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Bonner County elects new chair and abolishes standing vice‑chair in favor of statute-based temporary chair selection
Summary
The board elected Commissioner Brian Donke as chair under a rotation proposal and voted to dissolve the standing vice-chair role, adopting Idaho Code 30-1-706 procedure to select a temporary chair when the chair is unavailable.
Bonner County commissioners voted Sept. 23 to elect Commissioner Brian Donke as chair and to dissolve the standing vice-chair position in favor of following Idaho Code 30-1-706, under which board members present select a temporary chair when the elected chair is unavailable.
Commissioner Donke had proposed rotating the chair every eight months to share duties among commissioners; supporters said rotation provides leadership experience to all members. Public commenters voiced mixed views: some urged keeping the current chair and others supported Donke’s experience. Legal counsel advised that the statute requires the board to formally select a temporary chair when the chair is absent and that such selection be recorded in the minutes.
After deliberation the board approved a motion to elect Brian Donke as chair by roll call. The board then passed a separate motion to dissolve the standing vice chair position and to adopt the code-based approach, noting this clarifies authority for signing documents and conducting meetings when the chair is absent.
The board instructed staff and legal to follow the statutory process when the chair is unavailable and to document any temporary chair selection in meeting minutes.
