SANDPOINT — Amid a handful of agenda items brought forth to Bonner County commissioners, the board approved the appointment of six people to perform duties within the county as it relates to assisting community members in need and maintaining campgrounds. 

Commissioners unanimously approved the appointment of four community members to sit on the Board of Community Guardians, two of whom were reappointments.  

The board approved Bonna Johnson and Maryanne Britten to continue their volunteer efforts on the board until June 1, 2030, due to good standings for the past four years. Commissioners additionally approved the recommendation to newly appoint Lori Meulenberg and Kin Schelin to sit on the board until May 12, 2030.  

When presenting the candidates for approval, BOCG liaison Veronica Dixon said that all had completed and passed the required courses and background checks necessary to volunteer for the board.  The board is made up of volunteers who are tasked with protecting individuals who need a guardian or conservator. According to the board’s site, the purpose of the BOCG is to protect people who are incapable of making decisions for themselves. These individuals are often elderly and suffer from dementia or a debilitating psychiatric condition.  

Bonner County commissioners also approved a contract for Tom Houle to perform Garfield Bay Campground host duties during the 2026 camping season. Houle served as the campground host last year, where the commissioners’ approval of his contract mirrored what was approved in 2025. 

The camp host will be compensated for $500 per week and reside at the campground, where he will be required to maintain orderly management of the park and picnic area, according to the contract.  

“I just want to compliment Tom, because that campground is quite large, and he does a really good job of keeping all of those bathrooms clean. We’ve gotten a lot of good comments out of his campground host out there,” Commissioner Asia Williams said.  

Another contract was approved by the county for a host/vendor at Bonner Park West. Commissioners Brian Domke and Ron Korn approved the contract, with Williams voting in opposition to it.  

In discussing the contract, Korn requested the ability for Hinshaw to start her services early, without an added cost, allowing her to open the food truck on Memorial Day weekend, in addition to providing cleaning services to the restrooms and around the park.  

The original contract, which establishes that Charity Hinshaw will pay the county $300 a month to park her food truck in the “host site” of the park starting June 1 through Sept. 30, 2026, is similar to last year’s contract.  

Korn and Domke agreed that the contract amendment to allow Hinshaw to operate at the park would be mutually beneficial to the county and the vendor, giving extra coverage at the park during a busy season while allowing her to operate the food truck. 

“I would entertain the thought of just allowing her to be there, be it on site and open starting on Friday or the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, which is just days before what this contract reads for many reasons, to help with cleaning the bathrooms and all that during a busy holiday weekend, and all at no additional charge,” Korn said. “I was just thinking that she might want to be open on Memorial Day weekend with her food services.” 

Williams voted against the motion and said the amendment invalidated a cost-benefit analysis that was already established for the current vendor/host contract, and that removing the cost and operating as an “exchange” was not equitable.  

“The cost and the value versus the task being exchanged. That was not what was open to the general public in terms of earning money out at Bonner Park West, and so in terms of equity across the county, I don't think it's reasonable to make that change and remove the cost versus simply just offering an earlier start date,” Williams said. 

Changes to the contract will be determined on Hinshaw’s availability and willingness to start her services two weeks earlier than the original contract. In addition to operating her food truck, she will be required to clean the park bathrooms and pick up trash and litter throughout the area.