Bonner County Republicans Central Committee Regular Meeting

December 17, 2024 6:30 PM

Minutes

1. Call to Order at 6:32pm

2. Invocation by Rick Kirschner

3. Pledge of Allegiance led by Scott Herndon

4. Roll Call:  Present:  30   Absent:  4   Proxies:  1   Percent:  88% (33%req). Excused absences Tanner Linton, Tom Bokowy, Butch Horton. Nathan Thomas had an excused absence and provided his proxy to Mat Macdonald.

5. Scott Herndon opened nominations for permanent position of secretary.  Lisa Liband was nominated to fill the secretary position by Mike Nielsen.  No other nominees.  PC voting only, no proxies.  Lisa Liband is affirmed.

6. Scott Herndon announced that Kathy Nash will pass a hat for donations/venue fee offerings and mentioned the signup sheet for email updates on table in the back or sign up online at BonnerGOP.org

7. Approval of Agenda: 

 Grace Bauer moved to have the meeting adjourned at 8:30 hard stop.  Anne Chamberlain seconded the motion.  No discussion.  Motion carried.

 Amended agenda approved by unanimous consent.

8. Approval of meeting minutes of 11/19/24:

 Special meeting minutes of 11/19/24 approved by unanimous consent.

 Regular meeting minutes of 11/19/24 approved by unanimous consent.

10. Elected official reports: State, county, local government.

        

Cornel Rasor, LD1B State Representative

 Committee assignments: Business, Health & Welfare, Local Government

        

Mark Sauter, LD1A State Representative

 Committee assignments:  Education, Agriculture, Resources

        

Ron Korn, Bonner County Commissioner

 Agriculture protection area, Forest Service discussions on public lands and gates.  New classes focusing on Civil Defense and Resiliency.  Classes monthly on 4th Friday starting January.  Topics such as alternative communication, radios, first aid.  More information will be forthcoming in next few weeks.

        

Asia Williams, Bonner County Commissioner

 EMS budget, Sheriff resignation

        

Louis Marshall, County Prosecuting Attorney

 When lawsuits are filed against a county commissioner or other official acting in official capacity, Bonner County is the named party and not the individual under federal law. 

        

Kathy Nash, West Bonner County School Board

 Meeting tomorrow.  LD1 Representatives have been invited.  WBC School District is struggling with funding due to loss of students, 25 from high school alone last month.  State mandated expenditures are not completely covered by state attendance derived monies.  The district does not have the funding to make up the difference.  A levee is unlikely to be approved by voters.  

11. LD2 Chair or vice chair report:  Not present.  

Asia Williams reported that there will be an LD2 meeting on December 28th at noon at Altar Church in 

Coeur d’Alene before the Idaho GOP winter meeting.  The meeting is to hear from constituents regarding their concerns.  She encouraged LD2 Precinct Committeemen to attend.

12. PC Reports/Announcements:

 Roger Rudd announced Bonner County is having Comprehensive Plan Open House Workshops.  Dates and information are available on their website bonnercountyid.gov/departments/Planning.

 David Britton passed out a written report. 

13. Report of The Chair:  

Resignation of Sheriff.  Special meeting was not called as it is unclear whether resignation was in effect according to statute 59-902.  If vacancy is declared by Board of Commissioners, chair will call a special meeting within 72hrs to send recommendations to fill vacancy as prescribed by statute 59-906.  It is also unclear whether being elected to the same position is considered guaranteed employment under statute 59-1356; the PERSI Board will be the arbiter.  

14. Recording of BCRCC meetings:

Rick Kirschner moved for recording BCRCC meetings only by secretary.  Doug Paterson seconded.

Motion:  All recordings of BCRCC meetings is prohibited except for by the secretary to document meeting minutes.  No publishing, no broadcasting, no personal recordings, or use of by BCRCC members, media, or public unless the BCRCC approves a special exception on a case-by-case basis.  An announcement regarding the prohibition of recording will be added to the agenda at the beginning of each meeting.  Debate.

Motion to amend the motion by Sean Morgan.  Second by Dan Vaniman.

Amendment:  Recordings for personal use are acceptable.  Debate.

Motion to amend the amendment by Sean Morgan.  Second by Dan Vaniman.

Motion to amend the amendment:  Audio only recordings for personal use are acceptable. Debate.

