COMMISSIONERS MINUTES                                  NOVEMBER 28, 2005

 

The Elmore County Commissioners met in regular session on the above date in the basement of the Elmore County 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.

 

Motion by Egusquiza, second by Cruser to approve the expenses as submitted in the amount of $21,937.76.

ROSE - AYE

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE

 

Motion by Egusquiza, second by Rose, to approve the Order for annexation of the Albers Family Trust property into the Mountain Home Rural Fire District and instruct the Clerk to do all the necessary things to proceed with recording and sending the Order off to the State Tax Commission.

ROSE - AYE

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE

 

Motion by Rose, second by Egusquiza, to allow the EMTs to move the present mobile home that is being used as their office, at no cost to Elmore County.

ROSE - AYE

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE

 

Motion by Rose, second by Egusquiza, to approve the Request for Proposals (RFP) for County Fuel and publish same.  There was discussion.  The Motion and Second were withdrawn until the RFP could be reviewed by the Prosecutor.

 

The Elected Officials and Department Heads met with the Board for their regular monthly meeting.  Chairman Rose read a proposed letter into the record:

 

November 28, 2005

 

To All Elected Officials and Department Heads

Elmore County

 

It has come to our attention that, although very early in the fiscal year, with budgets all set, our actual cash flow is running behind what we are spending.  Effective today, all purchases over $3,000.00 that are not normal routine expenditures, must be pre-approved by the Board of Commissioners.

 

Some examples of routine expenditures are:

Utility Payments, Indigent Payments, Contract Payments, Fringe Benefit Payments, Jail Construction Costs.

 

If you have any questions as to what routine expenditures are, please do not hesitate to ask any Board member or Clerk Best.  We hope this will not inconvenience your office too much.

 

Sincerely,

ELMORE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

/S/ LARRY E. ROSE, Chairman

/S/ MARY EGUSQUIZA, Commissioner

/S/ CONNIE CRUSER, Commissioner

 

There was discussion with the elected officials and department heads, and Chairman Rose asked if the group assembled had any other suggestions on cash flow.  Clerk Best stated there also would be an accompanying resolution which states that the Resolution will stay in effect until a new resolution is done to rescind it.

 

Jason Stone, Grant Writer, appeared before the group.  Jason introduced himself and explained that perhaps funding from grants might help alleviate some of the cash flow problems the County is experiencing.  Jason asked the elected officials and department heads to please call him if they had needs that might be funded through grants.  Jason stated that very few grants are available to build structures but there is money out there for many things, such as equipment purchases.  Jason again told the group to call him with any and all ideas they might have for a project to benefit the County and he would be happy to attempt grant funding if any were available.

 

Commissioner Egusquiza initiated a discussion regarding when employees are eligible for vacation.  Commissioner Egusquiza asked how the various departments were applying the policy?  Currently there does not appear to be uniformity in the way the employee policy is being applied.  Following discussion the group decided that, although vacation is being accrued, no vacation should be taken until an employee has worked for the County for one year.  The policy will be changed to reflect that rule.  The subject of employee evaluations was discussed once again.  There was lengthy discussion regarding various types of evaluations, frequency, fairness and uniformity.  There was also discussion if merit increases would be tied in with evaluations or not.  Various evaluation formats were discussed, Clerk Best will copy and distribute information on evaluations prior to the groups next meeting.

 

Ted Knudson and Mir Seyedbagheri turned in written activity reports for the Board to review.

 

Brett Silver appeared before the Board to discuss trash hauling issues.  Brett reported that a dumpster was stolen from the Pine transfer station and then reappeared in the last week full of construction materials.  There was discussion as to whether it would be helpful to post a sign saying if a dumpster was needed temporarily by a resident call such and such number.  The dumpsters are actually only to be used for household waste.  Brett gave the Board reports on the various transfer sites in the County.

Motion by Rose, second by Cruser, to recess for lunch.

ROSE - AYE

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE

 

At 1:15 p.m. regular session resumed.

