COMMISSIONERS MINUTES
APRIL 11, 2005
The Elmore County Commissioners met in regular session on the above date in the
Commissioner’s Room, basement of the Elmore County Courthouse, 150 South 4th
East, Mountain Home, Idaho.
Present at the meeting were Chairman Larry Rose, Commissioners Mary Egusquiza
and Connie Cruser. Also present at the meeting were Clerk Gail Best and
Prosecutor Aaron Bazzoli.
Motion by Egusquiza, second by Rose, to approve the expenses in the amount of
$352,418.29. There was discussion and some minor adjustments.
ROSE - AYE
EGUSQUIZA - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.
Motion by Egusquiza, second by Cruser, to approve the payroll as submitted in
the amount of $305,324.60.
ROSE - AYE
EGUSQUIZA - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.
Motion by Egusquiza, second by Cruser, to approve the minutes of March 28, 2005.
There was discussion and one addition was made.
ROSE - AYE
EGUSQUIZA - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.
Motion by Egusquiza, second by Cruser, to cancel the reconsideration hearing
scheduled for April 25, 2005 at 3:00 p.m. because Weitz and Company withdrew
their request for reconsideration of the findings of fact and conclusions of
law.
ROSE - AYE
EGUSQUIZA - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.
Motion by Egusquiza, second by Cruser, to approve for the record only, the
Clerk’s Bail Bond Report, Recorder’s Office Report and Treasurer’s Office
Report.
ROSE - AYE
EGUSQUIZA - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.
A Certificate of Residency for Michael Rodriguez, 1020 North 6th East, Mountain
Home was considered. Motion by Egusquiza, second by Cruser to approve the
certificate of residency.
ROSE - AYE
EGUSQUIZA - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.
A liquor license application for The Cove submitted by Lola D. O’Brien was
considered by the Board. Motion by Egusquiza, second by Cruser to approve the
liquor license for The Cove.
ROSE - AYE
EGUSQUIZA - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.
Shane Zenner, Investment Representative for Edward Jones appeared before the
Board to discuss general obligation bonds. Mr. Zenner stated that they had
underwritten the bond for the library. Edward Jones will provide the money for
the project and sell the bonds locally first, prior to the bonds being offered
to other investors outside Elmore County. Mr. Zenner stated that for the City
Library Bond, Edward Jones had sold $1,020,000 in bonds locally of the total
$1,500,000. Mr. Zenner stated that there are local clients who would love to
invest in local projects and he feels Edward Jones could provide the service at
less cost than Wells Fargo, and the money stays here locally. Mr. Zenner asked
if the County had a written agreement with Wells Fargo and Clerk Best stated she
did not think there was anything on paper. Mr. Zenner stated he wasn’t surprised
since Wells Fargo was “the only game in town” until Edward Jones started
underwriting bonds. Clerk Best asked when the Board should ask for proposals
from each company to compare costs and Mr. Zenner stated anytime, but the
interest rates would be the most accurate in May when the election is held,
since interest fluctuates so often. The Board expressed interest in dealing with
a local company.
Chairman Rose read proposed Resolution 349-05 into the record:
RESOLUTION NO. 349-05
WHEREAS, The Elmore County Board of County Commissioners, pursuant to Idaho Code
Section 31-1608, has the authority in case of epidemic or calamity to declare a
state of emergency regarding Elmore County;
WHEREAS, Agriculture in Elmore County is a $220,000,000 industry and the past
three years of consecutive drought have had a devastating impact on economic
viability of crop production and rangeland;
WHEREAS, As a result of continuing drought, and with snowpack at fifty percent
of normal, water supplies from Irrigation Districts are very limited for optimal
crop production;
WHEREAS, Survey by Extension Educator reveals very low or no subsoil moisture in
crop and rangeland;
WHEREAS, Hydrographs show deep well water levels have declined drastically below
static levels;
WHEREAS, In the past, drought has been a major cause for over a quarter million
acres of scattered Mormon Crickets outbreaks. The existing drought condition
indicates again a major infestations of Mormon crickets and other insects;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Elmore County Board of County
Commissioners, in lawful meeting assembled as follows;
An emergency is hereby declared to exist in that the County of Elmore, State of
Idaho, has experienced accumulative years of drought along with its side effects
that encompass devastating economic impacts on our agricultural crops and
livestock production.
