COMMISSIONERS MINUTES                                  NOVEMBER 7, 2005

 

The Elmore County Commissioners met in regular session on the above date in the basement of the Courthouse, 150 South 4^th East, Mountain Home, Idaho, 83647

 

Present at the meeting were Chairman Larry Rose and Commissioners Mary Egusquiza and Connie Cruser.  Also present at the meeting was Clerk Gail Best.

 

Eleanor Pinkham, Judy Whitaker, Frank Hicks and Dee Pate representing the Board of Guardians and Judge Epis met with the Board to discuss the Board of Guardians.  Commissioner Cruser stated she recently attended a meeting of the Board of Guardians when they called her and asked that she attend.  The Guardians were concerned because their Chair, Mary Lou Scott, is leaving and they felt they needed some guidance from the Board of Commissioners because they do not want to run into problems.  Commissioner Cruser stated she had not even realized that the Commissioners were in any way affiliated with the Board of Guardians, prior to the call inviting her to their meeting.  Commissioner Cruser added that after attending the meeting she felt that they needed to meet with the Commissioners.

 

Frank Hicks stated that until two years ago the Prosecuting Attorney did their legal work, but two years ago the Prosecutor was too overwhelmed with work to continue assisting them.  Mr. Hicks stated that a firm from Boise was hired, and that those charges really blew the budget.  The County allocates $1,000.00 annually for the Board of Guardians but now these legal fees have eaten up most of their cash.  The Guardians sometimes pay for items for the wards out of pocket and do not ask for reimbursement.

 

Judge Epis stated that the statute requires that there are seven to eleven members on the Board.  At present there are only five and one of those is resigning.  Ms. Pate stated she had two candidates to present to the Board at their next meeting who have expressed interest in becoming Guardians.

 

Judge Epis suggested that the Prosecutor be asked if her office could take on the legal work of the Board of Guardians.  If not, perhaps someone from the local bar could be persuaded to help them out pro bono.  Judge Epis asked how many cases the Board usually gets?  Frank Hicks stated that the average would be six per year.

 

Clerk Best asked if the Board was being reimbursed for their travel expenses?  Judy Whitaker stated that they sometimes do but money was quite tight, so often time they just spend it out of pocket.  Clerk Best stated she knew one of their wards was in a nursing home in Boise, and so she felt they ought to be reimbursed travel to go to check on that ward.  Motion by Cruser, second by Egusquiza, to reimburse the Board of Guardians for travel expenses paid out of pocket.

ROSE - AYE

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

 

The Commissioners asked the Board of Guardians to keep them in the loop, both on recruiting new members and their financial status.  Clerk Best suggested they make an appointment with the Board in May or June to discuss their annual contribution from the County, perhaps the County could find a few more dollars to put in their budget in fiscal year 2007.  There was discussion on how to get training for newly appointed members.

 

Chairman Rose read the tax cancellations into the record:  No. 791 $999.96 for Idaho Virtual High School Inc. and No. 792 $1,365.04 - 2005 Difference in levies on pre-bills for the 2005 tax drive.  Motion by Rose, second by Cruser, to approve the tax cancellations as read.

ROSE - AYE

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

 

Dan Collins and Clerk Best jointly addressed the Board regarding the use of the recently vacated Public Defender’s office.  Dan stated that he and Clerk Best have been reviewing possible uses for the building and moving other personnel in there right now just doesn’t fit the bill.  Dan stated their suggestion is that the building might best be used for the public defender files that must be retained and the election supplies and equipment.

 

Clerk Best briefed the Board on the DRE election equipment that would be coming to the County from the State in time for the 2006 primary election in May.  Clerk Best stated the DRE machines are approximately 87 pounds each and the County would be having 18 of them that have to be stored at an indoor temperature where they could be periodically calibrated.  Clerk Best stated many of the counties were planning to have Computer Arts store the machines and also transport them back and forth for elections.  The cost to Elmore County would be $5,320.00 annual storage fee plus $269.31 for each trip to transport the machines from Meridian to Elmore County.  Dan stated that right now the Clerk is also storing court files in two rented storage sheds at the cost of $1,296.00 annually.  Dan also added that the voting booths, ballot boxes, signs, etc were currently being stored in the garage behind the courthouse and it would be nice to put all the election things together.

 

Commissioner Cruser asked if there could be one office left available for people to use if they wanted to have private work sessions or meetings?  Dan Collins stated that could be done.  Chairman Rose stated he felt the court files should be left at the rented storage where they are now to avoid any problems in the future which could cause those files to have to be moved again.

 

The minutes for October 24, 2005 were reviewed.  Motion by Egusquiza, second by Cruser to approve the minutes of October 24, 2005 with one change.

ROSE - AYE

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

 

Motion by Rose, second by Egusquiza, to approve the payroll for October 2005 as submitted in the amount of $315,831.63.

ROSE - AYE

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

 

Daryl Rhead, HC 85, Box 20, Mountain Home, Idaho, 83647, appeared before the Board to inquire when the Board would be making their decision on the Rhead Dairy?  Chairman Rose stated that the transcript of the public hearing has not yet been received.  Chairman Rose said once the Board has received the transcript they would still need time to review it, so Mr. Rhead should plan on approximately a month before any decision would be made.

