COMMISSIONERS MINUTES                                 October 29, 2007

The Commissioners met 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 and Commissioners Connie Cruser and Arlie Shaw. Also present were the Clerk, Marsa Grimmett and Civil Attorney Roats.

Commissioner Cruser reported on a meeting she and Commissioner Shaw attended last week. One issue that was brought up was that the Soil Conservation District should be able to help the County with the water issues. The Glenns Ferry PD Contract and service provided by the Sheriff was discussed. Commissioner Cruser asked Attorney Roats about Search and Rescue and Mountain Home Extrication and what the status was on our inquiry if they are incorporated or not. Attorney Roats stated there has been no response to the letters that were sent.

Chairman Rose reviewed a letter to the Commissioners from the Elmore County Public Safety Communications Board asking that Robbin Ellis be appointed to the Board to fill the vacancy in the Hammett area.

Motion by Rose, second by Cruser, to appoint Robbin Ellis to the Elmore County Public Safety Communications Board.
ROSE - AYE
CRUSER - AYE
SHAW - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

Steve West, Chas Ariss, and Ken Obenhauf, Centra Consulting, appeared before the Board to discuss a draft report that Centra Consulting is currently working on. Some revisions are being made but they are 85 to 90% done. This report is regarding the Glenns Ferry Landfill. Mr. Obenhauf reviewed the report with the Commissioners. Daily coverage of the Landfill was a concern. Storm water management was reviewed. The setback issue will have to be addressed also. Inspections made by Central District Health and the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) were discussed. Mr. Obenhauf stated his office has a report they will get to the County by the end of this week so a financial assurance letter can be done for DEQ. Mr. Obenhauf showed the Commissioners a map with a new layout to extend the life of the landfill. Another option was putting in a transfer station and that was costly. The group will be put on the agenda for the next meeting on November 5, 2007.

Motion by Rose, second by Shaw, to go into Executive Session pursuant to I.C. 67-2345(d). Roll call vote was taken.
ROSE - AYE
CRUSER - AYE
SHAW - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

Regular session resumed.

Motion to partially release a lien on Michael Fry’s home upon payment of $6,000 and execution of a promissory note of $2,000 to Elmore County by Rose, second by Cruser.
ROSE - AYE
SHAW - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

Motion to approve the minutes for October 22, 2007 by Rose, second by Cruser.
ROSE - AYE
SHAW - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

Motion by Rose, second by Cruser, to go into Executive Session pursuant to I.C. 67-2345(d) to meet with Social Services Director Marianne Bate. Roll call vote was taken.
ROSE - AYE
SHAW - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

K-09-07-04 Motion by Shaw, second by Cruser, to deny at not last resource and incomplete information in reference to the SSI/SSD claim.
ROSE - AYE
CRUSER - AYE
SHAW - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

K-09-07-08 Motion by Cruser, second by Shaw, to deny as applicant is not indigent and has resources and discretionary income to pay the bills over a five year period.
ROSE - AYE
CRUSER - AYE
SHAW - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

K-07-07-01 and K-07-07-03 Motion by Rose, second by Shaw, to approve the Findings of Facts and Conclusions of Law.
ROSE - AYE
CRUSER - AYE
SHAW - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

Regular session resumed.

Motion to approve the Certificate of Residency for Elizabeth M. Dominguez by Rose, second by Shaw.
ROSE - AYE
SHAW - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

Chairman Rose read the Tax Cancellations into the record: No. 888 Kelly Oellien $8.66, No. 894 Lake Cascade Corp $119.38, No. 899 Horacio Silva $9.18, No. 900 Timothy & Christine Rolf $98.96, No 901 $2.52 and No. 902 - 2007 Pre-bills $750.43. Motion to approve the tax cancellations in the amount of $989.13 by Rose, second by Cruser.
ROSE - AYE
SHAW - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

Motion by Rose, second by Shaw to recess for lunch.
ROSE - AYE
SHAW - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

At 2:00 p.m. the Commissioners returned from lunch and met with the Elected Officials.

Jo Gridley, Assessor, stated she wanted to discuss payroll, time cards, vacation and sick leave, GIS and IT issues.

Commissioner Shaw stated those were topics he also wanted to discuss along with comp time.

Commissioner Cruser stated she wanted to discuss payroll time sheets, possibly hiring a Human Resource person, a drug free workplace, employee moral, meal reimbursements to employees, a retirement policy regarding sick leave, and some kind of strategic plan for the County.

