COMMISSIONERS MINUTES SEPTEMBER 6,
2005
The Elmore County Commissioners met in special session at
the hour of 7:00 p.m. in the basement of the Courthouse, 150 South 4th
East Street, Mountain Home, Idaho 83647.
Present at the meeting were Chairman Larry Rose and
Commissioners Mary Egusquiza and Connie Cruser. Also present were Clerk Gail
Best and Deputy Auditor Merrilee Hiler.
The purpose of the special meeting was to hear any
comment from taxpayers and/or residents of Elmore County on the proposed
budget for fiscal year 2006.
John Kieffer, 40 West 12th South, Mountain
Home, Idaho, stated he had several questions and concerns regarding the 20%
increase in pay for the Commissioners. Mr. Kieffer’s first question was when
will the E-911 addressing be completed. Commissioner Egusquiza stated that at
the E-911 meeting that morning the E-911 Board stated they felt they needed a
full time employee to complete the work. They now have two part time
employees which they share with the Growth and Development Department. The
E-911 Board feels that more work could be completed with an employee whose
time was devoted entirely to the E-911 project. Commissioner Egusquiza stated
that the present two part time employees are doing fine work but are often
curtailed by walk-in taxpayers doing Growth and Development business, so it is
difficult to stay on task. The E-911 Board will meet again on September 20th
and will have a decision at that time.
Mr. Kieffer’s second question was that the people running
the dump got a raise but that the Contractor is not doing a good job out there
and since the Contractor is not doing a good job, he should not be contracting
any more for the County.
Mr. Kieffer’s third question was on the trash hauling
saying that the extra money maybe could have been used in the problem areas.
Mr. Kieffer stated if the Board was in this for the money, they shouldn’t be
here. Mr. Kieffer suggested a 5% increase.
Chairman Rose stated that even with the proposed
increase, they still were making only 64% of what the other elected officials
make and they spend many hours working for the County.
Commissioner Egusquiza stated that this percentage still
doesn’t increase their salary as fast as the regular increase for the regular
officials does.
Commissioner Cruser stressed that the time involved is
even more than she had estimated. Commissioner Cruser stated she knew that
there was a lot of time committed even before she ran for the job, but she did
keep a log and was still surprised at the amount of time the Board spent on
Commissioner duties. Commissioner Cruser stated she was doing it for public
service and was not in it for the money. Commissioner Cruser stated that the
Board knew it was a high increase and that might be unpopular, but they still
felt their services were worth the increase. She asked Mr. Kieffer if they
were worth $12.00 to $15.00 per hour? Mr. Kieffer stated if they addressed
the problems he could probably go along with the increase.
Mr. Kieffer stated he had another thing; why isn’t
something done to have some enforcement on Planning and Zoning saying a road
must be to County specs but then the Mountain Home Highway District doesn’t
accept the maintenance on the roads?
Chairman Rose explained that the Highway Districts are
separate entities and they govern themselves. The Board told Mr. Kieffer that
they had no jurisdiction over the highway districts.
In parting, Mr. Kieffer voiced some complaints about the
Growth and Development Department. Mr. Kieffer stated he had been promised
that “cheat sheets” would be developed for people seeking permits - telling
them exactly what they needed to do and it hasn’t been done.
Tom Vallard, 9722 Old Highway 30, Hammett, Idaho, stated
that although they have been talking about the issue for many months we are
not further ahead on the trash issue - and that right now the haulers do not
even have a truck running. Mr. Vallard charged that the Glenns Ferry Landfill
is in terrible shape, it hasn’t been covered in 45 days. Mr. Vallard stated
that they would like to see issues taken care of, then perhaps the 20%
increase wouldn’t bother him.
Chairman Rose stated they were aware of the truck
breakdown, they had been contacted as soon as it had occurred and, although
unfortunate, those things happened. The company has been hauling trash on
trailers in the meantime and doing the best they could stated Chairman Rose.
There was lengthy general discussion on trash disposal
sites and other trash issues.
Merrilee Hiler stated she would like to make a comment.
Ms. Hiler stated that she knows the demands on their the Board’s time is
increasing and she would like to see them be able to hire a part time civil
attorney to help them through the issues before them.
There was discussion on the budget for 2007, particularly
the revenue side and how to continue to fund the budget with steadily
decreasing revenues and steadily increasing expenditures. Ms. Hiler and Clerk
Best stated they were both concerned with the cash flow. There was discussion
about controlling expenditures and it was decided a memo should be put out for
fiscal 2006 that any expenditure over $3,000.00 must be discussed with the
Board prior to approval.
Motion by Cruser, second by Egusquiza, to adopt the
budget as published for fiscal year 2006. ROSE - AYE
EGUSQUIZA - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.
Motion by Rose, second by Egusquiza, to adopt the
Ambulance District budget as published.
ROSE............................................................ - AYE
EGUSQUIZA................................................
- AYE
CRUSER.......................................................
- AYE Motion carried and so ordered.
Chairman Rose read proposed Resolution 364-05 into the
record adopting the budget.
RESOLUTION NO 364-05
County
Budget for Fiscal Year 2006
WHEREAS, the Board of
County Commissioners for the County of Elmore, being charged with management
of the County Budget under I.C. §31-1601, et-seq, has reviewed the
proposed budget presented by the County Auditor; and
WHEREAS, public
hearing was held on September 6, 2005 at the hour of 7:00 p.m., pursuant to
proper notice published in the Mountain Home News, a newspaper of
general circulation; and
WHEREAS, all changes
and modifications have been made by the Board of County Commissioners
pursuant to comment and discussion at the public meeting; and
WHEREAS, the Board of
County Commissioners have therefore fixed and determined that amount of the
budget for each office, department, service, agency and/or institution of the
County, separately; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the County Budget for county fiscal year 2006, attached,
marked Exhibit “A” and incorporated herein for all purposes, is hereby adopted
this date by the Board of County Commissioners for the County of Elmore,
pursuant to I.C. §31-1605.
DATED this 6th
day of September, 2005.
ELMORE COUNTY BOARD OF 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 Rose, to adjourn.
ROSE - AYE
EGUSQUIZA - AYE
CRUSER - AYE
Motion carried and so ordered.
/S/ LARRY E. ROSE, Chairman
ATTEST: /S/ GAIL L. BEST,
Clerk
