Bonner County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Bonner County faces full agenda as no decisions yet published

Bonner County officials have a full slate of meetings behind and ahead of them, but as of this week no minutes have been published for any of the recent sessions, meaning no decisions are final. The most consequential items on the horizon include a proposed $5.99 million ambulance district budget, a $20,000 fairgrounds power project, and several land-use hearings.

Recent meetings: agenda only, no decisions published

All meetings held over the past two weeks were agenda-only, with minutes not yet published. The Board of County Commissioners considered a range of items, including:

• A zone change request (ZC0012-25) by SixPak LLC to rezone about 7.175 acres off N. Riley Creek Road from Suburban to Commercial. The Zoning Commission recommended approval on March 5, 2026.
• A quarterly update from the U.S. Forest Service.
• A tax cancellation error correction with the Assessor's Office.
• Public records request fees and forms, discussed in executive session.
• An emergency declaration for the Merritt Bridge in Priest River, along with a zone change ordinance (ZC0018-25) and claims totaling $628,909.91 (Claims Batch #45 at $561,976.17 and Demands Batch #45 at $66,933.74).
• An FY27 budget workshop, wage scale discussions with HR and Auditing, and a bid opening for scrap metal removal, hazardous waste disposal, and wood grinding.
• A proposed sale of county-owned real property, and a request from Lake Pend Oreille School District #84 for an L2 certification extension.
• A land-use workshop on the Comprehensive Plan update (AM0007-24).
• The Planning Commission considered land-use designations for about 264 acres de-annexed from the City of Dover, including proposed Rural Residential and Ag/Forest designations.

Several executive sessions were held for litigation, personnel, and exempt records, with no public action items.

Upcoming meetings: decisions expected

The Board of Commissioners will hold a regular meeting on August 25, 2026, with several action items:

• $20,000 for the initial phase of the Fairgrounds Emergency Power Project.
• $57,600 for dispatcher monthly bonuses.
• Claims Batch #47 totaling $448,412.64 and Demands Batch #47 totaling $215,859.51.
• A resolution for the sale of county-owned real property.

On August 26, the board will deliberate on File CUP0013-23, a conditional use permit for a private community facility on 20.006 acres in Cocolalla, zoned Rural 5, off Roop Road. The file was remanded by a court for further proceedings; public comment is closed. The board will also hold a special meeting to discuss a new solid waste point-of-sale system and voucher cards.

The Bonner County Zoning Commission will meet August 27 to hear two variance requests: one for a reduced property line setback (File V0009-26) and one to divide land into smaller parcels than the minimum lot size (File V0014-26).

Coming up

• **August 25, 2026** – Board of County Commissioners regular meeting (fairgrounds power, dispatcher bonuses, claims, real property sale).
• **August 26, 2026** – Board of County Commissioners public hearing on CUP0013-23 (Cocolalla) and special meeting on solid waste voucher cards.
• **August 27, 2026** – Zoning Commission public meeting on two variance requests.

All meetings are open to the public unless noted as executive sessions. Check the county's official agenda for details and any changes.

Bonner County commissioners approve $767,675 in claims, juvenile services agreements

The Bonner County Board of Commissioners approved two payment batches totaling $767,675.05 and several juvenile services agreements at its July 28 meeting, according to official minutes. All votes were 3-0.

Recent decisions

At the July 28 regular meeting, the board approved:

• **FY26 Claims Batch #43** totaling $652,780.56 (3-0)
• **FY26 Demands Batch #43** totaling $114,894.49 (3-0)

Combined, the two batches amount to $767,675.05.

The board also approved memoranda of agreement (MOAs) for state-funded juvenile services for 2026-2027, covering clinical services in juvenile detention facilities, juvenile probation services, and juvenile offender treatment programs. Each passed 3-0.

In other action, commissioners approved a resolution authorizing the destruction of Sheriff’s Office and Jail records, and authorized pursuit of summary judgment in *Shubin v Bonner County* and other litigation matters. The consent agenda included a $8,700 Fair invoice and an $18,762.50 Sheriff invoice, both approved 3-0.

Budget workshops and other discussions

The board held multiple FY27 budget workshops during the past two weeks, including sessions on July 27 and August 3–7. These workshops covered departmental budgets for Solid Waste, Emergency Management, General, Planning, Clerk, Sheriff’s Office, Fair, and Risk Management. No formal decisions were recorded from these workshops; they were discussion-only sessions.

Other agenda-only meetings included Fair Board interviews, a budget review for the Bonner County Historical Society & Museum, a public workshop on the Comprehensive Plan Land Use update (planning file AM0007-24), and a Planning Commission meeting on August 4 that included a workshop on Title 12 land-use regulations.

