[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6236053,"mediaKeyId","3388721-97dda7c7444094422dc22c19c7abb7c2","parentId",3388721,"title","Commissioners seek clarity on who pays for background checks and county phone costs","audioSeconds",292,"startMs",3734000,"endMs",4026000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3388721-97dda7c7444094422dc22c19c7abb7c2&start=3734&end=4026","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3388721-97dda7c7444094422dc22c19c7abb7c2/thumbnail_3734000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6236053/Bonner-County/Idaho/Commissioners-seek-clarity-on-who-pays-for-background-checks-and-county-phone-costs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236053-add65b1200f130644116692e679635d0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775402212&Signature=f7D~34C12E-9Rt68X7EI1CLU4Gbjw9oalNAx3FhmNu2KOnVS-bq~-3IFUQAI~6ho4r3iuKbjcGTHiYOIWGPPc84JwUJ~nSf1g1l3EG-g3WqGTALoBgyLbR3r1UDzyCYi95zu8NozDcmaF-TfYWPojL7vpiSwGaWARaCi10kxb7fehSa30-nsvF-OOkHaY~6o~sAnwMVpcQQewYoZNFMytnD4f5xht2Fn5uZn0qHGhkFakJatUVJmGs0IJEyj6tQXGfZ2kKudiieBlJKel~5prm3f9rc35KJh3IYHL7wCG2t4QuMo4C5gh3NVJBovoi35lCXDPnbTrco6rZiAkfeNew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-19T19:54:53Z","article","Bonner County commissioners on Monday asked the risk manager to clarify which background checks his office pays for and to coordinate with Human Resources on volunteer and new‑hire screening procedures.

Christian said his background‑check budget covers annual motor vehicle record (MVR) checks for county drivers, not new‑hire criminal checks. Commissioners asked staff to confirm whether other volunteer groups or emergency management are using county HR resources to run background checks and whether those costs are appearing in different departmental budgets.

The group also briefly reviewed county cell‑phone provisioning. Staff said some lines have shifted to FirstNet and that device selection (Android vs. Apple) has been offered to employees; commissioners asked IT staff to verify monthly costs and whether employees are aware of monthly contributions or total device costs. No changes were made on the spot; commissioners requested verification of which background‑check costs are in which budgets and a brief accounting of phone line charges.

Commissioners scheduled follow up with HR and emergency management so the county can align screening policy, confirm which entity pays for which checks, and ensure volunteers and applicants meet the appropriate criminal‑background or MVR requirements.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Budget Workshops - Risk 5/19/25 @ 1:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","The board asked the risk manager to confirm which background checks the risk office pays for (annual motor vehicle record checks for drivers) and to coordinate with HR and emergency management on volunteer and new‑hire checks; commissioners also discussed county phone plan costs and device selection practices.","taxTitle","Bonner County, Idaho","taxId",49415,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6236058,"Bonner County board debates tort fund, insurance deductibles and workers' compensation placeholders for the budget",1579,4431000,6010000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3388721-97dda7c7444094422dc22c19c7abb7c2&start=4431&end=6010","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3388721-97dda7c7444094422dc22c19c7abb7c2/thumbnail_4431000.jpg","/articles/6236058/Bonner-County/Idaho/Bonner-County-board-debates-tort-fund-insurance-deductibles-and-workers-compensation-placeholders-for-the-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236058-235352ff05deecbf42b1ab5be4b6856b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775402212&Signature=AUW68NQwnsWUTCS4ZiEriYq75j5P8zYmYDm4n5RJUqn0gBdtlT6UFn2Ls-icXlSoUD4UgmaKn9fS~IeGxOYOkWnFFlP~mqmiR0qs8vOY8UvetR2qwkYa8cBvxFUKRhwUhW-8MvB~n6V1cbvVdTMR8w9gkCWxvNGqwSq22qF7INzDpM05q4RsamcgL061qAKFH0OjvTbqPa1d0cJ9FQ277vsvzgynQI5aHADhgpAsFLaAptl4YMQCiuAuK5WKW0hoXK5fdPJgUrsNwA3yvsZ5U88eBpaAgPoVhU2Bh8ubct0I5Fw4B0uarpiNiZq5jMO2xcj4NELI56V7bw9-Mtd8uw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bonner County commissioners on Monday told the risk manager to plan conservatively for next year’s liability and deductible costs and to provide updated insurance quotes before the board adopts final budget figures.

