Kootenai County Historic Preservation Commission submits World War II heritage-site cover letter; requests FY26 fund-balance support after state grant pause

The Kootenai County Historic Preservation Commission asked the Board of County Commissioners on April 22 to sign a cover letter applying to the National Park Service World War II Heritage program to designate Kootenai County as Idaho’s World War II heritage site. The board approved the cover letter and signatures, and the commission discussed using its accumulated fund balance to cover items in its FY26 request after a state grant was put on hold.

Jonathan Mueller, representing the Historic Preservation Commission, told commissioners the commission was ready to submit the application package to make Kootenai County “the state of Idaho’s only World War II heritage site as part of the National Park Service’s World War II heritage program.” He said there is no cost to the county for the application and that volunteers helped assemble the packet.

The commission also reviewed a FY26 budget request designed to cover projects that had been planned for an America250 grant. Mueller said the Legislature sent a letter indicating the program had been canceled and that some projects might still be funded pending further review; he said he will seek clarification in writing. To avoid delay, the commission asked to use its own fund balance — money accumulated from prior years’ unspent funds — to advance projects including a courthouse photo exhibit, a countywide historic-net effort to enhance tourism, and a brochure or web materials.

Brandy Falcon of the Auditor’s Office clarified budget lines and prior-year entries: “I think that miscellaneous payment in prior years was the money that was given to the museum.” Mueller and Falcon confirmed the commission’s FY25 operating budget was about $9,400 and that the FY26 request being discussed was roughly $29,000. Mueller said the requested use of fund balance would be drawn from the commission’s own accumulated funds rather than new county taxes or appropriations.

The board approved the commission’s request to submit the World War II heritage cover letter and to sign the application. The FY26 budget request was discussed but not formally adopted; Falcon explained that formal budget approval will occur when the county adopts next year’s budget in the fall.

The commission also noted that a committee member, Laurie Moussa, received recognition from the State Historic Preservation Board with the Vanessa Perpetual Award for her work — an item Mueller raised as a point of local recognition.

The Historic Preservation Commission’s cover-letter approval was made during the regular business meeting and carried; the FY26 budget request remains subject to the county’s formal budget process and any further clarification from the state about the America250 program.