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Bonner County district report: fair water access, EMS insurance discussion and $1.14 million in PILT payments
Summary
Commissioners discussed an off‑grid water fill site at the fairgrounds that is shut off due to a leak and billing questions; clarified an ongoing review of whether EMS and county employees will remain on the same health insurance policy; and announced $1,136,578 in PILT funding for Bonner County.
Commissioners reported several county matters affecting residents and county operations: a shut‑off at a public water fill site at the fairgrounds, continued discussions about whether EMS district employees will be on the county health insurance policy, and federal Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding for the county.
A commissioner said the water fill location at the fairgrounds used by off‑grid residents is currently shut off because of a leak and there is no date to restore that specific fill point. The board said it must decide whether the county should absorb the cost of providing that water; while individual RV sites still have water, the single multi‑user fill location is disabled. The commissioner said the county will schedule a meeting with the fair board and county legal staff to clarify the fair’s budget requests and legal obligations and to coordinate with the clerk’s office on fund interactions.
On emergency medical services, the board clarified that the county and the EMS district remain separate taxing entities. The current question is whether county employees and EMS district employees should share a single health insurance policy for cost reasons. The commissioner said the county is likely to keep both groups on the same health insurance policy for the financial benefit but that this is strictly an insurance‑coverage decision and does not change the EMS district’s status as a taxing district.
The board announced that Presidentially allocated PILT for Bonner County will total $1,136,578 based on 454,018 acres. The commissioner said the amount had been confirmed and will be received by the county.
The commissioner also described attending a conference where county comptroller Brandon Wolf demonstrated Transparent Idaho and Town Hall Idaho, online tools for tracking public funds and meeting schedules; the commissioner said a commissioner chat on Transparent Idaho is planned to help local users navigate the site.
Several state and party matters were mentioned as part of the report, including central committee resolutions discussed at a conference; the board speaker said those party actions do not directly change county statutory obligations.
