Kootenai County commissioners approve fee increase for event ambulance standby, multiple contracts and property purchase

Kootenai County commissioners on June 17 approved a series of routine contracts, a land purchase and a fee increase for dedicated ambulance standby at public events.

The most substantive action was adoption of Resolution 2025-45 to raise the dedicated ambulance standby rate from $165 to $261.85 per hour. Tracy Abrahamson, director of finance for the county EMS system, told commissioners the increase covers overtime callback costs for fire districts and reflects a joint powers board recommendation. Commissioners voted to adopt the resolution.

The board also approved a recyclables-processing agreement with Waste Management, doing business as Bluebird Recycling; a five-year transit technology contract with Paseo Technologies; a janitorial services contract for the 9-1-1 campus; and an offer to repurchase 8.08 acres adjacent to the county landfill for $248,900. Juvenile detention housing agreements with four neighboring counties were renewed with a new three-year term and the per-diem housing rate increased from $150 to $225 per day.

Votes at a glance: - Item 14 — Recyclables processing agreement: award to Waste Management (dba Bluebird Recycling). Contract term: 10/01/2025–09/30/2030. Outcome: approved (Commissioners Eberline, Duncan, Chair Metari — all Aye). - Item 15 — Surplus transfer trailers (Bid 2025-03): award to Premier Industries (5 trailers). Outcome: approved (all Aye). - Item 16 — Property purchase: AIN 339780 (approx. 8.08 acres) from Kootenai Electric Company, $248,900; Commissioner Duncan authorized to sign. Outcome: approved (all Aye). - Item 17 — Transit technology services: five-year contract with Paseo Technologies. Outcome: approved (Duncan and Chair Metari Aye; Commissioner Eberline recorded Nay; motion carried). - Item 18 — FY2025 Federal Transit Administration certifications and assurances (annual self-certification required to apply for/accept federal transit grants). Outcome: approved (Duncan and Chair Metari Aye; Commissioner Eberline recorded Nay; motion carried). - Item 19 — Kootenai County Public Transportation Festival agreement with City of Post Falls Parks & Recreation (city to reimburse driver/fuel costs). Outcome: approved (Duncan and Chair Metari Aye; Commissioner Eberline recorded Nay; motion carried). - Items 20–23 — FY26 juvenile detention housing agreements with Benewah, Boundary, Latah and Shoshone counties: renewed for three years; daily housing rate increased from $150 to $225. Outcome: approved (all Aye). - Item 24 — 9-1-1 janitorial services: award to Environmental Control to begin Aug. 1 (transition from current contractor). Outcome: approved (all Aye). - Item 25 — FAMA social media screening addendum for sheriff’s background software (per-search fee $22 when used): Outcome: approved (all Aye). - Items 26–27 — Lease termination AAL-2022-2600 and new ground lease AAL-2025-1400 for hangar purchase (Sensor Avenue LLC; Elevate CDA LLC). Outcome: approved (all Aye). - Item 28 — Lease amendment AAL-2020-998 with Fightertown LLC (self-service fuel, steps toward becoming an FBO). Outcome: approved (all Aye). - Item 29 — Invoice 5726, payment to Thompson Consulting Group for FY26 compensation study: Outcome: approved (all Aye). - Item 30 — Fire-district annexation for property owned by Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (parcel 51N06W36-7700) into Kootenai County Fire & Rescue: Outcome: approved (all Aye). - Resolution 2025-45 — Dedicated ambulance standby rate raised from $165 to $261.85 (rate covers two personnel and an ambulance per hour). Outcome: approved (all Aye).

Supporting details and context: John Phillips, Solid Waste Department, told commissioners Bluebird submitted the lowest processing cost and greatest revenue sharing among proposers; the recommended five-year recycling-processing contract would run from Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2030. Phillips also presented the surplus trailer sale results (five transfer trailers) and recommended awarding all five to Premier Industries after a bidder withdrew to resolve a tie. Phillips said the county was offered the opportunity to repurchase about 8.08 acres adjacent to the landfill (AIN 339780) at 95% of appraised value; staff recommended buying the parcel for buffer, storage and future consolidation needs.

Chad Engle of the transit department requested approval to continue using Paseo Technologies for fixed route, paratransit and demand response systems; legal reviewed both the Paseo contract and the required FTA certifications and assurances. Engle also presented the festival transportation agreement with the City of Post Falls Parks & Recreation; Engle said the city is expected to cover driver and fuel costs as it did last year.

Eric Sheffield, juvenile detention director, said prior housing agreements auto-renewed annually; the new agreements set a three-year term and increase the daily housing rate to $225 per day. Lieutenant Jeff Howard said the sheriff’s office vetted Environmental Control for janitorial services and requested a change because the current contractor was not meeting standards; services are planned to begin Aug. 1.

On the FAMA social-media screening addendum, Captain Andy Deak described the tool as an AI-assisted search capability added to existing background-screening software; staff said it is budgeted and charges a per-use fee (staff cited $22 per search when used for applicants nearing completion of their background process).

Public comment: Resident Ross Hartman spoke during public comment to urge the counties and cities to set a deadline for whether municipalities will take on festival transportation and to limit the county’s ongoing role; he also said the festival contract illustrated hidden costs the counties absorb.

Why it matters: The ambulance standby fee directly affects event organizers and the fire districts called to staff private events. The landfill property purchase and the recycling contract affect county operational capacity and revenue-sharing for the Solid Waste Department. Multiple contracts and intergovernmental agreements approved at the meeting lock in services, budgets and operating relationships for the coming year.

What’s next: Several contracts begin later this year (recycling processing Oct. 1, 2025; janitorial Aug. 1, 2025). The county will return to the board for routine annual certifications (FTA) in future fiscal cycles and to administer the terms of newly approved leases and intergovernmental agreements.