The risk manager described ongoing uncertainty as the county awaited formal insurance quotes and noted a recent shift when EMS secured its own insurance coverage; commissioners said that change will reduce revenue into the county’s tort pool but does not eliminate liability exposure. The board discussed using a placeholder number for liability premiums and deductibles while the county obtains formal quotes.

Christian said he would prefer a larger cushion in the budget so the county would not need to ask general fund transfers when bills arrive; he said, “I'd rather have the budget be blown out to a million. I think that's more than I need,” and commissioners discussed a more modest placeholder range of $1.4 million to $1.5 million as a worst‑case planning figure until precise quotes are received.

On workers’ compensation, commissioners noted that the county’s experience modification rate (EMR) will not be set until mid‑December and that comp costs are lagging and driven by several departments (Road, Solid Waste, Community Service). Commissioners declined to reduce the workers’ compensation line sharply without objective evidence of decreased claims, though they acknowledged the tort fund currently holds substantial cash reserves — Christian noted the tort fund balance is approximately $1.3 million — and agreed some reserve can cover near‑term needs.

The board also directed the risk manager to evaluate claims‑management software and processes. Commissioners said better claims closure and tracking could lower future premiums and EMR; they asked Christian to present options for claims management tools and a timeline for closing older claims.

No final budget numbers were adopted. Commissioners asked for insurance quotes and a follow‑up presentation before the budget is finalized.","Commissioners and the risk manager discussed expected changes to liability insurance costs after EMS left shared coverage, recommended a conservative placeholder for premiums and deductibles until quotes arrive, and directed analysis of workers' compensation trends and claims management tools.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6236063,"Commissioners tell risk manager to trim shared office supply and small‑asset budgets and clarify cost sharing with HR",340,2797000,3137000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3388721-97dda7c7444094422dc22c19c7abb7c2&start=2797&end=3137","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3388721-97dda7c7444094422dc22c19c7abb7c2/thumbnail_2797000.jpg","/articles/6236063/Bonner-County/Idaho/Commissioners-tell-risk-manager-to-trim-shared-office-supply-and-smallasset-budgets-and-clarify-cost-sharing-with-HR","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236063-f9da9c79e26d4fe137293d7d133548e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775402212&Signature=aXsy0~3xbonER95IzE0y5cmFZSLAsD3VVNJVmmbS1G8yVpsIHjc0p~vZUg7YjJ~LKhTpfsPcX-geYyHSRL6~sYMr8y-4kBEHHjDyHRrbIrcrW5r-dvlaS1CC8A3lMjEgCxWVpnBTu12ATqzq9~XP7GRz0yu2WXWTFtwRv6~KcVfRWTb8-yYnufDFwkerRyw~EgLQFZFZluthOg317yIFTe-2hQGrVVNTMrpdGv1BKO3qBGglpq4xybo7nXatnV--dO3tWQO-H92SHBEYy~YhedNUgFbBOznXUtVlMoorHo8xa3PL~Zn529yRSJl2mxCj1TCj30TFt5een7AeSRsXCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bonner County commissioners instructed the risk manager on Monday to reduce the risk office’s shared supplies budget and to provide a clearer, department‑level accounting of supplies and small assets.

Commissioners questioned why the risk office carried a $2,500 supplies line while printing and copier lease costs are driven largely by the county HR office. They recommended reducing the supply allocation to about $1,200 and establishing a cost‑sharing percentage that reflects actual usage.

Commissioner Williams said the county should stop treating shared supplies as an informal pot and instead allocate costs to the departments that consume them. Christian, the risk manager, said most of his work is electronic and estimated his actual supplies usage at “a third or less” of current shared costs; he described periodic printing for commissioner packets and loss runs. The board proposed a notional reduction to $1,200 for the risk line and asked Christian to document typical usage and propose a percent‑share for shared equipment and copier expenses.

