COMMISSIONERS MINUTES                                     JULY 24, 2006

 

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 Chairperson Mary Egusquiza and Commissioners Larry Rose and Connie Cruser.  Also present was Merrilee Hiler.

 

Motion by Egusquiza, second by Cruser, to approve the July 5, July 6, July 7, July 10, and July 17, 2006 minutes with two corrections, one to July 5^th and one to July 7th.

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

ROSE - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

 

Chairperson Egusquiza swore in Merrilee Hiler as Elmore County Clerk of the District Court, Ex-Officio Auditor/Recorder.

 

Expenses submitted for approval were reviewed.  Discussion followed on the Growth and Development cell phone billing.  Bonnie Sharp was asked to bring in further information on the billing.  The expenses were tabled.

 

Marty Jones, 520 E. 8^th N., Mountain Home, Idaho, 83647, representing the Central District Health Department appeared before the Board.  He presented statistical information as well as pamphlets for distribution on the West Nile Virus disease.  On August 14, 2006, there will be a meeting with a representative from Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), a representative from the Department of Water Resources, and the Commissioners.  Mr. Jones asked the Commissioners to think of two questions they would like answered at this meeting so both organizations would be ready to answer them.    The Commissioners determined their two questions would be:  1.  The quantity and availability of water and 2.  A Community well system vs. a private well on an individual lot.  Mr. Jones wants both organizations to have an idea of what the concerns are here.  Discussion followed and it was decided that the meeting scheduled for August 14^th between the entities should start at 10:00 a.m. instead of 11:00 a.m. to make sure there is enough time to cover the issues.   Mr. Jones asked if the Commissioners had been receiving information from DEQ on Hazardous Waste transfers.  They stated they had not.  Mr. Jones said he would check on that. 

 

The Department Heads and Elected Officials monthly meeting was next. 

 

Jennifer Crogg, Probation, appeared before the Board and stated she has finished the Policies and Procedures proposed manual and it is on Judge Epis’s desk for review.  She currently has 116 clients and twenty four people are on Community Service.

 

Merrilee Hiler, Clerk, stated her office will start work on setting up a supply/storage area in the front vault to help free up some badly needed office space.  Work is continuing on the budget.

 

Carol Wood, Chief Deputy Assessor, stated that this week they are short staffed as most employees are attending classes in Boise.  They have hired two new people, Stacie Bower and Tina Welch, they will start in August, 2006.  The Assessor’s office would like to give their old aerials to the Glenns Ferry or Mountain Home Historical Society’s.  Commissioner Rose will ask if the Glenns Ferry Museum would have any interest.  Ms. Wood stated that Assessor Gridley took the Abstracts of Values with her to Boise to the Idaho State Tax Commission to meet the required deadline.

 

Dan Collins, Plant Facilities Manager, stated his department has been moving offices to accommodate the new officials.  He also stated he has had good cooperation from the Mountain Home City Street Department regarding the driveway curb cut in the parking lot across from the Juvenile Department.  There was some discussion about redoing the asphalt behind the Courthouse in the alley.  Dan stated the asphalt would cost approximately $8,000.  The alley is controlled by the City and he will talk to them to see if they would consider some cost sharing of the project to get it done as soon as possible.

 

Tom Gibbon, Security, stated that Glenn Parsons may be leaving the middle of August.  Mr. Gibbon said he did have someone in mind to replace Glenn if he leaves.  The Security Department is helping out the bailiffs to cover illnesses and vacations for the Sheriff’s Department.

 

Mir Seyedbagheri, Extension Office, was not present but had handed in a written report.   Mr. Seyedbagheri reviewed what he had been doing recently in the written report such as he has written and article on crop stress points in irrigation management, he had given a presentation on “missing links” in potato production, also he had inspected 16 potato fields for early detection and evaluation for the possibility of late blight infestation and found none.  He had several other items listed and stated that with the Fair being in Glenns Ferry this week, he will be staying down there.

 

Stefanie Kazyaka, Juvenile Probation, reported their office was in a holding pattern without having a director.  They currently have 50 juveniles in their programs, 6 in Diversion and none in Caldwell in Detention.  The mediator has completed two cases in the last four months, she stated it is a slow process.  Monica Halliday is attending a 2-day training on juvenile assessment that is mandatory in helping us apply for part of a $700,000 grant.

