Commissioners and county residents cordially share information

By Clarice McKenney

Boundary County Commissioners held a town hall meeting this evening that was refreshingly cordial on all sides as commissioners explained necessary changes in the recycling program, plans for county court offices in the new county building and a new system of free walking trails.

Commissioner Ben Robertson led the meeting by explaining that the county assessor, clerk and sheriff were present, but would address questions and concerns addressed to them following the meeting. As a result, all four agenda items were covered and questions answered in about an hour, and several residents huddled with them after the meeting, as suggested.

The main reason the county commissioners are ending recycling of paper and plastics, Robertson explained, is that there is no longer a market for those items, so it is costing the county $125,000 per year just to collect them. Richard Jenkins of the Road & Bridge Department explained that there will be separate bins at county transfer sites for aluminum cans and tin food cans.

The good news, Robertson told the group, is that only 5.9% of recyclables the county collects are non-recyclable. This fact was obtained during a recent audit by Spokane Recycling.

Robertson explained that Idaho’s Department of Environmental Quality is requiring the county to close the entire landfill within 10 years.

“We’re over our 20 tons A day limit that we must stay below as a small community,” Robertson told the crowd of about 50 gathered in the Memorial Hall of the County Fairgrounds.

Several audience members expressed concern that since the program was started years ago to recycle for the express purpose of saving space in the landfill, it seemed counterproductive to end most of that program. Robertson assured them that in spite of that goal, this area receives too much rain to be within the state’s parameters for continuing to operate the landfill.

“We have a landfill closure fund that will help us be ready for that day,” he assured the group.

Resident Adrienne Norris mentioned an engineering study and inquired about results of test wells.

Robertson said DEQ required water test wells (drilled holes for water testing) and paid for them, so they cost the county nothing, “but they’re not finished, and we will not have (engineering) numbers until we receive a closure plan.”

“Is there any way we could keep items out of the landfill to prevent such closure?” asked Shauna Cruttenden. The manager of the Community Thrift Center in Bonners Ferry told the commissioners that her organization, which is owned and run by the Seventh Day Adventists, is working hard to minimize the amount the thrift store adds to the landfill.

“We work with Better Together Animal Alliance (a Ponderay animal shelter and thrift store like the local Second Chance) to repurpose unsold clothing and cardboard,” nshe said. “Our thrift store alone keeps around 1,400 pounds of material per week out of the landfill. In the summer it comes to 2,400 pounds a week.”

She added after the meeting that the clothing is recycled to a special textile recycling company.

Cruttenden explained that she has obtained two grants for $11,000, so far, to obtain a textile baler, equipment that also can be used to bale cardboard, she explained after the meeting.

“We’re also looking for a building with the necessary three-phase area for this work,” she said.

After the meeting, Ivan Waddell of Bonners Ferry Builders said he is interested in her project.

“I’m going to watch for a suitable place for you,” he said, explaining that he’s also interested in future possibilities for recycling and repurposing more from his own company.

“I’ve made good second use of many things others discard,” he told me, “and our company being in construction has many things others might be able to use.”

Although one agenda item was named “New Courthouse,” Robertson quickly squelched rumors he said are circulating that the old courthouse is going to be abandoned.

“As you all know from being in the courthouse,” he said, “the only part of that building that is truly compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act is the basement because of the ramp, but we will keep some offices there and continue to maintain that old building. Originally we had hoped to move most of the offices over to the county’s new building, the old Safeway that we purchased across the street. But there is only room for the court-related offices and two courtrooms.”

“For those of who did not get one,” I asked, “could you explain the layout?”

Robertson explained that the building is concrete with brick walls. He said Phase 1 of the project will provide two courtrooms in the center off a main hallway that, in Phase 2 will lead to office spaces on the sides.

“There will be holding cells for prisoners in the back with a sally port and inside entrance,” he added.

“Is the project funded based on estimates you have?” asked Waddell. “We have no good estimates at all” was the reply.

This reporter asked if there is any connection between the lack of estimates for the project and the financial uncertainties of costs due to the current tariffs situation. “Yes,” he said, “the architect has uncertainty about the pricing (of materials).”

To end the meeting, Commissioner Tim Bertling delivered news that surprised some and delighted many in the audience. “When the old north hill mudslides happened, Idaho Transportation Department deeded the property in the bowl to the county.

“We’re planning to have walking trails through the bowl,” Bertling said. “It will be a great space in town for about a mile and a half of trail through green space, and some day it might be connected to (a trail to) Three Mile,” he said, adding that it will not cost any taxpayer money.