Commissioners’ News
Telecommunications project addresses issues of area’s poor quality infrastructure
March 10, 2008
Angela Vander Pas, IT/-Network Technician and Chris Kuykendall, Clearwater Economic Development Administrator reported on the rural telecommunications project. The draft GEM Community Implementation Grant application was reviewed. It is the start of the Nez Perce Tribe Information System group forming an Internet Service Provider Branch and Network. This project addresses the issue of poor quality telecommunications infrastructure that is found in the area.
Verizon recently notified the users that the telecommunications capacity in Orofino is at its maximum, so no additional lines are available. Service to Orofino is provided by Verizon via a digital radio signal that is micro waved to Moscow for communications with the outside world.
The telecommunications outage is a major concern of the Tribe, Clearwater Valley Hospital (CVH), surrounding cities and county. A letter of intent was approved to send to the Tribe for support of the grant application.
Engineer reports for new CVH clinic to be submitted for approval
Casey Meza, CEO, and Pat Watkins, Facilities Manager of CVH and Clinics, presented the engineers’ study on the hospital building a new clinic on the hospital ground. They have a viable plan, cost estimates and engineering reports are ready to be sent to ECHC corporate board for approval.
Sheriff Alan Hengen and Chief Deputy Chris Goetz gave an update on the department happenings. A state Search and Rescue conference was hosted here by the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue group. The event was well attended and went off very well. The local fire chiefs will host the Fire Academy event again this year.
Planning and Zoning Administrator Bobbi Kaufman, Building Inspector, Bob Hardy presented an update for the department. Jeff Henson appeared on behalf of Art and Judy Henson to ask the Board to consider waiving the building permit fee on BRS080013 for a single family residence. The Henson’s’ house burned down in Ahsahka. The request for waiving the permit fee was approved because of a casualty loss as allowed by Clearwater County Ordinance No. 42, Section 105.4.
Expense claims
February, 2008 expense claims were approved and ordered to be paid in the following amounts: Current Expense - $37,3566.10; Road & Bridge -$34,254.17; Ambulance -$14,298.78; District Court -$1,991.51; Justice Fund -$62,367.73; Interlock and Electronic Monitoring - $240.00; Social Services - $962.74; Parks and Recreation - $85.21; Revaluation - $4,011.05; Solid Waste -$40,361.34; Current Expense Tort - $4,823.18; Snow-mobile, - $2,252.20; Weeds -$724.36; Waterways - $304.50; Insurance/Grants -$40,984.72; Dent Bridge Trust -$21.95; CAT Fund Trust - $9,611.61; Hospital Loan Trust Account - $6,712.58; Total expenses for February were $261,573.73.
Salary claims
Salary claims for the period of 1/13/08 to 2/23/08 were approved and paid in the following amounts: Current Expense -$83,059.39; Waterways -$4,632.53. Road and Bridge - $46,074.61; Court - $15,698.49; Ambulance - $16,878.77; Justice Prosecuting Atty. - $22,624.76; Justice Sheriff - $119,075.18; Social Services - $3,350.40; Revaluation - $12,873.62; E-911-$1,036.54; Weed Control - $3,662.40; Solid Waste -$9,345.36; Total payroll expenses were $338,312.05.
Bids for magnesium chloride
The Board held a public bid opening for Magnesium Chloride. Four bids were received from: EnviroTech Services, Inc., Roadwise, Inc., WE Dust Control, Atlas Sand and Rock, Inc. The bids are for a ton price.
· EnviroTech Services bid $112.22 delivered to Orofino for $56,110; $112.54 delivered to Weippe for $112,540, with the total being $168,650.
· Roadwise, Inc. bid $ 92.95 to Orofino for $46,475; $95.75 to Weippe for $95,750, with the total at $142,225.
· WE Dust Control bid $122 to Orofino for $61,000; $122 to Weippe for $122,000, with the total at $183,000.
· Atlas Sand and Rock bid $97 to Orofino for $48,500, $102 to Weippe for $102,000, with the total being $150,500.
The BOCC approved to take the bids under advisement until road supervisor and Clearwater Highway District Commission reviews the bids for recommendations.
There were three executive sessions held to discuss personnel and indigent matters.
Present for the meeting were Chairman Don Ebert, Commissioner Stan Leach and Commissioner John Allen.