ADOPTED By unanimous vote of the Board of Commissioners, County of Elmore, State
of Idaho, on this 11th day of April, 2005.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
/S/ LARRY E. ROSE, Chairman
/S/ MARY EGUSQUIZA, Commissioner
/S/ CONNIE CRUSER, Commissioner
ATTEST: /S/ GAIL L. BEST, Clerk
Motion by Egusquiza, second by Cruser, to accept Resolution 349-05 as read and
to declare a state of emergency because of drought conditions.
ROSE - AYE
EGUSQUIZA - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.
Stephanie Kazyaka brought in a Juvenile Accountability Grant for the Board’s
approval. Motion by Egusquiza, second by Cruser, to direct the Chairman to sign
for the grant.
ROSE - AYE
EGUSQUIZA - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.
Pat Maley, Bruce Thorndycraft and Peter Skamser representing Atlanta Gold
appeared before the Board to discuss the Atlanta Gold project. Mr. Thorndycraft
stated that they were there to give the Board a “heads up” presentation in
advance of the public presentation scheduled for April 26th. Mr. Thorndycraft
stated that the presentation is a summary of what they are proposing to do. Pat
Maley gave a power point presentation regarding the project. The group then took
any questions the audience had. The Board thanked the representation from
Atlanta Gold for the interesting and informative presentation.
Motion by Rose, second by Cruser, to recess for lunch.
ROSE - AYE
EGUSQUIZA - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.
At 1:15 p.m. the Commissioners met in Executive Session pursuant to I.C.
67-2345(d) with Social Services Director Marianne Bate on a motion by Rose,
second by Egusquiza.
ROSE - AYE
EGUSQUIZA - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.
Case K-11-04-02 was discussed regarding a request for a waiver in payment of the
2004 income tax return. Motion by Cruser, second by Rose, to take 25% of State
and Federal and to send a letter the applicant.
ROSE - AYE
EGUSQUIZA - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.
K-11-04-01 was discussed. At the last meeting on March 28, 2005, the applicant
was told to bring in copies of the their tax returns. They have not been
received and a letter will be sent.
K-03-05-01 Motion by Rose, second by Cruser, to approve with reimbursement order
of $25.00 per month.
ROSE - AYE
EGUSQUIZA - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.
K-03-05-02 Motion by Rose, second by Cruser, to approve with promissory note of
$50.00 per month.
ROSE - AYE
EGUSQUIZA - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.
K-01-05-04 Motion by Rose, second by Egusquiza, to deny as a final denial, not
last resource and applicant does have Medicaid.
ROSE - AYE
EGUSQUIZA - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.
K-12-04-05 Motion by Rose, second by Egusquiza, to deny for a final time as the
appeal was withdrawn.
ROSE - AYE
EGUSQUIZA - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.
Regular session resumed.
At 2:00 p.m. the Board met with Elmore County Treasurer Rose Plympton for the
advertised Tax Deed Hearing. There were 6 parcels.
Parcel Number RPB00700240010A, Lot 1, Block 24, Hammers Add GF, Francis E.
Blackwell, c/o Kim Portlock, P.O. Box 187, Glenns Ferry, Idaho, 83623.
Discussion followed. The daughter lives in the house owned by the mother,
Frances E. Blackwell. Usually by this time a payment has been made.
Parcel Number RP04S05E153550A, S2NE4NW4NW4 Sec 15 T4S R5E, BMI Corporation, P.O.
Box 684, Meridian, Idaho 83680. It is a 10 acre parcel of undeveloped land on
Airbase Road behind the LDS Church.
