BOARD MEETING was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Board Chairman Jim Osman. Other Board members present were Bob Thurston, Daniel Hanson, Eric Paull, and Larry Ellis. The employees present were Colleen Johnson, Tanner Weisgram, and Rebekah Zwygart. Brett Converse, David Watkins, and Mike Camin from J-U-B were present. From the public were Mark Johnson, Jake Humble from Spokane St LLC, and John Gochenour of JSG Properties.

INDIVIDUALS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD:

• 6:15 pm Brett Converse – J-U-B Engineering
• 6:45 pm John Gochenour – JSG Properties
• 6:30 pm Jake Humble and James Black            

Minutes: Minutes from the March Board Meeting were approved as submitted.

Financial Statements: The Board inquired about line item #333 which was highlighted on the operating spreadsheet. Colleen clarified that it is a line item to break out drug and alcohol testing in compliance with new 1099 requirements. Those items were originally included in line item #332.. Financials were approved as submitted.

Maintenance Report: The Board asked about the current hiring situation on the operations side. Tanner responded, saying that a new hire is currently in the process of potentially filling the vacant position on the operations side. A project Tanner is working on is targeting the Inflow & Infiltration (I & I) in the manholes through chemical grout. The company was able to come out and run through a demo with the operations team on how to use the products. The operations team is currently applying the product to the manholes. The maintenance report was approved as submitted.

OLD BUSINESS:

1. Brett updated the Board on the progress of the plant upgrades. He is continuing the work on the Basis of Design Report for the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). He has finished the report. He would now like the District’s approval to move forward in submitting it. A team from J-U-B accompanied Brett to this meeting to present the Design Report.
   Brett was able to tour the STARR treatment plant north of Boise, Idaho. They have a low effluent and phosphorus concentration which is similar to the District’s goal with the plant upgrades. The STARR treatment plant utilizes a system that uses a rare earth metal that binds to the phosphorus, and is then filtered out. The plant omits zero odor. The STARR treatment plant felt satisfied enough with the system that they sold property just 75ft away from the mechanical plant.
   Brett introduced David Watkins, the area manager for the Moscow office, and Mike Camin, who previously worked for DEQ and has now joined the J-U-B team. They presented a PowerPoint to the Board about the Basis of Design Report. David will be the project manager. Mike will be the assistant project manager, handling the next steps for the plant upgrades. They will come to meetings to present updates and answer questions as needed. The presentation was an outline of the next steps of the project and what the District should expect.
   See Exhibit A and Exhibit B for the presentation. 

 

NEW BUSINESS:

1. 571 N Triangle Drive and 513 Cedar Avenue, request to transfer Hookup and Capacity. John addressed the Board about being able to transfer either the Hookup and Capacity or just the Hookup from 571 N Triangle Drive to 513 Cedar Avenue. The property at 513 Cedar Avenue currently has one Single-Family Residence NUFF. 571 N Triangle Drive currently has just storage units on the property and he has plans for building a duplex at 513 Cedar Avenue. The Board approved leaving capacity at 571 N Triangle Drive and transferring the Hookup to 513 Cedar Avenue. John will need to purchase capacity for the Duplex project with the transfer of the vacant hookup, which would then give 513 Cedar Avenue a total of 2 hookups and 2 capacities. The Board approved District Staff to work on the paperwork for the transfer to be signed at the next Board Meeting.
2. 303 Jasper Loop and The Retreat at Bay Trail, Blocks 3 Lots 20-23 Sewer Service Applications. James was not able to attend the meeting in person. He submitted a letter to the Board for their review and consideration regarding the matter. Jake, who was able to attend the meeting, addressed the Board about needing to get building permits signed to build on 4 different lots in The Retreat at Bay Trail. Jake and James are business partners working on developing the lots together. However, due to a balance owed on a personal property owned by Jake, located within the boundaries of the District, the permits were not able to be signed until the account was brought current per District Rules and Regulations. This included an amount that was previously turned over to the County. Jake explained that having to wait for the funds to be sent over from the County to clear the amount owed was halting work on the lots for up to 4 weeks.
   Jim explained that the policies the District has in place are to protect the patrons of the District. If there is any outstanding liability to the District that goes outside the Rules and Regulations, District staff are required to bring it to the Board for approval. Now that it is before the Board, they are able to make a decision based on all the information they have received, including the overpayment on the account that was previously delinquent.
   Bob made a motion to approve the signing of the service applications and review of the building permits for the presented lots, contingent upon the current account credit, which had previously been delinquent. Larry seconded the motion, all in favor.
3. 14 Railroad Avenue – Harbison and Ponderay property. Deconsolidation, Consolidation, and Assignment. Gale Harbison rushed a sale with the City of Ponderay on this property that is currently consolidated with the District. When the rushed assessment was received, Colleen notified the Title company that the property was currently consolidated and needed to be deconsolidated prior to sale. The property sold without being deconsolidated.
   Daniel motioned to assess a $250 civil fee for violating a recorded agreement, $80 deconsolidation fee, $80 consolidation fee, and an $80 assignment of NUFF to Gale Harbison. Bob seconded the motion, all in favor.
   District staff will work with District legal counsel to write a letter to Gale Harbison and will send it via certified mail.
4. 365 N Triangle Drive – Lake Pend Oreille School #84. District staff had a question on the LID/Hookup assignment. District records show that the parcel assigned the hookup and capacity is currently a vacant lot, whereas the parcel that the school building is on has no hookup and capacity assigned to it. The Board has approved District Staff to contact the school district about purchasing a NUFF for the parcel that the school building is on.
5. 363 Bonner Mall Way – Cabins located behind the Days Inn. They were originally sized as motel room rentals, but appear to be currently being used as long-term rentals.
   Eric motioned for District staff to write a letter stating that an additional New User Facility Fee (NUFF) needs to be purchased for the property based on current meter reads showing that usage is above 3 ERs. Additionally, the District is under the assumption that the use of the cabins is not short-term rentals, as such an additional 3 NUFFs will need to be purchased to bring them into compliance with District Rules and Regulations. Daniel seconded the motion, all in favor.
6. Eric made a motion to suspend the reading of Resolution 02_2025 “Surplus Office Furniture”. Larry seconded the motion all in favor.
   Motion to adopt Resolution 02_2025 was made by Eric, seconded by Daniel, all in favor.
   Roll Call: Eric – yes, Bob – yes, Jim – yes, Larry – yes, Daniel – yes
7. Eric made a motion to suspend the reading of Resolution 03_2025 “Creating LGIP Account for Plant Upgrade Fees”. Larry seconded the motion, all in favor.
   Motion to adopt Resolution 03_2025 was made by Eric, seconded by Daniel, all in favor.
   Roll Call: Eric – yes, Bob – yes, Jim – yes, Larry – yes, Daniel – yes
8. Current Planning Responses/ Will-Serve Requests. 177 Nancy road has requested a will-serve. The property owner is applying for a lot split and lot line adjustment. The property currently has a recorded shop mudroom exception, the shop has no plumbing in it. If the inspection shows that the line is completely capped off and not connected, the property owner would like to rescind the shop mudroom exception. Once the property is split, then a formal assignment of NUFFs will need to be made between the two properties.
   Another property requested a will serve, they are doing a lot split. Colleen did not process the will serve yet as there was an outstanding balance. There are two NUFFs for this property that will need to be formally assigned after the lot split. The Board had no concerns over the determinations by staff for the properties.
9. The date for the Budget workshop has been set for July 22^nd, 2025 at noon and the public hearing for the Budget has been set for August 25^th, 2025 at 5pm.