 

Bonnie Sharp, Growth and Development Director, stated that Sterling Sage Subdivision, which is at the end of Simco Road, has 175 lots on 293 acres.  It is one of the projects their office is working on along with Beacon Heights which is in the same area.  It is 170 acres with 59 lots.  The Northwest Motor Sports partial application is coming along.  The E-911 addressing is progressing well with the extra part time help they are utilizing.  The City of Mountain Home is also hiring a Code Official.  Ms. Sharp stated she would start advertising for a County Code Enforcer.  Myron Adamson, Bonnie Sharp and Larry Rose will do the interviewing.  Commissioner Cruser complimented Ms. Sharp on the good job she had done at the Glenns Ferry Highway District Meeting.

 

Motion by Egusquiza, second by Cruser, to approve the expenses as submitted in the amount of $210,079.99.

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

ROSE - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

 

Nick Nettleton, Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission,18542 Wilson Road, Glenns Ferry, Idaho, and Bonnie Sharp, Growth and Development Director, had questions regarding the registration process of medium confined animal feeding operations.  Tina Schindele, Elmore County Prosecutor was called to participate in the discussion.  It was determined the Planning and Zoning Commission would determine if the registration met the requirements of the medium confined animal feeding operation.  The burden of proof is on the registrant.  The CAFO Ordinance does not provide for a public hearing at the registration stage.  If there were an appeal, it would be at the Commissioner level with the appropriate fees being collected.

 

Motion by Egusquiza, second by Rose, to adjourn for lunch.

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

ROSE - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

 

At 1:30 p.m., the Commissioners met in Executive Session pursuant to I.C. 67-2345(d) on a motion by Egusquiza, second by Cruser, to meet with Social Services Director Marianne Bate and her assistant Katrina Welch. 

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

ROSE - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

 

The following decisions were made:

 

K-05-06-09 Motion by Rose, second by Egusquiza, to issue a final denial as Elmore County is not the last resource.

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

ROSE - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

 

K-04-06-08 Motion by Egusquiza, second by Cruser, to issue a final denial as Elmore County is not the last resource.

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

ROSE - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

 

K-06-06-02 Motion by Cruser, second by Rose, to deny as not last resource at this point.

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

ROSE - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

 

K-06-06-03 Motion by Rose, second by Cruser, to recommend approval for continued care.

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

ROSE - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

 

Still in executive session a hearing was next on the agenda for K-02-06-07.  Motion by Egusquiza, second by Rose, to grant a continuance to October 2, 2006 on case K-02-06-07.

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

ROSE - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

Regular session resumed.

 

Motion by Egusquiza, second by Rose, to approve the Ambulance District’s bills.

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

ROSE - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

 

Motion by Egusquiza, second by Rose, to approve and sign the letter of intent to provide the Bruneau River Soil Conservation District $500 during state fiscal year 2008.

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

ROSE - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

 

Tax cancellations were read into the record by Chairperson Egusquiza: No. 821 Oasis Motel $32.94, No. 822 Kevin Geary $3.62, and No. 823 Tom Ambrose $308.76 for a total of $345.32.

Motion by Rose, second by Cruser, to approve the tax cancellations as read.

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

ROSE - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

 

Correspondence received by mail was reviewed.

 

Discussion followed on the Elida Estates Plat.  Motion by Rose, second by Cruser, to approve and have the Chairperson sign the Elida Estates Plat.

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

ROSE - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

 

The Letter of Information (LOI) for Matthew Palmer was discussed.  Bonnie Sharp stated the taxes have been paid in full for 2005.  Motion by Egusquiza, second by Cruser to approve the LOI for Matthew Palmer.

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

ROSE - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

 

The Letter of Information (LOI) for Steve and Jeanette Reynolds was discussed.  Motion by Egusquiza, second by Cruser, to approve the LOI 4-lot split with the following additional conditions 1.  New Road will be constructed to comply with Ordinance 2006-1 private road standards prior to any building permits being issued and 2.  Road will follow design plan as submitted to provide adequate turnaround and support for a fire truck.

