SANDPOINT — Bonner County commissioners approved $318,926.17 of grant and excess funding at Tuesday’s business meeting.

Also approved during the meeting was a lease agreement securing the site for a new ice arena that is expected to cost $8 million to construct.

This week’s meeting did not spend any county funds, but instead approved adding grant funding and excess revenue to the county’s bottom line.

The Public Defender’s Office asked commissioners to approve a conflict contract for one of their attorneys at no additional expense to the county. Conflict contracts help reduce conflicts of interest, and are considered a routine procedure. Commissioners unanimously approved the request.

Emergency Management brought three items before commissioners. The first was a request to receive an annual grant for $62,718.24 from the Homeland Security Grant Program to fund public safety by purchasing communication equipment as well as funding training exercises. The second was a resolution appointing a grant administrator to handle fund distribution for the grant.

The final item Emergency Management brought before the commission was a request to approve a contract with Arms Reach Land Management to remove hazardous fuels as a part of the county’s Bonfire Program. The program creates fuel breaks on private land, which makes wildfires less dangerous to people in the area.

Commissioners approved all three items.

The Weeds Department asked the commission to pass a resolution approving record destruction for documents from 2015 and 2017 since their retention deadline has expired. Commissioners approved the resolution.

The Road & Bridge Department asked the commission to approve excess funding received from BNSF totaling $256,207.93. The commissioners approved.

The Commissioner's Office asked the commission to approve a proclamation declaring Oct. 24-30 as Respiratory Care Week. The purpose of the proclamation is to raise awareness to the work respiratory therapists do in the county.

After commissioners approved the proclamation, Commission Chairman Dan McDonald recessed the meeting before resuming for executive session. According to the meeting’s agenda, the executive session addressed hiring new human resources personnel. Also covered was a lease agreement for technology services for the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office, which included a non-disclosure agreement.

The Bonner County Board of Commissioners hold public meetings every Tuesday at 9 a.m. in the administrative building at 1500 Highway 2. There is designated time for public comment if anyone wants to say anything not on the agenda for that week. For those who wish to attend virtually, the meetings can also be accessed over Zoom. Meeting livestreams can be accessed on Bonner County’s YouTube channel.