searches.

Commissioners said the auditor’s report was good and Mr. Schulte agreed.

The meeting ended at 10:40 a.m.

10:42 a.m., Deputy Clerk Nancy Ryals joined the meeting.

Commissioner Dinning moved to go into closed session under Idaho Code 31-874. Chairman Smith yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously. 10:47 a.m., Commissioner Dinning moved to go out of closed session. Chairman Smith yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Dinning moved to approve the request for a follow-up for indigent account 2010-4. Chairman Smith yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Dinning moved to approve indigent accounts #2010-28 and #2010-24. Chairman Smith yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Dinning moved to deny indigent accounts #2010-29 and #2010-25. Chairman Smith yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.

Deputy Clerk Nancy Ryals said Search and Rescue has some radios that have been purchased with Craig-Wyden funds, but they have been replaced so Search and Rescue Commander Edith Stolley would like to know what the county wants to do with them. Commissioners and Deputy Clerk Nancy Ryals discussed various matters involving Craig-Wyden. The Deputy Clerk was instructed to contact Emergency Services Director Dave Kramer and ask him if they are something another department or entity could use and get back to Commissioners with his recommendation.

Deputy Clerk Nancy Ryals left the meeting.

Commissioner Dinning moved to appoint Gayle Alexander to the Fair Board with a term to expire February 2014. Chairman Smith yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Dinning moved to cancel taxes totaling $136.64 and penalties totaling $1.37 for year 2009 on parcel #PP000003022005A due to the equipment was terminated in 2008 and should not have been on the tax rolls for 2009. Chairman Smith yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Dinning moved to amend Commissioners’ motion made last week to cancel taxes totaling $296.08 to include canceling a late charge of $1.03 for an amended total to cancel of $297.11. Chairman Smith yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Dinning moved to grant an extension of time to pay the second half of year 2009 taxes for parcel #MHM0000016765AA until March 15, 2010. Chairman Smith yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Dinning moved to grant an extension of time to pay taxes for parcel #RP60N01E054862A until July 15, 2010 with the understanding the county is to receive monthly payments of $500.00 in the meantime. Chairman Smith yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Dinning moved to sign the audit review letter to County Outside Auditor Leonard Schulte. Chairman Smith yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Dinning moved to sign the support letter to Customs and Border Patrol regarding the activation of the Foreign Trade Subzone #242A for Hoku Materials. Chairman Smith yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.

Commissioners tended to administrative duties.

Commissioners recessed for lunch at 11:30 a.m.

1:00 p.m., Commissioners reconvened for the afternoon session with Chairman Ron Smith, Commissioner Dan Dinning, and Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser.

Commissioners participated in a legislative conference call with the following elected officials: Clerk Glenda Poston, Treasurer Jenny Fessler, and Assessor Dave Ryals.

Kootenai County Commissioner Rick Currie spoke of House Bills: H0514, H0515, H0516. For Warrants of Distraint, instead of assessed fees this will tie into the Sheriff’s Office fees so the cost of processing is raised.

Commissioner Currie said H0492, Coroners Qualifications and Training stands a chance of being approved. It was said with all bills and budget issues, bills that cost the counties money shouldn’t be passed. This probably goes straight to the counties as there are no fees that go to the State right now. All required training comes out of a specific fund and won’t be charged to the county. Chairman Smith questioned if it’s the State or the county that is paying for the training. It was said a good portion of coroners are also funeral directors so there is a need for further information on that.

H0501, Electrical and Plumbing Inspections, it was said that cities are also balking at this legislation. Commissioner Dinning said as long as the county has an option. Commissioner Dinning asked if the State is going to get out of the business of electrical inspections. Commissioner Currie said no.

H0521, Recording Fees, doesn’t look like this bill will go anywhere. There are no new taxes and the fees are considered a tax so the justification is there. It was said in small counties, this is extremely important. Smaller counties need to urge that this is something for everyone and to forget about whom it’s paying.

S1329, the Boat Safety Act, raises boating fees from $500 to $1,500.

KPND News Radio Reporter Mike Brown joined the meeting at 1:15 p.m.

