Bonner County defers decision on contract with Boundary Security for juvenile bedside transport

The board declined to approve a proposed emergency services contract with Boundary Security for juvenile bedside transport and monitoring and asked staff to return with clearer contract language on travel and mileage charges.

John Stulz, director of Justice Services, said the agreement would allow use of Boundary Security for rare emergency situations when staff are unavailable to provide bedside monitoring at a hospital. He said the vendor27s hourly rate in the agreement is $36 per hour on a regular day and $54 per hour on a holiday, plus reimbursable travel expenses stated at $0.75 per mile.

Commissioners raised questions about whether the county would pay mileage from the vendor27s home base (Boundary County) to Bonner County sites and whether the contract should limit mileage charges to travel incurred once the vendor is on Bonner County premises. Commissioner Corn said the distinction matters because county employees are not paid for commute time from their homes, but contractors often charge door-to-door. Several commissioners asked staff to seek a contract modification limiting reimbursable mileage to travel while on county assignments or to specify the mileage calculation.

Commissioner Corn moved to decline approval of the contract at this meeting and ask that the item be brought back next Tuesday with the requested clarification; the motion passed. Public comment included contractors and residents urging the board to scrutinize costs; a resident noted it is common for contractors to charge door-to-door travel but supported getting clearer contract language before approval.

Justice Services will return with clarifications on mileage and travel expense language before the board takes a final vote.