COMMISSIONERS MINUTES                                                           JUNE 17, 2004


The Elmore County Commissioners met in special session on the above date in the Commissioner’s Room, basement of the Elmore County Courthouse, 150 South 4th East, Mountain Home, Idaho. The initial portion of the special meeting was to conduct budget workshops with various departments.

Present at the meeting were Chairperson Mary Egusquiza-Stanek and Commissioners Larry Rose and Calvin Ireland. Also present at the meeting were Gail Best, Clerk, Merrilee Hiler, Deputy Auditor, Jim Haydon, Assessor, and a guest in the audience, Connie Cruser.

Budget workshops were held for the following departments: Assessor, Revaluation, Indigent, Clerk/Auditor-Recorder, Elections, District Court, Court Facility, Miscellaneous Trust, Security, Vessel Fund and Disaster Services.

The second portion of the special meeting was to hold a public hearing. The purpose of the public hearing was to hear testimony on an appeal of a Planning and Zoning Commission decision to approve an application from Calmer and Enide Johnson for a Conditional Use Permit for a 3 Lot Letter of Information Subdivision in an Agricultural A Zone. The site is located in the Southwest Quarter of Section 36, Township 3 South, Range 6 East, B.M. A more common means of locating this site is from Highway 30 and Daniels Road turn South on Daniels Road approximately ½ mile turn West on Smith Road approximately 1/4 mile on the right side. The appeal was filed by Brent and Robin Morton.

Mark Russell, Administrator of the Growth and Development Department gave a short overview. Mr. Russell stated that Calmer and Enide Johnson submitted an application in February for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to the Planning and Zoning Commission. The issue was placed on the agenda for April 4th and on the 5th of May the Commission approved the CUP and Letter of Information by unanimous vote with two conditions. The two conditions are that the applicant follow recommendations of the Mountain Home Rural Fire Department and the applicant deeds 30 feet right-of-way easement to the Mountain Home Highway Department.

Dannette O’Donnell of the Growth and Development Department stated that there was nothing unusual about the application or the routine procedures that followed.

Robin Morton, 858 Daniels Road stated she and her husband have real concerns about the water and also the existing wells in the area. Ms. Morton stated that the water tables are dropping dramatically. Ms. Morton said the previous evening she had attended a Planning and Zoning meeting and she had heard that a person needs five acres for a septic system and that these are not five acre lots. Ms. Morton added that they are very concerned about the extra traffic in the area and that they would not give up part of their land (½ acre) to widen the road. Ms. Morton said they have had problems with the irrigation ditch and the neighbors have quarreled about it before. Mrs. Morton stated that she was very concerned about the traffic on the road, but her biggest worry is about ground water and the water table. Ms. Morton stated they are all on City water and she doesn’t know why his little subdivision doesn’t have to be.

Commissioner Ireland told Ms. Morton that she had misunderstood at the Planning and Zoning meeting the previous evening - it is one acre, not five acres that is a minimum. The subdivision discussed the previous night was a different subdivision with different requirements.

Raymond Bond, 1360 SE 10th Street stated he was testifying for Debbie and Danny Bond, 1695 South 10th East. Mr. Bond stated his son is trying to irrigate with a shallow well and that they believe they are going to lose their water. The Bond’s think that sooner or later they will have a water shortage.

Sue Liercke, 2450 SW Liercke Drive, stated she was testifying on behalf of Calmer and Enide Johnson since it was difficult for them to do so themselves. Ms. Liercke brought in a survey for the Board to review which shows the existing road. Prosecutor Bazzoli asked if anyone present had a picture of the road. There was no reply.

Dannette O’Donnell brought in a plat of the area.

Ms. Liercke stated that Hiddleston Drilling said the water runs North and South so it should not even effect East and West. Ms. Liercke added that Central District Health has approved the septics. Another question was annexation into the City a possibility? The reply was no. Ms. Liercke stated that in no way did the Johnson’s want to interfere with anyone’s quality of life.

In rebuttal Ms. Morton stated that one problem with the road is that it is a dirt road, not gravel. Ms. Morton stated she has lived there for twenty-one years and it is a dust bowl with lots of ruts. In summation, Ms. Morton stated they are worried about the road and the water. She stated that people can say it shouldn’t effect the water but it already does. Ms. Morton said as far as quality of life, she has a perfect view of the Owyhee Mountains but now the Johnson’s new home is in the way.

There being no further testimony, Chairperson Egusquiza-Stanek closed the hearing. A decision on the matter was set for June 21, 2004 at 11:00 a.m.

Regular session was resumed. Motion by Egusquiza-Stanek, second by Ireland, to go into Executive Session pursuant to I.C. 67-2345(b).
EGUSQUIZA-STANEK - AYE
ROSE - AYE
IRELAND - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

Regular session was resumed. No action was taken as result of the executive session.

Motion by Egusquiza-Stanek, second by Ireland, to adjourn.
EGUSQUIZA-STANEK - AYE
ROSE - AYE
IRELAND - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.





/S/ MARY EGUSQUIZA-STANEK, Chairperson
ATTEST: /S/ GAIL L. BEST, Clerk