H0496, Voter ID, Commissioner Currie said it looks like this bill will make it. “Ordinary and Necessary” applies for municipalities with electric systems. Hospitals/Health Services and “facility bond financing” also look like they will go through.
”Ordinary and Necessary” has to do with Fraser and it was said this is an interim band-aid. .

H0490, Business Property Tax Exemption, This is in the House of Revenue and will come up tomorrow. It was asked if land gets taxed as it was before so the county is made whole. Commissioner Currie said he is looking into it as it wasn’t clear in the legislation. Commissioner Currie said this is where Commissioners have authority to grant a waiver of taxes for a business, but it is done on an annual basis. This is the choice to tax land and improvements.

S1319, Tax Levy/certain ambulance district, it was said this affects Washington County and may not have anything to do with any other county. This states that any counties that border another state could possibly run into a problem with insurance coverage. In Washington County, if emergency services have to cross over state lines, the patient may have to change ambulances and to get that coverage from an insurance standpoint. In talking to Tony Poinelli, this matter goes a lot deeper than Washington County.

H0500, State and Indian Tribal Cooperation Law Enforcement Act, Commissioner Currie said in speaking with Mr. Poinelli this is a fortunate debate, but it’s not being talked about much in southern Idaho. There are a lot of questions about this and there are a lot opposed to this around the state. H0500 would be a statewide bill. Commissioner Currie said it’s a local situation trying to find a state solution, but it doesn’t look like it will go anywhere. Prosecutors, Idaho Association of Counties, and the Sheriff’s Association all came out in opposition. It was stated this legislation was read and it is not to financially impact the county, but how can there be no financial impact with feeding and housing.

H391a, Idaho Health Freedom Act, Commissioner Currie said he had no information on this. It was said that AARP has come out extremely against this. This prohibits the federal government from forcing someone to have health insurance. This is a state vote and one commissioner participating in the conference call believes there are similar bills going on in other states.

H392 – Planning and Zoning Appeals Process, Commissioner Currie said there will be another bill coming up to replace this bill that will clear up information the Supreme Court had done. It doesn’t matter if you were a developer or otherwise and it gave no good direction for appeals and the new language would clean that up. It was said you have to be a party of interest to be in that appeal process.

H522 – Out of State Emergency Responders, this pertains to if an emergency responding entity is not covered in the other state and this bill would address that.

S1325 International Fire Code, Commissioner Currie said this leaves it as a local option. You might need to contract with a fire district to implement those rules and it’s for five acres and larger. You would have to do a local county option. Commissioner Dinning said he sat on the international fire code committee and without this legislation, fire districts have the ultimate authority for five acres and below. This allows counties to place by ordinance, a minimum parcel size. Commissioner Tillman of Ada County had questions referring to the area of impact and this does not change any of that or give any more authority for the city negotiating the area of impact. Commissioner Dinning said he would like this to be endorsed. It was said there are a lot of good provisions in this.

S1303 & H0487, Employment/Unauthorized Aliens, Commissioner Currie said this is a hard bill. There isn’t as big of a problem as there is towards the south. If someone is employing illegal aliens they will receive a warning and if afterwards they are caught, the employer will lose their business for a period of time. Commissioners said they will look into who enforces this.

Business Personal Property Tax Exemption. Commissioner Currie said there will be a meeting tomorrow afternoon and he is not sure what will be proposed.

EMS Task Force/Legislation. Commissioner Young said for four years legislation has been trying to repair the disconnect with fire districts and EMS licensing. This is for medical direction and administration as far as funding for ambulance service. This legislation it is not perfect, but fixes a lot of problems and clears up licensing and authority issues.

CAMP. This legislation requests Treasures to collect fees for aquifer management.

Urban Renewal, Commissioner Currie said there are six bills that have been circulated and leadership has made requests that all participating parties sit down and be given two weeks to combine these bills and come back with one bill. Commissioners and Health District Board, Commissioner Dinning urged each county to have a commissioner on that board. Commissioner Currie said if you don’t have a county commissioner representative on the board, this legislation gives the authority to change that position. Kootenai County has a representative and they were told that one board member could serve in his place with this legislation.

Planned Review for Schools, Commissioner Currie said he doesn’t know much about this legislation.

BOE-Appeals Process, this requires the appellant to go before the State Board of Tax Appeals before going to the Supreme Court.

Treasurer Fessler left the meeting at 1:50 p.m.

