Kootenai County commissioners approve grants, vehicle purchases, MOUs, FAA closeouts and FY2025 levy rates

Kootenai County commissioners on Sept. 30 approved a series of routine contracts, grant actions and budget items, including a $2,500 community enhancement grant from the Idaho State Historical Society with a $5,100 match, a $218,691 dump truck purchase for the landfill, multiple sheriff’s office vehicle purchases, renewal MOUs to preserve radio/dispatch connectivity, acceptance of opioid‑settlement funds and three FAA airport grant closeouts.

Court and finance officials said the items were largely procedural and supported by documentation. Courtney Beebe, on the telephone for the historical society grant, said the grant is funded by donations to the Historical Society and state legislative appropriations and would allow improved photographic prints for an exhibit in the new Justice Building: “This extra $2,500 would allow us to improve the quality of the photographs that we could purchase and have printed.” The board approved the grant agreement and signed the required documents.

Solid Waste Director John Phillips told the board the department solicited quotes from Kenworth Sales, Dobbs Peterbilt and Bruckner and recommended a 2025 Mack from Bruckner as the lowest‑cost option. Commissioners approved the purchase at a total price of $218,691, including warranty options.

The sheriff’s office requested vehicles approved in the FY26 budget: a 2026 Chevrolet 1500 crew cab for animal control (to be purchased through Knutson Chevrolet) and replacement vehicles for detectives and patrol, including upfits for nine patrol units and one K‑9 unit. Lieutenant Klinkoffus presented those requests and the board approved them.

Central Dispatch’s Alan Mallory sought renewal of an MOU with the Idaho Military Division to continue transporting the county’s data network between Kootenai and Ada counties and later sought approval for a three‑year MOU allowing the Coeur d’Alene Police to use the county radio network; both renewals were approved.

Office of Emergency Management Director Andrea Littlefield requested board participation in direct settlement funds from multiple opioid manufacturers and asked for one‑time authority to sign participation documents in DocuSign; the board approved participation and the signature authority.

Littlefield also presented a bid award under the Canfield FireSmart program for hazardous wildland fuels treatment covering 20.2 acres; Next Generation Logging was the lowest responsive bidder and the board approved the award.

Airport finance manager Kim Stevenson presented three FAA Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant closeouts. The original awards and final expense totals reported were: AIP‑54 (award $470,031; expenses $452,691; recovery $17,340), AIP‑55 (award $336,290; expenses $331,782; recovery $4,508), AIP‑56 (award $961,764; expenses $961,728; recovery $36), and AIP‑59 (award $325,252; expenses $306,446; recovery $18,806). The board approved the closeout documents and a separate lease termination for AAL‑2025‑700 after the applicant, Aircraft Haven CDA LLC, reported it was unable to continue building a hangar at the airport.

Auditor’s office staff Jolina Hildreth and Kat Clancy presented approval of TY2025 levy rates (Form L‑1) for 46 taxing districts; staff said six districts used reserved foregone and 12 opted into a judgment levy related to an Avista lawsuit. The board approved the levy forms.

Chief Deputy Treasurer Jill Smith requested and the board approved payments ordered by the Idaho Supreme Court (docket 51332): additional interest of $15,664.41 to highway districts to be paid from FY25 fund balance, and additional interest of $32,019.63 to cities to be paid from FY25 contingency funds.

Human Resources director Dorothy Cross asked that the board designate two positions (HR director and a backup) as approvers for short emergency prescription refills under a new pharmacy management program; the board approved the designation.

The board also approved an addendum to the Hayden law‑enforcement contract (a one‑month extension with an option to renew) and a resolution to surplus an assessor vehicle for auction.

Most motions passed with recorded “aye” votes from Commissioner Eberlein and Chair Metoyer; Commissioner Duncan was absent from the meeting. No substantive public controversy or extended debate on these items appears in the meeting transcript.

Votes at a glance

- Grant award, FY26 community enhancement, Idaho State Historical Society: approve grant agreement ($2,500) with $5,100 match. Motion moved and seconded; recorded ayes from Commissioner Eberlein and Chair Metoyer; outcome: approved.

- Purchase: 2025 Mack dump truck (Solid Waste) — $218,691, including warranty options. Motion moved and seconded; recorded ayes; outcome: approved.

- Purchase: KCSO animal control vehicle (2026 Chevy 1500 crew cab) via Knutson Chevrolet; KCSO detectives vehicle (2025 GMC Terrain) via Roboto Motors; 10 patrol vehicles + upfits including K‑9 vehicle. Motions moved and seconded; recorded ayes; outcomes: approved.

- MOU renewal: Idaho Military Division — to transport county data network; Motion moved and seconded; recorded ayes; approved.

- MOU: 3‑year agreement for Coeur d’Alene Police to use county radio network; Motion moved and seconded; recorded ayes; approved.

- Opioid settlement participation: authorize participation and one‑time signature authority for OEM director to sign DocuSign forms; Motion moved and seconded; recorded ayes; approved.

- Bid award: 22HFR1‑040607 Canfield FireSmart hazardous fuels treatment (20.2 acres) to Next Generation Logging (lowest responsive bidder); Motion moved and seconded; recorded ayes; approved.

- FAA grant closeouts: AIP‑54, AIP‑55, AIP‑56, AIP‑59 — closeout documents approved; recoveries to FAA noted as presented; Motion moved and seconded; recorded ayes; approved.

- Lease termination: AAL‑2025‑700 (Aircraft Haven CDA LLC) — requested due to inability to build hangar; Motion moved and seconded; recorded ayes; approved.

- TY2025 L‑1 levy rates (46 taxing districts, Form L‑1) — approval of levy forms; Motion moved and seconded; recorded ayes; approved.

- Payment per Idaho Supreme Court docket 51332: additional interest $15,664.41 to highway districts (from FY25 fund balance) and $32,019.63 to cities (from FY25 contingency funds). Motions moved and seconded; recorded ayes; approved.

- HR designation: approvers for prescription plan exceptions (positions) — Motion moved and seconded; recorded ayes; approved.

- Hayden law enforcement contract addendum: one‑month extension with opt‑in additional month, school resource officer removed from this addendum — Motion moved and seconded; recorded ayes; approved.

- Resolution 2025‑78: surplus assessor vehicle (specialized appraisal division) to auction — Motion moved and seconded; recorded ayes; approved.

What the transcript does not show: detailed bidder amounts for some purchases beyond the dump truck and the Canfield FireSmart acreage; technical specifications for the radio/MOU network arrangements; any opposing votes or substantive public comment on the listed items.

Provenance: the motions and presentations for these items appear throughout the meeting transcript under agenda items 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26–30, 31–36, and 41.