Wednesday, July 09, 2025
64.0°F

Commissioners approve detention agreements

ERIC WELCH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 10 months, 4 weeks AGO
by ERIC WELCH
Staff Writer | August 15, 2024 1:00 AM

SANDPOINT — Bonner County commissioners convened Tuesday to return the Priest River Senior Center to the city of Priest River and to approve agreements to house juveniles from neighboring counties at Bonner County’s juvenile detention center. 

The detention agreements will allow Boundary County and Montana’s Lincoln County to house inmates at the facility through September 2026. 

Additionally, commissioners voted unanimously to approve a resolution that will transfer ownership of Priest River Senior Center from Bonner County to the city of Priest River. 

The property had previously been owned by Priest River until the city quitclaimed the center to Bonner County several years ago. 

The decision to donate the facility came after Bonner County determined that owning the property was no longer in its best interest. 

“I just want to thank everybody for working to give back this community center to Priest River,” said Commissioner Asia Williams in the Tuesday meeting. “It was a definite need for them to be able to have their building back.” 

The meeting also included decisions to approve a waterways budget adjustment and the construction of concrete sidewalks near the county administration building. 

Due to unexpected damage and thefts of buoys, Bonner County Parks and Waterways has transferred $8,000 into its capital equipment fund to replace the markers. 

Commissioner Luke Omodt chastised “aquatic delinquents” who have run over or stolen county buoys. 

“It's just idiotic,” Omodt said at the meeting. “The citizens of Bonner County are put at risk because of such behavior.” 

Commissioners also voted 2-1 to allocate $11,995 from the repairs and maintenance fund to construct two new concrete sidewalks that will connect the county administration building to the nearby EMS station. 

Omodt and Commissioner Steven Bradshaw supported the move; Omodt stated that creating a safe walking path would protect the county from liability if someone were to be injured while traveling between the buildings. 

Williams opposed the decision, describing the new paths as a “want” and stating that the need for snow removal equipment for the property has not been addressed. 

The commissioners will meet next at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 20, at the Bonner County Administration Building.

ARTICLES BY ERIC WELCH

City personnel, community members discuss options as James E. Russell Center costs exceed revenue
May 30, 2025 1 a.m.

City personnel, community members discuss options as James E. Russell Center costs exceed revenue

Community planning and development director Jason Welker, who oversees Sandpoint’s parks and recreation programs and facilities, suggested that the city could either maintain its current approach at the facility, shrink the center’s operating hours, install new modular playing surfaces for mixed sports use on some of the courts, or recruit a nonprofit organization to operate the facility.

‘Expressions’ courses fill non-school art void
June 3, 2025 1 a.m.

‘Expressions’ courses fill non-school art void

Teens participating in Gentry’s class practiced printmaking, painting and design to create works including a pop art-inspired self-portrait. “My goal when I'm teaching the kids is to just show them lots of different ways that you can make really cool art. It doesn't have to be just traditional,” she said. “The kind of art they do with me, they get to just express themselves, and it doesn't have to be perfection.”

City of Sandpoint sheds light on sewage incident outcome
May 28, 2025 1 a.m.

City of Sandpoint sheds light on sewage incident outcome

On the morning of Feb. 24, an electrical control system failure caused pumps to shut off unexpectedly at Sandpoint’s municipal wastewater treatment plant — a city-owned facility that removes contaminants from sewage before discharging it into the Pend Oreille River.