SANDPOINT — In a bi-weekly Wednesday meeting, the Bonner County Ambulance District met to discuss establishing an official vote to determine the structure of the district.  

While not directly slated for discussion on the Aug. 20 agenda, the topic of the ambulance district’s structure emerged during the meeting, where county commissioners agreed to make a formal decision on the matter after Commissioner Ron Korn has time to review what legal counsel shared about the potential restructure during a May 21 meeting.  

Although a formal decision has yet to be made, both commissioners Asia Williams and Brian Domke shared their personal opinions which leaned toward the district maintaining its current board.  

There was mutual agreement that it was “appropriate to ask the question to consider all alternatives and weigh the pros and cons,” when asking the BCAD’s legal representation to present what a dissolved district would look like.  

Commissioners shared the concerns raised by ambulance district personnel, who voiced apprehension about the stability of long-term planning and how it coordinates with the county and could impact the function of the district.  

“I personally, based on all that information, no longer want to pursue the idea of dissolving the current legal structure and creating a new legal structure with a separate board, because I see downfalls, challenges with both. But I think our current situation, while challenging at times, offers the most stability to the ambulance district and the most collaboration and coordination with the county,” said Domke.  

Williams was on the same page, saying that dissolving the district to establish a new board would be a “big step backwards.”  

"Even if I wanted to do it, it is not the right thing to do anytime now, but I don't feel like it's the right thing for our ambulance district, knowing that we're moving in the right direction. I honestly feel like if it was even a majority board vote to do that, I think we would actually be taking a giant step backwards," said Williams.  

Korn shared similar sentiments, despite not having viewed the May 21 meeting yet.  

Echoing the consensus of the room, EMS Chief Jeff Lindsey acknowledged that, from a staff perspective, the current board is unanimously supported.  

“Just being able to look to the board now and go ‘there’s some stability,’” said Lindsey. “Yeah, you’re (commissioners) wearing two hats, you’re going to hit a rough patch every now and then, but at the end of the day, it is stable, knowing that there’s not a separate board that’s butting heads.” 

The date for the official vote remains undetermined.