Parcel Number RPA0090002006AA, 1' in Lot 6, Block 2, Mountain Home Townsite,
Alvin Dudley, 1193 North 9th East, Mountain Home, ID 83647. This is a 1 foot
strip of land behind the Church on Main Street.
Parcel Number RPB0099017009AA, Lots 9 and 10, Block 17, North Addition,
Elizabeth L. Holaday & Alice L. Grabowski, C/O Barbara Smith, 3127 Pocatello
Peak Way, Las Vegas, NV 89156. Two vacant lots in Glenns Ferry.
Parcel Number RP04S06E076420A, SE4SW4SW4 in Lot 4, Sec 7, T4S, R6E, Laura
Spickelmier & Mary A. Spickelmier, 421 W. 3rd N., Mountain Home, ID 83647. Mary
Spickelmier is deceased and Laura is the daughter and does not want the
property.
Parcel Number RP02S05E172200A, SESENE, Sec 17, T2S, R5E, Larry and Mary A. West,
122 Eagle Watch, Mulvane, KS 67110. This is 10 acres of undeveloped land and the
owners cannot be located.
Motion by Rose, second by Cruser, to take tax deed to the above six properties.
ROSE - AYE
EGUSQUIZA - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.
Leslie Strauch, Station Manager for Mountain Home Public Access Channel 8 (Cam
8) appeared before the Board to discuss a budget request. Ms. Strauch presented
a video tape to introduce the Board to Cam 8 - a non profit organization made up
of volunteers. Following the video presentation Ms. Strauch stated they are
seeking some funds to continue their work. Cam 8 would like to expand their
programming. Cam 8 has been working with the Sheriff’s Department to update
their information regarding the upcoming jail bond. Ms. Strauch stated they
would like to ask for $15,000.00 to support Cam 8 in the upcoming budget year.
Allen Kiester and Chris Brun appeared before the Board to discuss several issues
from Pine. Mr. Kiester stated his first item concerned a storage area for the
rescue truck, rescue sled and back-up ambulance into a covered area. Mr. Kiester
stated that Mr. Suiter now owns the storage that he used to have and that Mr.
Suiter is willing to do some renovations to a 14x50 unit by putting in a cement
floor, heat and electricity and leasing it for $250.00 per month plus the cost
of heating. Mr. Kiester stated that the Commissioners would have to pay for that
cost. Mr. Kiester stated that Mr. Suiter would also install large overhead doors
on each side of the unit so that it is possible to drive a vehicle out either
end. The Board agreed that a heated storage area is the best thing to do and
asked for a lease agreement to be sent to them for review.
Billing for the Quick Response Unit in Pine was discussed. Mr. Kiester stated he
understood that NPA had volunteered to do the billing for them. Mr. Kiester said
his problem is that he does not think the locals should be billed since they are
a volunteer service. Chairman Rose stated that what is being discussed is a
straight flat-fee rate of $200.00 per trip not an itemized statement of services
rendered. Mr. Kiester said he would have no problem with that.
John Steiner, 245947 Collett Road, Oreana and Bill Weaver, 5797 N. Bogart,
Boise, appeared before the Board to discuss a proposed development they are
working on. Mr. Weaver stated they are developing some property Southeast of
Mountain Home, approximately 1100 acres. The development is the future Pepper
Ridge Equestrian Estates which is located in Township 4 South, Range 7 East. The
project will be done in several phases the first of which will be to develop 420
acres into 80 lots. Mr. Weaver stated they have not decided whether to go with
individual wells or a community well at this point - there are advantages to
both. Mr. Weaver stated they have not yet begun their application work at
Planning and Zoning. Chairman Rose suggested that they go to Water Resources
first to find out if they are in the critical water area and then go to Planning
and Zoning after that.