 

Commissioner Cruser reported she had attended Senator Craig’s Town Hall meeting over the weekend.  Commissioner Cruser stated the Western Elmore County Recreation District’s future plans for a building was a topic of discussion and she had stated the County was in favor of the District’s plan.

 

Motion by Egusquiza, second by Cruser to approve Debbie Lord to the Planning and Zoning Commission to complete Todd Waite’s term on the Commission.

ROSE - AYE

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

 

The mileage reimbursement was discussed.  Chairman Rose stated he feels that perhaps the mileage rate should be changed in light of the gasoline prices.  Clerk Best stated she believes the federal rate is 48 cents, compared to the 37 cents Elmore County is currently paying.  Clerk Best stated the County could compromise, and reimburse anywhere in between those figures, for example 45 cents.  Clerk Best will have her deputy check the federal rate.

 

Attorney Phil Miller appeared before the Board to discuss a draft easement agreement between Glenns Ferry Health Center, Inc. and Elmore County.  The Board reviewed the agreement carefully with Mr. Miller.  Several corrections were suggested by the Board.  The dollar figure in provision 2.5 was changed from $5,000 to $8,000 and it was suggested that the 10 foot figure be increased to at least 15 feet.  Mr. Miller will do another draft and have the attorney for Glenns Ferry Health Center review it.

 

Motion by Cruser, second by Egusquiza, to increase the mileage reimbursement from 37 cents to 45 cents effective November 1, 2005.

ROSE - AYE

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

 

Certificates of Residency were reviewed: Jay Cresto and Kay F. Cresto. Motion by Egusquiza, second by Cruser, to approve the Certificates of Residency.

ROSE - AYE

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

 

Motion by Rose, second by Cruser to go into executive session pursuant to Idaho Code 67-2345(f).

ROSE - AYE

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

 

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

 

Clerk Best placed a conference call to the College of Southern Idaho.  Representing the college were Mike Mason the Financial President and Dawn Orr of the Business Office, joining in the conference call was Vivian Garcia, Deputy Clerk.  Commissioner Cruser stated she was concerned because three certificates of residency have been submitted for approval by Elmore County for students that are high school students taking a health occupations course at the high school.  Mr. Mason explained that students can be charged for course work given off campus as well as on campus.  The counties are only charged $50.00 per credit for course work.  The off site course work offered was discussed and clarified.

 

Motion by Egusquiza, second by Cruser, to approve the Certificates of Residency for Ashley Marie Hitesman, Kimi Nina Hamaishi and Jessica Ann Jourdan.

ROSE - AYE

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

 

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) on a motion by Rose, second by Egusquiza, to meet with Social Services Director Marianne Bate. 

ROSE - AYE

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

 

The following decisions were made:

 

NM-02-05-02 Motion by Rose, second by Egusquiza, to forgive the $355.00 paid to the applicant.

ROSE - AYE

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

 

K-09-05-10 Motion by Rose, second by Egusquiza, to deny as incomplete, with missing documentation.

ROSE - AYE

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

 

K-02-05-03 Motion by Egusquiza, second by Rose to deny as final denial, not last resource, and not indigent.

ROSE - AYE

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

 

Regular session resumed.

 

Dan Collins appeared briefly to report that he had gone to the jail property and did not find any survey pins.

 

Bonnie Sharp of Growth and Development brought the final plat of Hawks Landing Subdivision for the Board’s review.  Motion by Egusquiza, to accept and approve the final plat of Hawks Landing Subdivision.

ROSE - AYE

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

 

Carrie Vogt of Northwest Paramedics, Inc. appeared before the Board to discuss the need for larger ambulance quarters for the Mountain Home Ambulance crew and adequate shelter for the ambulance rigs.  The present quarters are owned by the Mountain Home Rural Fire District.  The Board suggested Ms. Vogt speak with Chris Alzola of the Rural Fire District.  Several calls were also placed to see if there was any availability of other quarters that might house the crew and equipment.  Ms. Vogt thanked the Board for their suggestions and stated she would follow up on the suggestions.  Commissioner Cruser asked Ms. Vogt what had happened with Access Air?  Ms. Vogt stated that Jim, who is the owner of the helicopters used decided it would be more profitable for him to use the helicopters for fires instead of medical transports.  St. Luke’s Air has taken over the Access Air Memberships and will honor and service those memberships.  Clerk Best asked who has taken over the Medical Supervisor position in Mountain Home?  Ms. Vogt stated that Randall Feester serves as the Medical Supervisor three days per week and JoAnn Hanks serves as the Medical Supervisor on the other days.  A letter of complaint was given to Ms. Vogt to follow up on.

 

Prosecutor Schindele joined the meeting after Court and introduced her two new deputy attorneys to the Board.  Prosecutor Schindele also answered some legal questions the Board had.

 

Toby Brown and Nick Schilz appeared before the Board to discuss the All Hazards Mitigation Plan.  Mr. Brown brought the Board copies of the latest draft for their review and any comment they wished to offer.

 

Motion by Egusquiza, second by Cruser, to adjourn.

ROSE - AYE