Kootenai County commissioners approve architecture contract, radio purchases, grants and multiple agreements

Kootenai County Board of Commissioners on an administrative agenda on items 18–30 approved multiple contracts, grant awards and other routine actions, including a bid award for architectural design services for the coroner's autopsy lab, purchase of replacement radios for the sheriff's office, a master service agreement with the Idaho Regional Optical Network for 9‑1‑1 connectivity, and several grant agreements for emergency management.

The approvals stem from presentations by county staff and outside partners. Facilities Director Jeff Vohler recommended selecting H2A Architects for the three‑phase autopsy lab design, citing the firm’s original blueprints and prior medical project experience. Colin McCroy of the sheriff’s office presented the 9‑1‑1 connection work with the Idaho Regional Optical Network (IRON) and described the proposed IRON service as providing a secondary, redundant path for radio core connectivity. Chad Engle of the county transit department presented three FY25 letters of agreement from the cities of Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls and Hayden that provide cash match funds for transit capital and operations.

Why it matters: The purchases and agreements affect county emergency communications, public safety equipment readiness and transit operations. The IRON connection provides a second network path for the 9‑1‑1 center; the Motorola radio purchase replaces nonserviceable radios and supplies the jail with updated portables; and the grants add state funds for homeland security and emergency management functions.

Most important actions and supporting details

- Architectural design services (Bid/RFQ): The board approved a bid award to H2A Architects for the three‑phase autopsy lab design. Facilities Director Jeff Vohler said the review team recommended H2A based on access to original blueprints and slightly more medical project experience. The board voted to approve the award; one commissioner voted no while the others voted yes.

- 9‑1‑1 master service agreement with Idaho Regional Optical Network (IRON): Colin McCroy said a fiber audit found a path from Molstead Library on NIC campus to the 9‑1‑1 center and that the county is now seeking a master service agreement and associated service order with IRON. He said the initial service cost would be $175 per month ($2,100 annually) and that the county would continue to maintain its existing microwave backbone while adding the IRON path as redundancy. The board approved the agreement.

- Motorola radio quote 2896670: The sheriff’s office requested approval to purchase pooled replacement radios and accessories under a NASPO ValuePoint contract; the quote total is $452,289.42. McCroy said $47,092.85 of that total comes from the enhanced E‑9‑1‑1 fund, $15,965.08 from a Marine Fund for marine radios, and $389,231.49 from the general fund/capital project (about $13,000 under budgeted request). Commissioners approved the quote; staff said many radios are replacements for nonserviceable equipment, including 31 portables for the jail.

- Kootenai County Public Transportation FY25 letters of agreement (cash match): Transit Director Chad Engle presented three city cash matches that provide local matching funds for capital projects and operations: Coeur d’Alene $104,298; Post Falls $41,624; Hayden $13,037. The board approved the letters of agreement and the motion made the agreements retroactive to Oct. 1, 2024.

- State Homeland Security Grant (24SHSP0552024): Andrea Littlefield of the Office of Emergency Management requested approval of a State Homeland Security Grant award for $214,729.26 with no local match. Littlefield said the funds can be used for allowable equipment purchases and training during the performance period, and the board approved the award.

- Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG0552024): Littlefield presented an EMPG award totaling $181,121.16; $90,560.58 is from the state and the same amount is a county match from OEM’s A budget. The performance period is Oct. 1, 2024, through Jan. 31, 2026. The board approved the award.

- Reallocation of ARPA funds to Justice Building: The board approved a request to reallocate ARPA funds that were freed after closeout of two subawards; those funds were re‑obligated to the county’s Justice Building contract with Bowden Construction, per the prosecuting attorney’s office presentation.

- Kootenai County Historic Preservation Plan approval: Courtney Beebe and John Mueller of the Kootenai County Historic Preservation Commission asked the board to adopt the county Historic Preservation Plan, which the commission said is nonregulatory and intended to guide land use planning and preservation goals. The board approved the plan.

- Surplus and asset deletions (Resolutions 2024‑99 and 2024‑100): The board approved resolution 2024‑99 (district court equipment deletions) and resolution 2024‑100 (parks asset deletion for a replaced vault toilet at Fernan Dock) to remove retired or replaced items from county inventory.

- Agricultural Protection Area Commission amendment (Resolution 2024‑109): The board approved an amendment to stagger initial member terms on the Agricultural Protection Area Commission so that two initial positions have three‑year terms, two have four‑year terms and one has a five‑year term; subsequent terms will be three years to avoid simultaneous turnover.

Votes at a glance (select items)

- Minutes (items 1–6): Approved. Vote recorded: Bill Brooks — aye; Commissioner Materne — aye; Chair Duncan — aye.

- Consent calendar (items 7–16): Approved. Vote recorded: Bill Brooks — aye; Commissioner Motel — aye; Commissioner Duncan — aye.

- Payables (December 2024): Approved payables of $769,228.11 and jury panel payments of $1,241.09. Vote recorded: Bill Brooks — aye; Commissioner Metoyer — aye; Chair Duncan — aye.

- Bid award RFQ (H2A Architects for autopsy lab design): Approved. Vote recorded: Bill Brooks — nay; Commissioner Metari — aye; Chair Duncan — aye.

- Master service agreement and associated service order with Idaho Regional Optical Network, Inc. (9‑1‑1): Approved. Vote recorded: Bill Brooks — aye; Commissioner Metoyer — aye; Chair Duncan — aye.

- Motorola Solutions quote 2896670 (radios/accessories): Approved. Vote recorded: Bill Brooks — aye; Commissioner Metare — aye; Chair Dunnington — aye.

- Kootenai County Public Transportation FY25 letters of agreement (cash match): Approved (retro to Oct. 1, 2024). Vote recorded: Bill Brooks — aye; Commissioner Metare — aye; Chair Duncan — aye.

- State Homeland Security Grant (24SHSP0552024) $214,729.26: Approved. Vote recorded: Bill Brooks — aye; Commissioner Metoyer — aye; Chair Johnson — aye.

- EMPG (EMPG0552024) $181,121.16 (50% state, 50% county match): Approved. Vote recorded: Bill Brooks — aye; Mishna Materi — aye; Chair Duncan — aye.

- ARPA reallocation to Justice Building: Approved. Vote recorded: Bill Brooks — aye; Commissioner Metare — aye; Chair Duncan — aye.

- Historic Preservation Plan: Approved. Vote recorded: Bill Brooks — aye; Commissioner Metare — aye; Chair Duncan — aye.

- Resolutions 2024‑99 and 2024‑100 (surplus/asset deletions): Approved. Vote recorded: Bill Brooks — aye; Commissioner Metare — aye; Chair Duncan — aye.

- Resolution 2024‑109 (Agricultural Protection Area Commission amendment): Approved. Vote recorded: Bill Brooks — aye; Commissioner Metairie — aye; Chair Duncan — aye.

What remained procedural or informational

Many of the votes were routine approvals of grants, contracts and asset deletions after staff presentations and legal review. Presenters repeatedly noted that some items had been reviewed by legal staff or that funding sources had already been identified in budgets. Several commissioners asked for clarifications about redundancy for 9‑1‑1 connectivity and the ability to cover unbudgeted IRON charges from savings elsewhere; staff said they expected to cover the IRON cost from saved funds or lower costs on other projects.

Ending

The meeting concluded after public comment and the commissioners adjourned. Several agenda items (19 and 20) were continued to a subsequent Monday meeting. The approvals taken at this meeting will allow staff to proceed with design negotiations, equipment procurement and grant implementation steps described by presenters.