Separately, commissioners reviewed the “small assets” line (currently $1,000). They expressed concern about using a general small‑asset budget to buy potentially risky safety equipment that would be used by non‑trained people (for example, confined‑space monitoring at fairgrounds). Christian described prior purchases such as a scanner and monitoring equipment used for site inspections and said he would supervise use when equipment was deployed.

The board directed Christian to (1) define categories of small assets that appropriately belong in the risk budget versus those departments should purchase themselves; (2) reduce the small assets line to $500 for the upcoming fiscal year pending that policy; and (3) return with a clear list of the kinds of durable goods risk would buy and how they would be controlled and maintained.

No formal vote was taken; commissioners said the budget lines can be reassessed as usage data are provided.","In the budget workshop, commissioners questioned a $2,500 office supplies line shared with HR, proposed lowering it to about $1,200, and directed the risk manager to define what qualifies as 'small assets' and to halve that budget to $500 pending clearer rules.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6236068,"Commissioners ask risk manager to justify memberships and conference travel for county benefit",222,1518000,1740000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3388721-97dda7c7444094422dc22c19c7abb7c2&start=1518&end=1740","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3388721-97dda7c7444094422dc22c19c7abb7c2/thumbnail_1518000.jpg","/articles/6236068/Bonner-County/Idaho/Commissioners-ask-risk-manager-to-justify-memberships-and-conference-travel-for-county-benefit","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236068-935b0274bb8eae13664b3164bf29f419/orig.mp4?Expires=1775402212&Signature=j1qXIalFGghZWOV-3TJbcIfq6FFEfbpChPyyQl5h3WRFEYoTjvqTiv-qIv67cXC8IMSsRjbgGQTjOQz4r7qVKPgel3qkviI~NOvscJk1jk-km61ZIYpZcgwY-iwesmm7jOQ0xQa5vCelT22cJ4bL5oNUv3o6zGW~WHZPlQiGhrJmLZYSFAmVFvODB4qa01zianqsQlC-XR2S6LQZkwz7AC2ELGUkd2cDns9WDtJh7MZOHp42x1dmYa4O167tSI8t~JGHOW0EF8Srgpif7F0Xe0qfKQQQc4gYi0zefmD~3GohUMKrKJIgwXD1~DM~L1~z9cTAVicVx2P9MIhS765MRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bonner County commissioners told the county risk manager on Monday they need clearer justification for paying memberships or conference fees that primarily benefit an individual professional rather than the county as a whole.

At issue were requests in the risk budget for national and regional risk‑management conferences (RIMS in Seattle, PRIMA) and memberships that include SafetyPlus and HRNI. Commissioners asked the risk manager to document what the county receives in return for each membership and whether content is duplicative of training already available through county partners.

Commissioner Williams asked whether the county “needs to pay for both RIMS and PRIMA,” and asked the risk manager to quantify “what does Bonner County get that we couldn't get elsewhere.” The risk manager, Christian, said he sits on the local RIMS chapter board and gains professional development and local contacts; he said PRIMA offers courses and conferences that the county has used for enterprise risk management training and county‑wide participation.

Commissioners directed Christian to return with a written justification for each recurring membership or conference charge, including: (1) the county‑level benefits or deliverables tied to the membership; (2) the expected number of staff who will use the membership or attend trainings; and (3) whether the same training or content can be accessed through existing county subscriptions or the Idaho Association of Counties at lower cost. Commissioners signaled willingness to fund local chapter meetings (small monthly dues, discussed as roughly $25 for meetings) but were skeptical of one‑time, higher‑cost national conferences without clear, county‑wide deliverables.