Coming up

Several meetings are scheduled in the next two weeks:

• **August 10 (today):** The board will receive a quarterly update from the U.S. Forest Service, discuss public records request fees and forms in a closed session, and hold a special meeting with the Assessor’s Office on a tax cancellation error correction.
• **August 11:** Commissioners will consider an emergency declaration and resolution for the Merritt Bridge in Priest River, a zone change ordinance (ZC0018-25), and approve FY26 Claims Batch #45 ($561,976.17) and Demands Batch #45 ($66,933.74), totaling $628,909.91. Also on the agenda are a bid award for a snow removal storage building at Priest River Airport and a law enforcement agreement with the City of Dover.
• **August 12:** The board will discuss wage scales with Human Resources and Auditing, hold an FY27 budget workshop, and enter executive sessions on litigation and exempt records.
• **August 17:** A public workshop will be held to discuss proposed updates to the Land Use Component of the Comprehensive Plan and the associated map (file AM0007-24).

All meetings take place at the Bonner County Administration Building, 1500 Highway 2, Suite 338, Sandpoint, unless otherwise noted. Agendas and minutes are available on the county’s website.

Bonner County roundup: Commissioners approve $600,000+ in grants, claims; FY27 budget workshops continue

Bonner County commissioners approved more than $600,000 in grants, claims, and payments at their July 21 meeting, the only session in the past two weeks with published minutes. The rest of the county's recent business centered on FY27 budget workshops and land-use discussions still awaiting minutes.

Grants, claims, and contracts approved July 21

The Board of County Commissioners voted 3-0 on a series of financial actions:

• **FY26 Claims Batch #42:** $309,791.42
• **FY26 Demands Batch #42:** $164,079.17
• **IDPR WIF grant (patrol vessel repowering):** $50,000 accepted, with a $25,000 county match
• **IDPR WIF grant (Garfield Bay Boat Launch Docks):** $125,000 accepted, with a $25,000 county match
• **Virtual Migration RMS System Services purchase:** $35,135.10
• **QLess contract renewal:** $4,356

The board also authorized the auction of a 2011 Ford F350 Ambulance and approved an update to Bonner County Safety Policy 2000 regarding the definition of "volunteer." Both passed 3-0.

FY27 budget workshops underway

Commissioners held budget workshops July 20–24 and July 27, with additional sessions scheduled through August 7. Departments reviewed include Noxious Weeds, Fairgrounds, Airports, Extension Office, Sheriff's Department, Technology, Justice Services, Parks & Waterways/Groomers, Solid Waste, Emergency Management, and General funds including Contingency, Junior College, and 911. Minutes for these workshops have not yet been published. Each session included executive sessions under Idaho Code § 74-206(1)(D) and (1)(B) for confidential records and personnel matters.

On July 22, commissioners held a special meeting with Auditing and Human Resources to discuss and decide on Paid Time Off (PTO) buyback options. Minutes are not yet published.

Comprehensive Plan land-use update discussed

The Board of County Commissioners and Planning Commission held public workshops July 20, 24, and 29 to discuss the proposed update to the Land Use Component of the Comprehensive Plan and its associated map, under planning file AM0007-24. The board discussed and drafted modifications before a public hearing is scheduled. Minutes are not yet published.

Zoning Commission reviews subdivision, zone change

The Bonner County Zoning Commission met July 23 to consider three items:

• **File MOD0003-26:** Modification of road standards for Earthkeepers Private School off Red Ceder Lane
• **File S0003-25:** Revised Yoman Bluffs subdivision for 12 residential lots and one open space tract off Sherwood Beach Road
• **File ZC0002-26:** Zone change from Rural-5 to Recreation for ±9.23 acres off Cedar Lane

Minutes are not yet published.

Pending items from July 28 agenda

The July 28 agenda listed action on FY26 Claims Batch #43 ($652,780.56) and Demands Batch #43 ($114,894.49), three passthrough fund recipient agreements for detention clinician, juvenile corrections, and CBAS programs, a sheriff's resolution on destruction of records, and an executive session on litigation. Consent agenda items included a Fair invoice from Pinnacle Contractors, Inc. for $8,700, a Sheriff invoice for ILETS User Fee at $18,762.50, and a catering permit for Popeye's Lounge in Priest River. Minutes are not yet published.

Coming up

• **Aug. 4, Bonner County Planning Commission:** Consent agenda including July 14 minutes approval, a workshop on Title 12 Chapters 1 and 2, and a Groundwater Source Protection Technical Committee update. Administration Building, Sandpoint, with Zoom/YouTube access.
• **Aug. 4, Board of County Commissioners:** Decision on FY26 Claims Batch #44 ($292,935.17), Demands Batch #44 ($65,939.10), audit agreement renewal with Zwygart John & Associates for $70,000, Highwood Estates plat MLD0073-25, and a liquor license for TC Stacks, LLC in Sandpoint.
• **Aug. 5, Board of County Commissioners:** Tax cancellation requests for parcels RP059670010010, RPS39950000010, and RP037940000020; plus a special meeting on a Justice Services contract.
• **Aug. 6, Board of County Commissioners:** Public hearing on two land-use appeals — File V0003-26, a request for a 0-foot shoreline setback (40 feet required) for an accessory structure off Raven Ridge, and File CUP0008-25, a conditional use permit for a marina and upland accommodations on ±2.16 acres off Lakeshore Drive.
• **Aug. 3–7, Board of County Commissioners:** FY27 budget workshops continue at 1500 Highway 2, Suite 338, Sandpoint. Sessions may be cancelled if no departments register.