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 there is "no additional cost, and it has been reviewed and approved by legal." The amendment was approved.

On finances, the board approved payables for Dec. 23–27, 2024 in the amount of $707,343.39. John Phillips, director of solid waste, requested authorization to purchase four loader tires, saying the tires are "necessary specialty tires that are used daily when loading garbage inject trailers at our transfer stations" and that quotes totaled $24,000. The board approved the purchase.

Solid waste staff asked the board to declare several assets surplus so they can be removed from the county asset list and sold or scrapped. John Phillips described five transfer trailers as having "reached the end of their useful lives and are no longer worth repairing" and requested approval of Resolution 2024-95 to declare the trailers surplus. The commissioners approved Resolution 2024-95 (asset numbers listed in the request). They also approved Resolution 2024-96 to declare a paint-can crusher (asset number 1912) surplus and Resolution 2024-110 to declare a 1997 Ford F-250 (asset number 1858) surplus.

At the airport, Kim Stevenson presented an estoppel certificate (AAL2022-2600) at the request of Sensor Ave LLC and its lender so the company can secure financing for a hangar. Stevenson said the parties requested the document be recorded, and the board approved the estoppel.

The board approved multiple advisory-board appointments and reappointments: John Dawson to the Snowmobile Advisory Board (term listed as expiring 12/31/26); Victoria Slater to the Planning and Zoning Commission (term expiring 12/31/27); Dale Giboney and Patrick O'Halloran as members/alternate for the Airport Advisory Board (terms expiring 12/31/27); and Dave Paul (alternate), Elise Burton, Tim Volz and Joe Doelfeld to the Fair Advisory Board (terms recorded in the packet). One appointment for planning and zoning (item 27) was discussed and the board agreed to wait until the next business meeting to complete that appointment.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of meeting minutes (items 1–3): approved. Vote recorded as Bill Brooks — yes; Commissioner Metoyer — yes; Chair Duncan — yes. - Consent calendar (items 4–16): approved. Vote recorded as Bill Brooks — yes; Commissioner Metoyer — yes; Chair Duncan — yes. - Payables (Dec. 23–27, 2024): $707,343.39 approved. Vote recorded as Bill Brooks — yes; Commissioner Metoyer — yes; Chair Duncan — yes. - Item 18: Approve updated Business Associate Agreement with Alliant Insurance Services and Human Resources (addresses HIPAA safeguards including reproductive-health and substance-use-disorder information): approved. Vote recorded as Bill Brooks — yes; Commissioner Metoyer — yes; Chair Duncan — yes. - Item 19: Panhandle Village Water System Improvements Phase 2 — CDBG grant administration contract amendment #2 with Panhandle Area Council (extends through May 31, 2025; no additional cost): approved. Vote recorded as Bill Brooks — yes; Commissioner Metoyer — yes; Chair Duncan — yes. - Item 20: Purchase of four loader tires for solid waste — quoted at $24,000: approved. Vote recorded as Bill Brooks — yes; Commissioner Metoyer — yes; Chair Duncan — yes. - Item 21: Resolution 2024-95 — declare five transfer trailers surplus (asset numbers in packet): approved. Vote recorded as Bill Brooks — yes; Commissioner Metoyer — yes; Chair Duncan — yes. - Item 22: Resolution 2024-96 — declare paint-can crusher surplus (asset number 1912): approved. Vote recorded as Bill Brooks — yes; Commissioner Metoyer — yes; Chair Duncan — yes. - Item 23: Resolution 2024-110 — declare truck surplus (1997 Ford F-250, asset number 1858): approved. Vote recorded as Bill Brooks — yes; Commissioner Metoyer — yes; Chair Duncan — yes. - Item 24: Lise Estoppel (AAL2022-2600) for Sensor Ave LLC (airport hangar financing): approved. Vote recorded as Bill Brooks — yes; Commissioner Metoyer — yes; Chair Duncan — yes. - Item 25: Appointment of John Dawson to Snowmobile Advisory Board (term listed 12/31/26): approved. Vote recorded as Bill Brooks — yes; Commissioner Metoyer — yes; Chair Duncan — yes. - Item 26: Reappointment of Victoria Slater to Planning and Zoning Commission (term expiring 12/31/27): approved. Vote recorded as Bill Brooks — yes; Commissioner Metoyer — yes; Chair Duncan — yes. - Item 27: Planning and zoning appointment (Tim Volz/new applicant) — discussion only; board agreed to wait until next week for an additional interview; no final action taken (postponed). - Items 28 and 35–39: pulled from today’s agenda and deferred to next week (postponed). - Items 29–30, 31–34: Airport and Fair Board appointments (Dale Giboney; Patrick O’Halloran; Dave Paul; Elise Burton; Tim Volz; Joe Doelfeld) — approved. Vote recorded as Bill Brooks — yes; Commissioner Metoyer — yes; Chair Duncan — yes.

Why this matters

Most actions were procedural: contract management, routine purchases and advisory-board staffing that enable county operations and project closeout. The Panhandle Village amendment preserves the county’s ability to finish construction and close the related CDBG grant in spring 2025. The updated Alliant Insurance Services business associate agreement implements newly highlighted HIPAA safeguards that county staff said address reproductive-health and substance-use-disorder information.

What’s next

The board deferred several items to next week — including an additional planning-and-zoning appointment and items 28 and 35–39 — and adjourned after calling for public comment (no callers were on the line).