Prosecutor Kristina Schindele stated she wanted to discuss safety issues.

Rose Plympton, Treasurer, stated she wanted to discuss all the above and the sick leave bank.

Commissioner Cruser stated she wants a payroll system that you get paid after you put the time in. Clerk Grimmett stated she is working on a bi-weekly payroll system.

Assessor Gridley stated on page 3 of our Personnel Policy it states – Reports of hours worked and time on and off the job must be completed in a timely manner in accord with procedures established by the payroll clerk and a record kept by the elected official or Department Head. She doesn’t feel one person should be able to set the policy for her Department. The payroll clerk should be implementing the procedures set by the Elected Officials, not establishing them. Treasurer Plympton asked if there is an additional cost of going to a bi-weekly payroll and Chairman Rose stated he talked to Bob from Stephenson’s Computer Consulting and the expense was minimal. Treasurer Plympton suggested all future hires should be required to have direct deposit to eliminate the paper checks issued. Prosecutor Schindele asked how much advance warning the employees would have before we go to a bi-weekly payroll and Clerk Grimmett stated at least 3 months, next June is the target date. Prosecutor Schindele stated the employees need to have time to change their payment due dates. Sheriff Layher stated the 28k exemption under the Fair Labor Standards should be implemented, meaning the employee doesn’t get overtime until they work over 172 hours a month. This is for emergency personnel only. Time sheets were discussed and how they read. Sick leave was discussed and those employees who work a 40 hour work week will accrue 8 hours a month, those who work a 35 hour work week will accrue 7 hours a month, and part time employees who work a 20-34 ½ hour work week will accrue 4 hours of sick leave per month. All the Elected Officials agreed.

The discussion continued on sick time accrual. Our current Personnel Policy states sick leave can accrue to a maximum of 480 hours. Using a portion of sick leave accrued at the time of retirement for medical premium payments was tabled.

Reimbursements for meals for employees were discussed. Commissioner Cruser stated her concerns on meal reimbursements. Discussion followed on what would qualify as a meal reimbursement. It was decided a policy needs to be created on the issue.

Assessor Gridley stated in the Personnel Policy, page 13, under Vacation leave, Length of Service states 21+ years, vacation accrual is 25 days + 1 day per year over 21 years. For your 21st year you don’t get that extra day according to how the policy reads. That needs to be amended to say you get 1 extra day for over 20 years.

The Probationary period in the Employee Personnel Policy was discussed. Assessor Gridley stated it now reads “The probationary period will typically be a standard 90 to 180 days.” And she would like it changed to say the initial probationary period is, and then extend it if necessary. The new sentence will read “The initial probationary period will typically be 90 to 180 days.”

Assessor Gridley stated the sick leave portion states “Request for sick leave must be requested at least within two hours of the time when scheduled work is to begin.” Discussion followed and the intent is as long as the employee lets their supervisor know within two hours before or after work begins that would be acceptable.

Commissioner Shaw stated he felt that the County should pay the employee for the time they have worked and not allow compensatory (comp) time. Commissioner Shaw felt if a Department has excessive comp time then they probably need to hire another person. Chairman Rose stated there are portions of the year that certain offices need people to work overtime. The employee is allowed to accrue comp time instead of being paid overtime due to budget restrictions. Discussion followed and it was decided that any comp time accrued will be used right away.

Motion by Rose, second by Cruser, to go into Executive Session pursuant to I.C. 67-2345(b). Roll call vote was taken.
ROSE - AYE
SHAW - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

Regular session resumed.

Noe Garza, Code Enforcer, appeared and briefly spoke to the Commissioners regarding various violations he has been addressing in the County.

The public portion of the meeting was held.

Angela Ruona, 258 NE Domingo Court, Mountain Home, appeared to discuss a piece of property behind her house. There are pigs and roosters on the property. The property lies in the County and the rooster crows night and day. Prosecutor Schindele stated the County can clean up the property but can not assess a lien on property taxes like the City can. It would have to be paid back to the County through the Judgment process. Chairman Rose asked Prosecutor Schindele to check out the specifics of cleaning up the property. Prosecutor Schindele stated she would keep Ms. Ruona informed and the Commissioners stated they would have the property cleaned up.

Prosecutor Schindele spoke about security issues in her office.

Motion by Rose, second by Shaw to adjourn.
ROSE - AYE
SHAW - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

/S/ LARRY E. ROSE, Chairman
ATTEST: /S/ MARSA GRIMMETT, Clerk