Ada County commissioners table two procurement awards, approve routine agenda items and direct treasurer to waive late fees for mis-mailed tax bills

Ada County commissioners on Dec. 17 voted to approve a series of routine agenda items, table two procurement award recommendations for further review and directed the county treasurer to cancel late charges for a small group of taxpayers who did not receive their property tax bills in the initial mailing.

The board tabled final ranking and award recommendations for RP25006 (consultant for a computer-aided mass appraisal system replacement) and RFP25016 (ARPA design-build for an Ada County Weed and Pest mosquito abatement facility) to a Dec. 23, 2024 follow-up meeting so staff can complete interviews and address a formal protest in the RFP 25016 procurement. The board approved a motion to retable both items unanimously.

Why it matters: tabling the two procurement awards delays contract awards for the appraisal system and a federally funded design-build project while the county’s evaluation team conducts interviews and considers a protest, respectively. The treasurer’s action aims to avoid financial penalties for residents affected by a printing error that prevented mailed bills from being delivered.

The board also approved a range of other consent and action items that the meeting record shows were routine and passed without extended debate. Those included reappointments to volunteer advisory committees, change orders reducing two construction and photovoltaic contracts, alcohol catering permits and license approvals, multiple intergovernmental agreements (including pathology/autopsy service contracts with other counties), authorization of claims and personnel actions, approval of minutes and several annexations into local fire and protection districts. The board approved revised findings of fact and conclusions of law to finalize the two‑lot Leon Acres subdivision (application 202401253), located south of the New York Canal in southwest Boise.

Treasurer and clerk updates: Ada County Clerk Mr. Grama told the board the audit remains under review and said staff are answering auditor questions ‘‘until they’re happy,’’ adding, "a happy auditor makes for a happy clerk." The county treasurer reported that a portion of sales-tax funding intended for public defense—about $550,000, as described to the board—was not received for two quarters and that the state controller is investigating. The treasurer also gave an update on the ongoing 2024 property tax collection season, reporting large daily mail volumes and stating the county expects to collect roughly $400 million in this tax period.

Tax-billing error and late-charge waiver: The board approved a motion authorizing the treasurer to cancel any late charges assessed to 2024 real-property tax payments made or postmarked between Dec. 21, 2024, and Dec. 31, 2024, for parcels in a named batch that did not receive the initial mailing. The motion identifies the affected batch by an alphanumeric range in the treasurer’s batch file (from "515 Pioneer Exchange Accommodation Title Holder LLC" to "BB Rosalind LLC") and directs the treasurer to maintain the identifying file in the treasurer’s office. Commissioners voted in favor of the motion.

Procurement and contested award: For RP25006, staff asked to return the final ranking to Dec. 23 to allow interviews; commissioners voted to table the item. For RFP25016, staff said they had completed evaluations and were prepared to make an award recommendation but received a formal protest from EGT Solar; the board returned that recommendation to Dec. 23 for further consideration.

Votes at a glance (selected agenda items): - Volunteer board reappointments: motion approved (unanimous). - Remove unfinished business from the table: motion approved (unanimous). - RP25006 (consultant, computer-aided mass appraisal system replacement): tabled to Dec. 23, 2024 (unanimous). - RFP25016 (ARPA design-build, Weed & Pest mosquito abatement facility): tabled to Dec. 23, 2024 because of a protest from EGT Solar (unanimous). - Application 202401253 — Leon Acres subdivision (2-lot): approved (unanimous). - Resolution 3052 (budget adjustment for prosecuting attorney’s office unscheduled revenue): approved (unanimous). - Annexation: Marcia Polson property into Whitney Fire District: approved (unanimous). - Annexation: Parkhampton LLC into Star Protection District: approved (unanimous). - Change order #1, Agreement 30226 (skyline replacement): approved, decrease $15,000 (unanimous). - Change order #1, Agreement 30084 (juvenile probation photovoltaic system): approved, decrease $6,857 (unanimous). - Catering permits and alcohol licenses (new and transfer): approved (unanimous). - Claims journal (Dec. 13, 2024): authorized payment (unanimous). - Personnel actions: approved (unanimous). - Minutes (as identified on agenda): approved (unanimous). - Expo Idaho and Western Idaho Fair agreements: approved (unanimous). - Barber Park / Waterways Event Center amendment: approved (unanimous). - Multiple intergovernmental pathology/autopsy agreements (18 agreements): approved (unanimous). - Indigent services staff recommendations (summary of cases dated Dec. 17, 2024): accepted (unanimous).

What the board did not decide today: The board did not award contracts for RP25006 or RFP25016; both awards were postponed to Dec. 23 to permit interviews and to allow staff and the board to consider a bidder protest in the RFP 25016 matter.

Context and next steps: The board’s retable motions schedule both procurement awards for Dec. 23, 2024. The treasurer will implement the late‑charge cancellations for the identified batch of parcels; the identifying file will be maintained in the treasurer’s office per the motion.

Meeting context: The meeting record shows the items were handled in consent or brief discussion format with multiple clerks and county staff present. Most roll-call or vocal-aye votes recorded ‘‘Aye’’ with no extended debate on the listed consent items. The RFP 25016 matter was the only item noted as having a formal protest and thus receiving additional scrutiny.