 

Chairman Rose read Resolution No. 371-05 into the record:

 

RESOLUTION 371-05

 

A RESOLUTION REGARDING THE BUDGET OF THE VARIOUS AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS OF THE ELMORE COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE CONTINUED FUNDING AND ADJUST FOR CHANGES IN SPENDING PRIORITIES.

 

WHEREAS, The Board of Commissioners of Elmore County has the authority and duty under Article XVIII, Section 6 of the Idaho Constitution and Title 31, Chapter 6 of the Idaho Code to provide funding operation of the government of Elmore County and to account for the expenditure of those funds; and

 

WHEREAS, The Board considered this resolution during its regular public meeting of November 28, 2005.

 

IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED:

 

1.  That all purchases over $3,000.00 that are not normal routine expenditures, must be pre-approved by the Board of Commissioners.

 

2.  That this Resolution shall have effect immediately upon its passage, and will remain in effect until such time as it is rescinded by Resolution of the Board of Commissioners.

 

PASSED, at the regular meeting of the Elmore County Board of Commissioners, County of Elmore, State of Idaho, held on the 28^th day of November, 2005, upon which roll call vote was duly taken and said Resolution duly passed by a unanimous vote.

 

ELMORE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

/s/ Larry E. Rose, Chairman

/s/ Mary Egusquiza, Commissioner

/s/ Connie Cruser, Commissioner

ATTEST: /s/ Gail L. Best, Clerk’

 

Motion by Rose, second by Cruser, to sign and approve Resolution No. 371-05.

ROSE - AYE

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE

Motion by Egusquiza, second by Cruser, to sign the letter read aloud earlier to all departments regarding spending. 

ROSE - AYE

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE

 

The Rhead Dairy appeal written testimony received was discussed.  Deputy Clerk Steele asked Prosecutor Schindele if she had reviewed the testimony that was sent to her.  The question was what  could be given to the Commissioners, the content of the written testimony was supposed to reference information from the public hearing.  Prosecutor Schindele stated the Commissioners were to decide what they would consider, and what they wouldn’t, and they should receive all the testimony that was received after the public hearing.  The decision on the Rhead Dairy will be made on December 12, 2005 at the Commissioner’s regular meeting.  Deputy Clerk Steele stated she would include the additional written testimony in the Commissioner’s packets for the December 5^th meeting. 

 

Motion by Rose, second by Egusquiza, to go into Executive Session 67-2345(d).

ROSE - AYE

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE

 

A reconsideration hearing was held on K-08-05-03.  Present at the hearing were the three Commissioners, Prosecutor Schindele, Social Services Director Marianne Bate, Tonya Holton and Jennifer Martinez from St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, and the applicants room mate.  Ms. Bate reviewed the case for the Commissioners.  Ms. Holton also reviewed the case.

 

Motion by Egusquiza, second by Cruser, that K-08-05-03 be continued to December 12, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. and the applicant will be subpoenaed.  

ROSE - AYE

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE

 

Regular session resumed.

 

Debt collection for Indigent cases was discussed.  It was agreed the County needed a collection plan.

 

The City of Area of Impact public hearing was discussed.  Commissioner Egusquiza stated she had spoke to the Mayor and he said the City attorney would be providing a legal description to be attached to the County’s proposed Ordinance.  A public hearing will be scheduled when the legal description is received.

 

Chairman Rose read the tax cancellations into the record: No. 793, Elmore County, $175.26 (Atlanta Property) and No. 794, Russell & David Aulbach, $911.64 for a total of $1,086.90.  Motion by Egusquiza, second by Cruser to approve the tax cancellations as read.

ROSE - AYE

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE

 

The Confined Animal Feeding Ordinance work session followed.

 

Opening discussion referenced the definition of CAFO.  At the public hearing it was discussed that the totals for all animals were not reflected in the Ordinance.  K.C. Duerig had submitted a sheet with the animal count which will be added to the CAFO definition for a large CAFO and meduim CAFO.