Commissioners delay advisory-board appointments, recommend outreach; one candidate highlighted
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Summary
Staff reported a shortfall of applicants for county advisory boards and recommended appointing Liz Boutin to the Historic Preservation Commission to fill a vacancy. Commissioners agreed to delay broad appointments until December, increase outreach and evaluate paid advertising if necessary.
Sarah Masters, staff, presented the packet of advisory-board applications and told commissioners the county has received fewer applicants than needed for several vacancies. Masters said the county can delay appointments and continue recruitment and outreach.
Masters recommended appointing Liz Boutin to the Kootenai County Historic Preservation Commission to fill the seat vacated by the death of Russ Brown; Masters said Boutin is already volunteering on the courthouse photo-exhibit project and would be able to participate fully if appointed. "We do recommend her appointment," Masters said.
Commissioners discussed timing and agreed it was reasonable to wait until December to make broader appointment decisions so the county could publicize vacancies and try to drum up additional applicants. Commissioners asked staff to circulate a notice to media and online channels and to return with additional applicants in the December status-update meeting; staff said that if paid advertising is needed, it would be raised with the board for approval.
Next steps: staff will continue recruitment, prepare a public notice and bring candidate materials back to the board in December. No formal votes or appointments were recorded at the Nov. 3 meeting.