Brief meeting, big moves

SANDPOINT — The meeting may have been brief, but the Bonner County commissioners made some big moves at Tuesday’s meeting.

At the weekly meeting, commissioners received an $8 million loan for solid waste improvements, created a new voter precinct, and guaranteed emergency shelter near Newport during Tuesday’s weekly business meeting.

The consent agenda approved at the beginning of the meeting included a single liquor license, a lift of notice, two minor land divisions, and a short plat application requested by Tricore Investments which will create eight lots near Whiskey Jack Road.

The first two items on the main agenda came from the Human Resources department, one regarding employee leave and another regarding employee benefits policies.

Commissioners unanimously approved both policies.

The Elections Office brought two resolutions before commissioners creating the Clagstone voting precinct, and dissolving Lakeview, Kelso, and Cocolalla precincts. All except 25 voters in the former Kelso Precinct will keep their current polling place. Commissioners approved and signed both resolutions.

Emergency Management brought one action item before the commission officially designating an emergency shelter location near Newport.

The Newport Rodeo Association entered into a memorandum of understanding with the county “to secure and provide shelter and care for displaced animals, citizens, emergency personnel affected by natural or manmade disasters,” said Bob Howard, director of Emergency Management, on Tuesday.

The document was reviewed by the prosecutors office before it went in front of the commission who gave their unanimous approval.

Solid Waste sought approval from the commission to secure an $8,733,700 with Columbia Bank to be used on solid waste improvement projects within the county.

The loan will be repaid in semi-annual installments beginning in March of this year through March 2024 at an interest rate of 1.74%. The loan will be paid for using grant funding by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program.

“It was in the requirement. USDA requires us to take out an interim loan, a bridge loan. Once the project is accepted, then they fully fund and pay off that bridge loan,” Commission Chairman Dan McDonald said. “It’s a construction loan. We know what the interest is. We don’t know what the total cost of construction will be.”

The money will be put toward engineering and construction costs for the project. Commissioners unanimously passed the action item ratifying the county’s tax commitment letter.

County commissioners meet for public meetings weekly at 9 a.m. in the administration building building at 1500 U.S. 2. Those who wish to speak can do so during the public comment period at the beginning of every meeting. Those who wish to remotely attend can do so via Zoom, or by watching a livestream of the meeting on Bonner County’s YouTube channel where an archive of previous meetings can also be viewed.