 

BOARD UPDATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS (Non-Agenda Updates)

1. Eric and Daniel ran unopposed for the election so they will take their oath of offices at the Board meeting to be held in May.

 

APPLICATIONS and UPDATES: (ACTION) – All applications were approved as submitted, no further comments.

1. Commercial – Industrial Sanitary Sewer Service Connection Request, United States Postal Service; 480 Bonner Mall Way, Ponderay
2. Commercial – Industrial Sanitary Sewer Service Connection Request, Tenant Update, Beloved Acres, 300 Vermeer Drive, Ponderay
3. Single-Family Residence Sewer Service Connection Request, Taku Construction; 159 Backtrack Rd, Sandpoint
4. Single-Family Residence Sewer Service Connection Request, Taku Construction; 147 Backtrack Rd, Sandpoint
5. Single-Family Residence Sewer Service Connection Request, Taku Construction; 137 Backtrack Rd, Sandpoint
6. Single-Family Residence Sewer Service Connection Request, Taku Construction; 105 Backtrack Rd, Sandpoint
7. Single-Family Residence Sewer Service Connection Request, Taku Construction; 113 Backtrack Rd, Sandpoint
8. Single-Family Residence Sewer Service Connection Request, Taku Construction; 127 Backtrack Rd, Sandpoint
9. Single-Family Residence Sewer Service Connection Request, James Black; 335 Jasper Loop, Sandpoint
10. Single-Family Residence Sewer Service Connection Request, James Black; 341 Jasper Loop, Sandpoint
11. Single-Family Residence Sewer Service Connection Request, James Black; 349 Jasper Loop, Sandpoint
12. Single-Family Residence Sewer Service Connection Request, James Black; 357 Jasper Loop, Sandpoint
13. Single-Family Residence ADU Sewer Service Connection Request, Sanctum Homes; 452 Ponder Point, Sandpoint
14. Private RV Dumping Site Agreement, Roy Thompson; 429 7^th Street

 

Signed – Rebekah Malcolm, District Clerk

EXECUTIVE SESSION §74-206 (b) To consider the evaluation, dismissal or disciplining of, or to hear complaints or charges brought against, a public officer, employee, staff member or individual agent, or public-school student.

Motion to go into Executive Session: Bob Motioned: Eric Second
Roll Call Vote: Eric-Yes; Bob-Yes; Jim-Yes; Larry-Yes; Daniel-Yes
Board moved into Executive Session 7:40 p.m.

Eric Moved to come out of Executive Session
Bob Seconded the motion
Roll Call Vote: Eric-Yes; Bob-Yes; Jim-Yes; Larry-Yes; Daniel-Yes

There was no motion regarding the items discussed in the executive session.

Larry moved to adjourn the meeting.
Daniel seconded the motion.
All in favor
Meeting adjourned at 8:14 p.m.

Signed – Colleen Johnson