Commissioner Currie said the next legislative conference call is scheduled for Monday, February 22, 2010 at 10:00 a.m., and the legislators will be invited.

The conference call ended at 1:55 p.m., and Mr. Brown and Assessor Ryals left the meeting.

Commissioners spoke to Attorney Phil Robinson via telephone at 2:00 p.m.

Commissioner Dinning moved to go into executive session under Idaho Code 67-2345-C, to conduct deliberations concerning labor negotiations or to acquire an interest in real property which is not owned by a public agency. Chairman Smith yielded the chair to second. Commissioners voted as follows: Chairman Smith “aye”, and Commissioner Dinning “aye”. Motion passed unanimously. 2:15 p.m., Commissioner Dinning moved to go out of executive session. Chairman Smith yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Dinning moved to authorize the Chairman to sign the Purchase and Sale Agreement regarding real property that will be utilized for public use. Chairman Smith yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.

2:30 p.m., Boundary County Emergency Services Incident Commander Bob Graham and Director Dave Kramer joined the meeting to discuss the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Kootenai County for the use of their mobile command unit. The cover letter states Kootenai County wishes to make their mobile command center available to regional response agencies that may have the need for it. For those counties who sign the agreement, Kootenai County will mobilize and demobilize the unit as well as provide “just in time” training. There would be charge for restocking and personnel. Mr. Kramer said he doesn’t see the likelihood this service would be utilized. Chairman Smith said if it got down to absolutely needing that resource, the county wouldn’t mind the costs. The mobile command unit would have to be returned in the same fashion as it was when it was loaned out. Mr. Kramer said he believes Kootenai County would bring the unit up and show how to use it.

Commissioner Dinning moved to authorize the Chair to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with Kootenai County for use of the mobile command center. Chairman Smith yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.

3:00 p.m., Commissioners held a meeting to consider a hardship exemption application filed by Laurel McGuire. Present were: Chairman Smith, Commissioner Dinning, Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser, Treasurer Jenny Fessler, and Applicant Laurel McGuire. The meeting was recorded.

Chairman Smith administered the oath to Ms. McGuire. Ms. McGuire said she fell behind in her taxes since year 2000. Ms. McGuire said she has been employed as a counselor for CEDU Schools who then sold to Brown Schools. Commissioners and Treasurer Fessler reviewed the taxes and fees owed. $618.00 is the actual tax. The cost of $400.00 is for the Treasurer’s Office staff’s time to search tax deed information. The base amount is $1,193.00, plus the late fees and interest. Ms. McGuire said every year until this year she uses her income tax return, but she was awarded disability of $766.00 per month and she works two days per week. Chairman Smith said the county is not able to cancel the Cabinet Mountain Water Association fee. Ms. McGuire said she is expecting some money from her tax return. Ms. McGuire said she is appealing the status of her disability. Ms. McGuire said she first applied for disability benefits in year 2006, but did not reapply until 2009. Ms. McGuire said when she was awarded disability, the State didn’t retroactively pay, but if she was awarded the amount that is retroactive she could pay all of the taxes in full. Ms. McGuire said she was told it may take eight to nine months to receive a decision on her appeal. Commissioner Dinning asked if Ms. McGuire is looking to do away with the 2006 taxes or is she able to make payments towards them. Chairman Smith said if the county did something to help then Ms. McGuire could try to make arrangements towards her 2007 taxes. Ms. McGuire said now that her income is fixed and limited, she could only make monthly payments. As Ms. McGuire makes her payments, she can put them towards her 2007 taxes. Ms. McGuire said now that she is considered disabled she has applied for the circuit breaker. Treasurer Fessler said that will apply for the 2010 taxes.

Commissioner Dinning moved to cancel year 2006 taxes, interest, penalty, fees, and costs for parcel #RP61N01E140010A with the exception of $538.54, which will be returned to Cabinet Mountain Water for collection and $36.24 for the Idaho Department of Lands. Chairman Smith yielded the chair to second. Motion passed unanimously.

The meeting to consider the hardship exemption ended at 3:15 p.m.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:40 p.m.

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RONALD R. SMITH, Chairman

ATTEST:

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GLENDA POSTON, Clerk

By: Michelle Rohrwasser, Deputy