Bonner County commissioners approve leases, contracts, quarterly reports and grant agreement

Bonner County commissioners on April 15 approved a slate of routine contracts, leases and financial reports, including payment of claims and a reimbursable agreement with Avista for hazardous-fuel reduction work.

The board approved payment of FY25 claims batch number 27 totaling $1,351,966.96; Clerk Rosedale said the total included a $128,000 health district quarterly payment, an $870,000 solid-waste loan payment and a $176,000 self-insured medical bill. "Those make up the lion's share of that," Rosedale said when presenting the item.

Airports director Dave Shuck recommended entering a one-year lease for Shelter Number 2 at Priest River Airport beginning May 1, 2025, at $3,000 annual rent; the board approved the lease. The board also approved a lease amendment for Lot 29 at Sandpoint Airport that documents a $23,111 rent-credit agreement to reimburse the lessee for a water main line and hydrant the lessee funded.

Bob Howard, director of emergency management, presented a reimbursable general services agreement with Avista for $100,000 to support hazardous fuel-reduction treatments on private lands; Howard said Avista will reimburse allowable expenditures and administrative costs. The board approved the agreement and allowed the chair to sign.

Clarissa Costa, Bonner County treasurer, presented two quarterly Treasurer–Auditor joint reports. The board accepted the fourth-quarter FY24 report with an ending balance reported as $44,177,958.44 and accepted the FY25 first-quarter report with an ending balance reported as $33,131,267.17. Costa clarified that the reported balances include pass-through funds for other taxing districts and are not all available for county operations.

Cindy Brannon, recording manager, said Tyler Technologies will discontinue support for the county’s current credit-card processor; Chase Bank is the proposed merchant processor for Tyler Payments. The board approved a merchant attestation so the county may implement Tyler Payments; Brannon said a 3.5% fee will be charged to customers using cards.

Sheriff Darryl Wheeler asked the board to approve a one-year renewal with Miller Mendel for pre-employment background-investigation software at $4,440 the first year (including a $1,800 startup fee) based on an estimated 30 checks annually; Wheeler said the cost will be split among patrol, the jail and dispatch. The board approved the agreement.

Road and Bridge Director Jason Toth presented an access agreement for a turnaround on Sagle Creek Road with property owner Twila Miller; Toth said staff had the area surveyed and recorded a legal description, and the board approved the recorded access easement. The board also approved an administrative signature for several routine documents, including the airport leases noted above.

Votes at a glance (motions approved): claims payment FY25 batch 27 ($1,351,966.96); Priest River Airport Shelter No. 2 lease (1 year, $3,000/yr); Sandpoint Airport Lot 29 lease amendment (rent credit $23,111); Avista reimbursable agreement for hazardous fuel work ($100,000); Treasurer–Auditor quarterly reports (FY24 Q4 and FY25 Q1); merchant attestation to implement Tyler Payments (customer fee 3.5%); Miller Mendel background-software agreement (first-year cost $4,440); Sagle Creek Road access agreement (easement for turnaround). All motions passed on roll-call votes recorded during the meeting.

Ending: The board moved on to commissioner reports after approving the routine items; no action at the meeting created new county ordinances or budget appropriations beyond the recorded agreements and approvals.