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Bonner County Ambulance District advances plan to formalize separation from county, discusses property ownership and 99‑year leases
Summary
District leaders said the ambulance district is financially stable with just under $3 million in cash and discussed formalizing separation from Bonner County, focusing on building ownership, a recommended 99‑year lease for the Priest River site, and next steps to bring legal recommendations to the district and county meetings.
The Bonner County Ambulance District heard an extended operations update and moved to develop legal recommendations to formalize separation from the county, focusing on property ownership and potential long‑term leases.
The district chief told commissioners the agency is "in a really good spot" and that it currently holds "just a little bit south of $3 million in the bank," while noting remaining separation work centers on facilities and information technology. The chief said the district now operates its own human resources, insurance and vehicle fleet independent of the county and must now resolve how to treat county‑held buildings and infrastructure.
Lewis, who participated in the discussion, summarized the property question and recommended the county retain ownership of the Priest River building because that parcel sits on county land tied to airport property. "The building in question was Priest River, which the recommendation is that the county retain ownership because it wouldn't matter — you can't have the land under it because it's connected to that airport," Lewis said. Board members discussed using a long lease to give the district stable occupancy while leaving title with the county.
Participants reviewed past money transfers between the district and county and how that complicates disentangling assets. One speaker said the district advanced roughly $2 million (ARPA funds) into a multi‑use facility, while the building referenced carries an approximate $4.7 million cost — details the board cited when weighing whether full ownership separation is practical. "You guys put in $2 million. Do you get a whole brand new building over that? You couldn't pull what's over at the multi‑use facility into this," one participant said, urging a pragmatic lease approach.
Commissioners and staff discussed Ordinance 456, which older language still frames the ambulance district as a county department. Board members agreed county legal should update the ordinance text to reflect current independent operations so routine matters and lines of communication are clear going forward.
Rather than vote on a final property disposition at this meeting, the board gave direction to staff and legal to prepare recommendation materials — for example a joint‑powers agreement draft or lease language — to appear on the ambulance district's next meeting agenda. The district intends to vote on a recommendation first and then forward the matter to the Bonner County Board of Commissioners for any required county action. A commissioner asked that Clerk Rosedale, the county controller and county legal be invited so everyone has the same information when the topic returns to the table.
Next steps: staff and legal will prepare draft language and supporting materials for a focused agenda item at the next ambulance district meeting; if the district approves a recommendation it will be forwarded to the county commissioners for consideration.
