Kootenai County commissioners approve routine contracts, surplus declarations and multiple advisory-board appointments

Kootenai County commissioners approved a slate of routine contracts, surplus-equipment declarations and advisory-board appointments at their Dec. 31 meeting, including an updated business associate agreement with Alliant Insurance Services and an amended grant-administration contract for the Panhandle Village water system project.

The board approved payables totaling $707,343.39 and authorized the solid waste department to purchase four specialty loader tires quoted at $24,000. Commissioners also declared multiple solid-waste assets surplus and approved appointments and reappointments to advisory boards including the airport, snowmobile, planning and zoning, and fair boards.

The business associate agreement presented by Sylvia Proud to address new HIPAA requirements was the meeting's most detailed policy item. Sylvia Proud said the updated agreement "is addressing some new HIPAA requirements, that need to be included in business associate agreements, such as incorporating safeguards to prevent unauthorized use of disclosure of reproductive health care related protected health information and, also, dealing with information about substance use disorder." The board voted to approve the updated agreement as presented.

The board also approved amendment number 2 to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) administration contract with Panhandle Area Council for the Panhandle Village Water System Improvements Phase 2 project. Dorian Combrick, speaking for the auditor’s office, said the amendment "extends the agreement between Kootenai County and Panhandle Area Council for their certified grant administration services for the Panhandle Village Water System phase 2 project. It extends the agreement through May 31, 2025, which will allow time for the construction project and grant to close out in the spring." Combrick added…