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Bonner County staff to seek board approval to move $500,000 asphalt allocation into capital-improvement line
Summary
County solid-waste staff told commissioners they did not spend a planned $500,000 asphalt allocation after repairs, and asked to repurpose the funds for prioritized maintenance projects; commissioners asked staff to submit a prioritized project list and a formal request to create a capital improvement line for the amount.
Bonner County solid-waste staff told county decision-makers they did not spend a planned $500,000 allocation for asphalt repairs in the current fiscal year because private contractor work addressed the failing section, and asked the board to approve moving the money into a capital improvement line for other solid-waste projects.
Why it matters: The unspent $500,000 is already within the county’s spending authority for solid waste but was budgeted for a specific asphalt project. County officials said formalizing a capital improvement line would allow the department to hold the funds while staff present prioritized projects for the board to approve.
Solid-waste staff (Speaker 2) described specific repair needs they would like to fund if the board agrees to reallocate the money, including a $17,000 repair to a decommissioning building refrigerator/heater and replacement of rusting flatbeds. "I just got it bid, and it's a little over $17,000 for that repair because it needs a replacement," Speaker 2 said.
Commissioners (Speaker 1) asked for a prioritized list and cost estimates rather than individual emergency requests. Speaker 1 said the preferred process would be for staff to request the transfer of the $500,000 into a capital improvement account on the Tuesday business meeting agenda and then bring projects forward with bids and priorities. "I would like to see the whole list prioritized," Speaker 1 said.
County staff agreed to compile the full project list, include cost estimates as bids come in, and meet with the clerk's office to prepare a formal capital-improvement request so the board can vote on moving the funds. The transcript records no formal motion or vote during this discussion; staff were directed to return with documentation for a future agenda.
Less-critical details: Staff also offered to email the department’s revenue and expense reports to commissioners, and commissioners noted that, from an accounting perspective, carryover in a capital-improvement line can move into the next fiscal year if needed.
The board did not take a formal vote at this meeting; the item was left as direction for staff to prepare materials for a future Tuesday business meeting.
