SANDPOINT — In an action-packed meeting, Bonner County commissioners approved a variety of action items for multiple county departments.  

Out of the 22 action items that were approved by commissioners, a fourth of the items stemmed from the Solid Waste Department. Of those items, the department received approval to accept a metal waste contract with Pacific Steel and Recycling. According to the contract, Pacific Steel and Recycling will pay the county $101 per ton for baling of metal piles at the Colburn, Idaho Hill and Dickensheet waste locations.  

The company will be responsible for baling metal piles, transportation, cleanup and disposal services.  

The department was also approved to enter into a contract with GrayMar to collect, package, transport and dispose of residential household hazardous waste. Charges to Solid Waste will be based on type of waste, quantities, packaging and disposal of waste.  

According to a memorandum, any expenditure exceeding $25,000 per month will require approval from Director Bob Howard. 

Solid Waste will also enter into a contract with Wood Solutions LLC for the grinding, transportation and disposal of wood piles at Idaho Hill, Dickensheet and Colburn waste sites.  

Wood Solutions was one of two companies that placed a bid for the contract, with its services listed as $49.50 per ton of wood waste, as opposed to its competitor at $70 per ton.  

Each contract is valid for the 2026 fiscal year.  

The department was also approved to carry over funds from the 2025 fiscal year budget to the 2026 budget — $16,000 to the Capital Construction fund for the Colburn culvert installation project, $500,000 from Capital Improvement funds, $390,000 Land Improvements and $60,000 from Repairs/Maintenance funds.  

In its final action item, Solid Waste was approved to establish revised solid waste fees, which will be effective Dec. 1, 2025.  

In other county business, commissioners unanimously approved a request by the Technology Department to exercise a sole source purchase agreement for email migration for a sum of $128,201.52. The migration follows efforts for the department to transfer the county’s email platform to a new government tenant for a more secure, compliant platform. Additional access policies and a reduction in costs are also expected to be implemented through centralizing everyone under a single email platform.