Kootenai County approves outside aviation counsel for helicopter lease in 2-1 vote

The Kootenai County Board of Commissioners on June 24 approved a hiring agreement with Fields Howell LLP to provide outside aviation counsel for a proposed helicopter lease and insurance review, voting 2-1. Commissioner Eberline voted nay; Commissioner Duncan and Chair Metari voted aye.

County officials said they need outside legal expertise because they lack in-house aviation specialists and because insurance terms will determine whether the county proceeds with any lease. Commissioner Duncan told the board the sheriff’s office had requested outside counsel to review a helicopter lease and the related insurance terms so the county could “dot all of our i's, crossing our t's with insurance and the operation of the helicopter.”

The board heard an estimate that the immediate legal work would be about $4,500 and that the county has an annual allocation of $10,000 for a helicopter program that has been funded by donations. Commissioner Eberline objected to the hiring agreement, saying, “I’m not so keen on this hiring agreement with the helicopter. I don’t think it’s necessary for Kootenai County.” The board agreed that if legal work exceeded the estimate, staff would notify the board before spending additional funds.

Commissioners discussed procedural points: the completed lease would be used to obtain an insurance quote and the county would then decide whether to execute a lease based on insurance cost and coverage. Commissioners also discussed whether all parties involved in the helicopter program were conceptually in agreement before the county spent funds on a formal lease document.

The motion to approve the hiring agreement carried 2-1. The board’s public record notes the intent is to obtain legal drafting sufficient for presentation to insurers; the county did not adopt a lease or enter into any aviation contract on June 24.