Kootenai County commissioners approve payables, property-auction minimums, courthouse reconfiguration and several contract renewals

Kootenai County commissioners on Aug. 5 approved a package of routine county business including $3,197,339.28 in payables, minimum bids for a Sept. 9 tax-deed auction covering 11 parcels, a temporary floor plan for the Old Courthouse to house a district judge and a magistrate, renewals for monitoring and legal research contracts, an airport work order tied to a reimbursable grant, a lease addendum, and an annexation into the Eastside Fire Protection District.

The actions, taken during a regularly scheduled Board of County Commissioners meeting with Commissioner Eberlein and Chair Pro Tem Duncan present (Commissioner Metari was excused), were approved by unanimous recorded voice votes where recorded.

The board approved payables for the period July 28 through Aug. 1, 2025, in the amount of $3,197,339.28 and jury panel payments of $1,477.20. The motion passed with recorded “Aye” votes from Commissioner Eberlein and Chair Pro Tem Duncan.

Treasurer’s Office staff member Kelly Weest asked the board to approve proposed minimum bids for the county’s tax-deed auction set for Sept. 9; she said 11 parcels had recorded tax deeds and the treasurer’s office sought board approval of the minimum-bid proposal. The board approved the proposal by voice vote.

Samantha Wallace, deputy trial court administrator, presented a proposed temporary floor plan to place a new district judge and one magistrate on the…