COMMISSIONERS MINUTES                                 JANUARY 28, 2008

The Elmore County Commissioners met in regular session 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 Arlie Shaw, Commissioners Connie Cruser and Larry Rose. Also present was Clerk Marsa Grimmett.

General Discussion followed on Commissioners current activities. Landfill issues were discussed. A report from Centra Consulting was received.

Greg Maurer, Elmore Medical Center Administrator, came before the Board to discuss the Joint Study on an Ambulance Service in Elmore County. Mr. Maurer gave the Board a memorandum of understanding between Elmore County and Elmore Medical Center. Mr. Maurer stated the cost will be approximately $3,000 to be split by the two parties.

Bonnie Sharp, Growth and Development Director, and Myron Adamson, Building Inspector, came before the Board to discuss establishing Building Permit Fees for wind farms. Ms. Sharp gave a review of what other Counties are charging. Ms. Sharp and Mr. Adamson will return at 11:00 a.m. when John Steiner and Glenn Ikemoto appear representing Idaho Wind Farms.

Assessor Jo Gridley came before the Board to tell them how the wind farms will be taxed each year.

Wade Baumgardner, Veterans Service Officer, reported to the Board what has been happening in his office. Mr. Baumgardner reviewed a few of the cases he has been handling.

Monica Halliday, Juvenile Probation, came before the Board and reported on the activities in the Office. Ms. Halliday reminded the Commissioners of a meeting being held on February 4, 2008. The Commissioners stated they will not be able to attend as February 4th is a regular Commissioner meeting day. Ms. Halliday would like to get another contract for drug and alcohol, anger management and family counseling. The person we currently use is over extended and the Court has been requiring more counseling.

Dan Collins, Plant Facilities Manager, came before the Board and reported moving the Dispatch Department up to the new Jail Facility went well. Security in the Courthouse was discussed. The new defibrillators were discussed, Commissioner Cruser will organize the training.

Bonnie Sharp, Growth and Development Director reported to the Board the 2006 International Building Code needs to be adopted, the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for an economist for Planned Communities needs to be addressed. Ms. Sharp stated she gave the information on the two items to Prosecutor Schindele. The Planning and Zoning Commission Public Hearing for the Ordinance Revision will be on February 27, 2008. Discussion followed on the Ordinance Revision and the current matrix near the Air Force Base.

Civil Attorney Richard Roats joined the meeting.

John Steiner and Glen Ikemoto, Idaho Wind Farms and Steve Reynolds, property owner, came before the Board to request fairness on building permit fees for wind towers. They reported the project will generate over 7.5 million dollars in tax revenue over the life of the project. They have already paid over $21,000 in building permit fees which is twice as much as they expected to pay. Discussion followed on the cost in Twin Falls County regarding wind towers. Mr. Ikemoto stated wind turbines are one complete structure. Chairman Shaw stated the State law needs to be reviewed and the County will look into the issue before a decision is made.

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

The Elmore County Commissioners met in Executive Session pursuant to I.C. 67-2345(d) on a motion by Shaw, second by Rose. Roll call vote was taken.

The following decision was made:

NM-01-08-10 Motion by Rose, second by Cruser to disapprove as the County is not a last resource.
SHAW - AYE
ROSE - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

Still in Executive Session a hearing was held on K-07-05-02. Present at the hearing were the three Commissioners, Social Services Director Marianne Bate, Civil Attorney Richard Roats, Deputy Clerk Barbara Steele, Steven Pitts, Attorney for St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, Krysten Christiansen, representing St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center and the applicants husband. The applicant was at the emergency room. Ms. Bate gave an overview of the case. The Commissioners asked questions. Steven Pitts gave a review of the case. Civil Attorney Roats asked questions about the items he had subpoenaed. Chairman Shaw closed the hearing.

K-07-05-02 Motion by Rose to approve, second by Shaw. Motion amended by Rose, second amended by Shaw, to include a reimbursement order for half of state and federal income tax returns and $250.00 per month.
SHAW - AYE
ROSE - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

Regular session resumed.

The Commissioners met with the Elected Officials for their regular monthly meeting. Present were the three Commissioners, Clerk Grimmett, Prosecutor Schindele, Treasurer Rose Plympton, Assessor Jo Gridley and Chief Deputy Nick Schilz representing Sheriff Layher. The first topic was changing the County’s pay period from monthly to bi-weekly. Discussion followed on the pros and cons of the bi-weekly pay period. Having a factual time card is why the change is being considered.

Prosecutor Schindele asked about mileage reimbursement for her employees, or if there was a County vehicle available for their use. The Commissioners suggested Security pick up the Prosecutor’s mail from their PO Box at the Post Office. Different options were discussed for the paperwork at the jail that the Prosecutor’s office picks up on a daily basis.

Bi-weekly payroll was discussed again. It was decided to continue to pay monthly. If payday remains on the last day of the month the cutoff for time cards would be 23rd of each month. The first month this will be implemented, the employee’s paycheck would be less if payday stays on the last day of the month. If the County changes the payday to the 7th of each month, the employee’s check will not be short. Discussion followed on automatic payments that employees have on the 1st of each month. The County will let the employees decide what the payday will be, the last day of the month or the 7th of each month and the County will go to a 30 day pay period. Vacation time was discussed and how it is accrued. It was decided the probation period for new employees will be one year, vacation accrues monthly and can be taken 90 days after the start of employment with supervisor approval. Commissioner Cruser asked about drug testing and could that be required of new employees. Treasurer Rose stated she would like new employees to have direct deposit.

Chief Deputy Nick Schilz, Sheriff’s Office, is asking if his department can place the orders on the new vehicles they have been requesting, two vans and three cars. The vans will be for the new Jail and the three cars will be for the Sheriff’s Department.

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

Commissioner Rose joined the meeting after the roll call vote.

Regular session resumed, no action was taken as a result of the Executive Session.

Motion by Rose, second by Cruser, to approve the expenses.
SHAW - AYE
ROSE - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

Motion by Shaw, second by Cruser, to approve the minutes of January 22, 2008.
SHAW - AYE
ROSE - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

Chairman Shaw read the Certificates of Residency into the record: Tamara Lynn Shenk, Marilyn Moon Franks, James Wesley Haws, and Gregerson H. Hafen. Motion by Shaw, second by Cruser, to approve the Certificates of Residency.
SHAW - AYE
ROSE - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

Motion by Rose, second by Cruser to approve the Findings of Facts, Conclusions of Law, Appeal to the Elmore County Board of Commissioners decision to deny the request to issue a conditional use permit on Prairie Sun Subdivision.
SHAW - AYE
ROSE - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

Motion by Rose, second by Cruser to approve the Findings of Facts, Conclusions of Law, Appeal to the Elmore County Board of Commissioners decision to deny the request to amend the Conditional Use Permit for Sunrider Ranch Subdivision.
SHAW - AYE
ROSE - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

Discussion followed on whether or not the Recorder’s Office should continue to handle passport applications as the Passport Agency has cut the County’s processing fee from $30 to $25 per application. Chairman Shaw stated the Commissioners would think about it.

The building permit fees for the wind towers were discussed. More research will be done before any decisions are made.

The County’s ambulances were discussed. Prosecutor Schindele stated she is still working on the ambulance Request for Proposal (RFP). The agreement with Elmore Medical Center and Elmore County was discussed. Prosecutor Schindele reviewed the agreement and suggested a limit be set on the amount to be spent by the County.

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

/S/ ARLIE SHAW, Chairman
ATTEST: /S/ MARSA GRIMMETT, Clerk