Kootenai County commissioners approve grants, contracts, purchases and four-property annexation

Coeur d’Alene — The Kootenai County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 9 approved a slate of routine and budgeted actions including Federal Transit Administration grants and amendments, contract renewals in juvenile probation, equipment purchases for the sheriff’s office and the annexation of four properties into the Eastside Fire District.

The board met at 2:01 p.m. and voted on more than a dozen items spanning grants, procurement and treasurer certifications. Several items drew brief questions from commissioners and staff about funding sources, grant match requirements and personnel pay structure; none of the items requiring formal approval were rejected.

Why it matters: the votes authorize federal transit funds and local matches needed to keep transit service and planning work moving, renew contracts that support juvenile probation programming, and permit equipment purchases and property actions that affect county operations and adjacent property owners.

Grants and transit Chad Engel of the County’s transit department told the board it had several Federal Transit Administration (FTA) actions before it: an amendment to an existing operations grant (ID 2023-022-02) adding $1,506,600 and extending the performance period through Dec. 31, 2026; a planning grant amendment (ID 2024-032-01) of $25,920 with $6,480 cash match from local jurisdictions; and a separate grant award (ID 2025-023-00) for fixed-route and paratransit operations of $30,446 with a 50–50 in-kind match from the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and Kootenai Health.

Engel explained differences in in-kind match percentages: “Part of the grants is 80–20 match, and the other part is 50–50,” referring to federal match rules that apply to different line items within the transit portfolio. A member of the public had earlier asked for clarification about why some items showed a larger shortfall in local match; Engel’s explanation was given during the transit item.

Contracts, procurement and equipment - The board approved a FY26 cooperative-extension agreement with the University of Idaho to continue the county’s extension program; a clause restoring use of county reprographics was added back into the standard university contract.

- Building and Grounds Director Jeff Voller recommended selection of General Construction as the construction manager/general contractor for the Administration HVAC upgrade project under RFQ procurement; the board approved the selection to move forward to contract and guaranteed maximum price negotiations.

- The sheriff’s office received approval for several purchases: a 2025 Ski-Doo Summit 850 snowmobile (purchase price $16,005.67, funded from the snowmobile and rollover accounts) and a Deep Trekker Revolution remotely operated vehicle (ROV) for vessel operations ($52,006.50, funded from the vessel account).

- The board approved a commissary contract amendment with Summit Food Service LLC reflecting a 5% CPI increase, a software renewal for the jail classification system (Northpointe/Equivant Corrections), and a voice-stress analyzer end-user license and equipment purchase for the sheriff’s office with planned staff training.

Juvenile probation and personnel actions The board renewed three juvenile probation contracts: nondenominational chaplain services with Jackson Lanterman (funded from tobacco tax funds), a mentor coordinator contract with Kim Bojorquez (funded from lottery funds), and the alternative-to-suspension contract with Ron Francik (funded by the Post Falls School District). The board also approved retirement recognition and the awarding of a badge, weapon and ID card for Deputy Matthew Cutler after 17 years of service.

Longevity pay The board approved a FY26 change to longevity pay in the sheriff’s office that moves the schedule to 10, 15 and 20 years. Commissioner Duncan abstained/recused from that vote; commissioners who voted approved the change after discussion about potential pay compression at senior ranks and the department’s intent to preserve promotion incentives.

Treasurer items: property tax roll actions Treasurer’s staff explained and the board approved a package of certifications to the 2025 property tax roll: delinquent personal property (primarily mobile homes), inactive subdivided real parcels (moving unpaid taxes from parent parcel to child parcels), delinquent commercial solid-waste amounts, yield and deferred harvest-related taxes, and unpaid bills certified from taxing districts (water/sewer/LID assessments). The board also approved cancellation of certain uncollectible personal and real-property tax accounts (mobile homes moved out of state, demolished or otherwise uncollectible).

Property, right-of-way and annexation Pat Braden, civil deputy prosecuting attorney, explained a quitclaim deed conveying the county’s interest in a former Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) US-95 right-of-way to adjacent owner Venue Properties LLC to avoid a quiet-title dispute; the board approved the quitclaim. The board also approved annexation of four contiguous properties into the Eastside Fire District after the district’s duly noticed public hearing and recommendation; the parcel owners named in the motion were Thorfinson, Wright Living Trust, Ackerman Living Trust and Bogachev.

Votes at a glance - FY26 Extension Program cooperative agreement (University of Idaho): approved. - RFQ award, Administration HVAC CM/GC (General Construction): selection approved to proceed to contract. - Grant amendment ID 2023-022-02 (fixed route/paratransit operations, $1,506,600): approved; extends performance period to 12/31/2026. - Grant amendment ID 2024-032-01 (planning, $25,920; jurisdiction cash match $6,480): approved. - Grant award ID 2025-023-00 (fixed route/paratransit, $30,446; in-kind match $30,446): approved. - Door security expenditure (IT/Juvenile Probation gates): approved (to be funded from juvenile probation tobacco tax funds). - Property tax roll certifications and cancellations (multiple items): approved. - Contract renewals (chaplain, mentor coordinator, alternative-to-suspension): approved. - Purchase: 2025 Ski-Doo Summit 850 ($16,005.67): approved. - Purchase: Deep Trekker Revolution ROV ($52,006.50): approved. - Commissary agreement amendment (Summit Food Service LLC; 5% CPI): approved. - Badge, weapon and ID award for retiring Deputy Matthew Cutler: approved. - Northpointe (Equivant Corrections) software renewal: approved. - KCSO overtime agreement for traffic enforcement on a regional bike route: approved. - FY26 longevity pay schedule change (sheriff’s office): approved; Commissioner Duncan recused/abstained. - Voice stress analyzer end-user licensing agreement and purchase: approved. - Quitclaim deed, former ITD US-95 right-of-way to Venue Properties LLC: approved. - Eastside Fire District annexation of four properties (Thorfinson, Wright Living Trust, Ackerman Living Trust, Bogachev): approved.

What board members said Commissioners asked for clarifications on grant-match sources and on potential pay-compression effects from longevity pay changes. Transit staff explained that different federal programs allow different match ratios (80/20 vs. 50/50). The sheriff’s office and under-sheriff explained that including captains in longevity pay was intended to preserve promotion incentives despite foreseeable compression at the under-sheriff level.

The meeting adjourned after a brief public-comment period.