No final budget vote was taken. Commissioners asked staff to adjust the draft budget to remove one‑time attendance at the Seattle RIMS conference and to replace broad, unspecified training line items with month‑by‑month or event‑by‑event justifications tied to county needs.","Bonner County commissioners questioned whether memberships and conference attendance (RIMS, PRIMA, SafetyPlus) provide county‑wide benefit or are primarily professional development for the risk manager, and asked for written justification and participation details for the budget file.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6236073,"Bonner County commissioners press review of vehicle allowances, motor pool and travel reimbursements",738,378000,1116000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3388721-97dda7c7444094422dc22c19c7abb7c2&start=378&end=1116","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3388721-97dda7c7444094422dc22c19c7abb7c2/thumbnail_378000.jpg","/articles/6236073/Bonner-County/Idaho/Bonner-County-commissioners-press-review-of-vehicle-allowances-motor-pool-and-travel-reimbursements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236073-bfbe3f0bf85cd755219ab267fe6a7470/orig.mp4?Expires=1775402212&Signature=H3fte8jYr3R7KrSxvqBq0-~UVyHgU5AVK5xBqucIZO3vWFT7Y9W~7HZ-iVY7g4eXm0XIMfnipJnxClWOdtcNKbv2JpdWlEXamOAM8MUvMha8a5qmvq0SILynJoX8wGOv3-0UOqSy3UchXxFF4AsX8Pg7HXLnAUdADkRyJBD~WxWTDmfuy-Ds18~Oc61Ujj8jz7ct-sc4Qi3hrPxROnwrYQyKedOrgWgQXcf45M-37~d4omKulpBl7G-0HZBPQqxACkjiOlka-DP473Vio3VxvbObPpYHtcYwszn7aJUXmhfirs9gDtvafh-lPqmkuzPLkrvZauEo7aHbCa8h-hkkXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bonner County commissioners pressed the county risk manager on Monday to justify continued flat vehicle allowances and to propose a plan that reduces the risk of employees responding to incidents in personal vehicles.

The discussion grew out of the risk manager’s budget presentation about travel and vehicle allowances. Commissioners asked for a cost‑benefit analysis comparing continued flat allowances (the risk manager described a $300 monthly stipend) with mileage reimbursement or use of county‑assigned vehicles.

The matter matters because arriving at an incident in a county vehicle gives the public a clear identification of county staff and avoids liability questions that can arise when employees use personal cars for official county work. Commissioner Williams said the board “has an argument for saying if there is an available vehicle still that has the Bonner County emblem, that…there isn't a reason not to be checking out a county vehicle to arrive on scene in a county vehicle.”

Risk manager Christian said the vehicle allowance exists because, in the past, department heads received a flat monthly amount instead of mileage reimbursement; he estimated the stipend is taxable and approximated at “300 a month.” Christian told commissioners he cannot precisely track current mileage because the stipend replaced routine trip logging, and that a rough annual mileage estimate in his draft budget was $4,000 if the stipend were removed and the county paid mileage instead.

Commissioners raised several practical issues: the time cost and logistics of checking out items from the motor pool; maintenance and repair costs of older, department‑assigned vehicles that may exceed the stipend; and risks when employees arrive on scene in personal cars. Christian acknowledged the motor pool has changed over time and that older, surplus vehicles sometimes cost more in maintenance than anticipated.

The board asked Christian to return to the next budget meeting with a short, comparative analysis that includes: (1) estimated annual cost to the county under three options — continued monthly allowance, mileage reimbursement, and assignment/check‑out of county vehicles; (2) an assessment of implementation risk and impact on response at incidents; and (3) a proposed policy for when staff must use a county vehicle rather than a personal vehicle.

No formal decision was taken. Commissioners agreed to keep current allowances in place for now while directing staff to produce the comparative data for the upcoming budget cycle.","During a budget workshop, commissioners and the county risk manager debated whether to keep flat vehicle allowances, require county vehicles for on‑scene work, and reallocate travel reimbursements after reviewing usage and risks.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners seek clarity on who pays for background checks and county phone costs

Bonner County board debates tort fund, insurance deductibles and workers' compensation placeholders for the budget

Commissioners tell risk manager to trim shared office supply and small‑asset budgets and clarify cost sharing with HR

Commissioners ask risk manager to justify memberships and conference travel for county benefit

Bonner County commissioners press review of vehicle allowances, motor pool and travel reimbursements