Rich Cornell of Mountain Home and Larry Looney of Hammett appeared before the
Board to discuss animal control. Mr. Looney stated that they have killed more
coyotes this year than in any other year, 130 in all. Rich Cornell also saw two
wolves and stated that there are packs on Steel Mountain and the higher Prairie.
Mr. Looney stated that if we did not have effective predator control we would
not have successful ranching here. Mr. Looney said they were appearing before
the Board to request funding for the next fiscal year in the same amount as the
previous year for District II, $3,840.00. Wolves were discussed again. Rich
Cornell stated that Elmore County will have a big problem with Mormon Crickets
again this year.
Chairman Rose made a motion to recess as a Board of Commissioners and convene
and a Board of Equalization, second by Cruser.
ROSE - AYE
EGUSQUIZA - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.
Chief Deputy Assessor, Jo Gridley, was present for the session. A tax exemption
for Bible Baptist Church, Inc. was reviewed. The exemption requested is for
approximately ½ acre in front of the church building located on American Legion
Blvd. An old building on the ½ acre has been removed and the property will be
used for a parking lot. Motion by Egusquiza, second by Cruser, to approve the
tax exemption for Bible Baptist Church, Inc. c/o Delores Herron described as Tax
338, Section 25, Township 3 South, Range 6 East.
ROSE - AYE
EGUSQUIZA - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.
The Board recessed as a Board of Equalization and reconvened as a Board of
Commissioners.
A hearing date for the Hiler lot split was discussed. A public hearing was
scheduled for May 9, 2005 at 4:00 p.m.
Title III monies were discussed. Commissioner Egusquiza stated there was
$48,022.17 plus a roll over from the previous year of $12,457.45. Commissioner
Egusquiza stated that Mountain Home Extrication had asked for $20,000 and that
Search and Rescue had also requested money. The discussion was tabled since the
Board’s next agenda appointment arrived.
The employees of the Growth and Development Department met with the Board to
discuss matters related to their department. Chairman Rose explained that he had
asked the employees to come in and share their thoughts and to ask any questions
they might have. Traci Lefever opened the discussion by saying the employees
have been told that the Board does not want all of the employees attending the
Planning and Zoning Commission meetings. Chairman Rose stated he felt anyone
doing the minutes should definitely attend the meetings. Bonnie Sharp stated
that she has been having Traci and Hemi go to the meetings so they could learn
more about the workings of the Planning and Zoning Commission since they were
both relatively new employees of the department. Compensatory and flex time were
discussed at length. Gratuities were also discussed, as were leave slips.
Chairman Rose told the employees that they should always feel free to call him
if they should ever have any questions and he would be glad to help them find
the answers they were seeking.
Distribution of Title III monies was discussed. Motion by Egusquiza, second by
Rose, to disburse $20,000 of the Title III monies to Mountain Home Extrication
for the extrication truck and equipment for Pine/Featherville and $11,700 of the
Title III monies to Elmore County Search and Rescue for equipment to be used in
the Federal Forests.
ROSE - AYE
EGUSQUIZA - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.
There was discussion on the Brown Dairy appeal. Present for the discussion were
Chairman Larry Rose and Commissioners Mary Egusquiza and Connie Cruser. Also
present was Clerk Gail Best. Chairman Rose read the nine standards for
conditional use permit applications and each standard was discussed thoroughly
by the Board. The Board found only three of the nine standards were met by Brown
Dairy. Motion by Rose, second by Cruser, to overturn the approval for a
conditional use permit for Brown Dairy issued by the Planning and Zoning
Commission. There was some brief further discussion and Commissioner Egusquiza
stated that we all have property rights and the Board needs to protect all the
citizens. Commissioner Cruser stated that it is best to error on the side of
caution. A roll call vote was taken.
ROSE - AYE
EGUSQUIZA - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.
Motion by Egusquiza, second by Cruser to adjourn.
ROSE - AYE
EGUSQUIZA - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.
/S/ LARRY E. ROSE, Chairman
ATTEST: /S/ GAIL L. BEST, Clerk