Vote on motion to amend the amendment:  Audio only recordings for personal use are acceptable.  Passed.

Vote on amendment to motion:  Audio only recordings for personal review are acceptable.  Yea 14  Nay  16  

Failed. 

Main motion debate.

Motion to amend the motion by Grace Bauer.  Second by Andy Kee

Amendment:  Any PC may obtain a copy of meeting recording at any time. 

Clarification:  No use restriction.  Debate.

Vote on motion to amend:  Any PC may obtain a copy of meeting recording at any time without restriction of use.  Failed.

Main motion debate.  

Mike Nielsen called the question.  Second by Anita Aurit.  Motion to end debate Passed by 20 votes (2/3 required).

Vote on main motion:  Passed.  Division Requested:  Passed Yea:_19    Nay: _10_  

New rule for the duration of term passed as follows: All recordings of BCRCC meetings is prohibited except for by the secretary to document meeting minutes.  No publishing, no broadcasting, no personal recordings, or use of by BCRCC members, media, or public unless the BCRCC approves a special exception on a case-by-case basis.  An announcement regarding the prohibition of recording will be added to the agenda at the beginning of each meeting.

15. Committee reports:

a. Bylaws committee:  Dan Vaniman stated no report.

b. Elections committee:  Kristin Dodd reported that committee is compiling May election information.  Will focus on local elections.  Taxing districts, terms expiring, conservative candidates needed, with priority of Library and Hospital districts.  This information is not available at the county level, requesting volunteers to assist.

Motion from committee for the use of volunteers for compiling election information.  No discussion.  Passed.

c. Executive committee:  Scott Herndon stated no report.

d. Fundraising committee:  Julie Lynn updated on Lincoln Dinner planning.  Finalizing dates to either March 8th or 15th.  A save the date email will be sent out when date finalized.

Presented option to have a round table Q & A fundraiser with Alex Newman as he will be in CDA for speaking engagement on March 15.  Kristin Dodd gave a summary of who Alex Newman is.  Julie canvassed BCRCC members and attendees for interest.

e. Rules and resolutions committee:  Cornel Rasor stated Scott Herndon is placing a motion before the BCRCC according to Article 5 of the rules of the Idaho State GOP for filling a vacant position on the Bonner 

County Board of Commissioners.  

Scott presented the motion in writing to PCs for recommendations to replace Commissioner Steve Bradshaw based on the BCRCC decision of vacancy at previous meeting and BCRCC duty to recommend replacements.  This is the next step of BCRCC duty in this vacancy process.  Discussion.  Roll Call vote. 

Vote on motion: Yea:  19  Nay:  5   Abstain:   1   Percent: 70% (66%req)

f. Search committee – Doug Paterson Spirit Valley election – candidates Steve Truss and Jonathan Welch.

Vote for Spirit Valley Precinct Committeeman:

Steve Truss 19

New Spirit Valley PC Steve Truss seated.

16. Republican Party Officers:

a.    LD1 Chair – Cornel Rasor will send out an email to LD1 regarding desire to meet to discuss winter meeting rules and resolutions packet.

b.    Treasurer’s Report – Kathy Nash reported treasurer’s report sent to committee.  Cash balance reported to SOS $8360.92. 

        Kathy made a motion.  Second by Rodger Rudd to reimburse Doug Paterson for Prop 1 copy expenditure of $42.  No debate.  Passed by unanimous vote.

c.     State Committeeman – Dan Vaniman stated no report.

d.    State Committeewoman – Julie Lynn stated no report.

e.    State Youth Committeewoman – Hannah Herndon stated no report.

17. Republican Clubs

a.    BCRWI – Anita Aurit reported that Brent Regan will be guest speaker at their next meeting on January 21      He will talk about what’s next for conservatives and discuss electoral college experience. 

18. Unfinished Business:  none

19. New Business:  

Roger Rudd moved Second Mike Nielsen.

Motion: The chairman is authorized to form a non-standing committee to investigate for disciplinary action the allegation that a member posted on Facebook and social media in a way that harms the committee’s reputation and/or hinders the committee in its work in violation of Chapter 20 Section 61 of Robert’s Rules.  Debate.  Passed by majority.

20. Adjournment:  Mike Nielsen moved to adjourn.  Mike Fife seconded.  Adjourned at 8:27pm

Respectfully submitted,

Lisa Liband

Secretary

12/29/24