Commissioners defer decision on district court space; residents press for clarity on ambulance-district accounting

Commissioners discussed a request from district court and the soil conservation district to use space in county-owned or -leased buildings. The board's lease language was cited as restricting subletting and third-party use without the leaseholder's approval. "Our current lease agreement has stipulations in it that prevent us from subletting," said the commissioner handling the facility discussion, and the county has asked its leaseholder to consider exceptions for the Idaho courts and the soil conservation district.

Several commissioners voiced concern about allowing noncounty employees regular access to county meeting rooms because of scheduling, parking and liability issues. "I don't think that we should have any other entities or people in our county buildings that are not county employees," one commissioner said, citing scheduling and liability concerns. Other commissioners noted there is unused county space and an opportunity for in-kind support if legal and lienholder questions can be resolved.

Public commenters pressed the board to resolve ongoing questions about asset ownership and accounting between the county and the ambulance district. Dave Bowman said he was "appalled" that a year into the transition accounting and ownership of vehicles and property remain unresolved. Amy Lunsford asked the board to clarify whether the Bonner County civil defense and other organized groups are official county entities or outside groups given use of county facilities.

No motion was made to allow district court or other entities to use the buildings; commissioners said the matter remains a discussion item until lienholder responses and the ambulance-district ownership questions are resolved.