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

ROSE - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

 

The Letter of Information (LOI) for Greene Tree Inc. was discussed.  Motion by Egusquiza, second by Rose, to approve the LOI with the following conditions: 1.  All development on the property will be in compliance with the Department of Environmental Quality and Environmental Protection Agency and in compliance with the Clean Water Act and 2.  The Pine Street will be upgraded by Greene Tree and upon completion of the upgrade will be turned over to the highway district.

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

ROSE - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

 

Bonnie Sharp indicated the cell phone charges in question earlier had been changed to a different plan with unlimited calls and 1000 outgoing minutes.  She will continue to monitor the charges.

 

Howard Brown from CDI, a Collection Agency, P. O. Box 4068, Boise, ID 83711, along with Marianne Bate and Katrina Welch from the Social Services Department presented a plan for recovery of indigent accounts that cannot be collected.   Tina Schindele will review the proposed contract so the Board can make a decision at the July 31, 2006 Commissioner’s meeting.

 

Russ Moorhead with Lombard Conrad Architects, 1221 Shoreline Ln, Boise, ID 83702, representing the architects on the jail and the jail add-on, presented the proposal requests for the office addition (PR#23), the sewer line extension (PR#16) and misc. Pr’s (#1 day room lighting,#2 Janitor sink and #9 tube steel at front entry).  The total project cost will be $7,275,390 leaving an approximate $400,000 cushion between their built up contingency budget and the $224,610 underbid.  For County budgeting purposes, Mr. Conrad believes the last quarter of the year will cost about $1,500,000 in construction costs.  The project is currently on schedule with March 1, 2007 being the estimated jail completion date and May 1, 2007 being the estimated completion day of the Office Addition.  Sheriff Rick Layher and his Chief Deputy Nick Schiltz approved of the proposals as well.   Motion by Egusquiza, second by Cruser, to approve the enlargement of the office addition and PR #1, #2, #9 and #16.

EGUSQUIZA - AYE

ROSE - AYE

CRUSER        - AYE     Motion carried and so ordered.

 

Prosecutor Schindele requested two claim forms be approved for the Sheriff to be paid out of her department for prisoner pickup in another state.  The Commissioners approved the request.

 

Sheriff Rick Layher and Chief Deputy Nick Schilz were present for a telephone conference with grant writer Jason Stone for an $18,000 - $20,000 grant regarding gang related problems.  All parties agreed to pursue the grant as it would offer some equipment and training for the 2007 fiscal year.  It needs to be submitted by the end of the week.

 

Sheriff Layher and Chief Deputy Schilz discussed hiring a bookkeeper that would be responsible for tracking all the money generated by the new jail and the revenue collected by the various Sheriff’s departments.  The Clerk will pursue the cost of the position and put it in the next year’s proposed budget. 

 

The surveillance camera at the dump was discussed.  Commissioner Rose will work with Rural telephone to set up the system that does not need a person to collect the tapes in order to get the information.

 

The ambulance contract was reviewed.  It is good until October 2008.  Prosecutor Schindele will prepare a Memorandum of Understanding to send to Northwest Paramedics.

 

Prosecutor Schindele clarified the relationship between the Commissioners and the Highway District regarding some mis-communication of responsibilities.  The County over sees the development of subdivisions.  The Highway District has jurisdiction over county roads and highways.  Subdivision roads are accepted by the Highway District.

 

The public portion of the meeting followed.

 

Judge Epis came in to verify that the interviews for the Juvenile Administrator are on Friday, July 28, 2006.  The date was confirmed and they will begin at 11:00 a.m.

 

Attorney Phil Miller received a letter from Hepworth, Leazamiz & Janis, Chtd Law Offices regarding the Glenns Ferry Health Center/Desert Sage Health Center easement agreement.  The letter reads:

 

July 20, 2006

 

Philip R. Miller

Ashcraft Miller

430 N. 6^th E.

Mountain Home, ID 83647-0506

 

RE: Glenns Ferry Health Center/Desert Sage Health Center, HL&J File No. 87-1-028.3

 

Dear Phil,

 

Leslyn Phelps met with the Board last night concerning your proposed amendments to the Easement Agreement.  The Board would like the following: