COMMISSIONERS MINUTES                                June 16, 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 Larry Rose and Connie Cruser. Also present was Clerk Marsa Grimmett and Civil Attorney Roats.

Correspondence received by mail was reviewed.

Motion by Rose, second by Cruser, to approve the minutes for June 9, 2008. One correction was made.
SHAW - AYE
ROSE - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

Chairman Shaw asked Clerk Grimmett if BDPA had responded to the request for the chart reflecting increases of 1% and 2% for wages. Chairman Shaw felt a 3% to 4% increase might be available. Clerk Grimmett suggested waiting until the revenue projections come in. Chairman Shaw stated he felt the County could not continue to give raises at the current pace as other Counties and entities are not. Commissioner Cruser stated if we will not have the revenue we will not be able to give the maximum raises to employees. Clerk Grimmett stated not giving the employees an increase at a time when the economy is bad was not good. The Commissioners stated placing a burden on tax payers is not good either. Discussion followed on distributing a memo to all departments stating any expenditure over $500 needs approval by the Commissioners through the end of the fiscal year.

Clerk Grimmett stated increasing the solid waste fee by 5% required no advertisement. A resolution will be prepared to raise the solid waste fee by 5%.

Terrill Howard, representing Blue Cross, appeared before the Commissioners and reported a 9.8% increase for health care and a 2% increase in dental will occur. Discussion followed about the County’s current plan and the problems the Gem Plan has had. The Medicare supplement for retired employees was discussed and Mr. Howard was asked how much of an increase that would be. Mr. Howard stated that is a separate plan for each retired employee. Clerk Grimmett stated Payroll Clerk Linda Pickett would have that figure. The Commissioners thanked Mr. Howard for appearing.

Kevin O’Neil from Peneco, appeared to make a presentation on an educational program for inmates. Mr. O’Neil made his presentation and answered questions.

Motion by Shaw, second by Rose, to go into Executive Session pursuant to I.C. 67-2345(b). Roll call vote was taken.
SHAW - AYE
ROSE - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.
Regular session resumed. No action was taken in Executive Session.

A lunch expense for the Court and the Court Facilities Fund was discussed.

A short recess was taken.

Penny Meyers, Mountain Home Highway District, Leanna Taylor, City of Mountain Home, Rose Plympton, Treasurer, and Bob Stephenson from Stephenson’s Computer Consulting appeared to discuss correcting an apportionment. The Urban Renewal District that was just recently formed was discussed. The State Tax Commission’s program was in error and used the full market value instead of the base value when calculating the apportionment of taxes to the City of Mountain Home and the Mountain Home Highway District. Only the Mountain Home Highway District is affected as they fall within the Urban Renewal District. The Highway District’s M&O should only have been figured on the base value. Instead of the correct apportioned amount being given to the City, there was an amount of money taken away from the Highway District and given to the City. The amount is approximately $3,300.00. There are two ways to correct the error, the City writes a check to the Highway District or the County corrects the error within the next distribution of apportionments. The City requested it be corrected within the next apportionment check.

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

Regular session resumed after lunch.

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

The following decisions were made:

K-03-08-03 Motion by Rose, second by Cruser to approve an order of dismissal.
SHAW - AYE
ROSE - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

K-11-06-05 Motion by Rose, second by Cruser to approve an order of dismissal.
SHAW - AYE
ROSE - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

Regular session resumed.

A brief deliberation on the Rick Taylor/Judith O’Dell Re-Zone request followed. The recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission to deny the request was discussed. The Planning and Zoning Commission was not in favor of spot zoning. Commissioner Cruser reviewed the Planning and Zoning Commission’s deliberation when making their decision and how the Commission voted. No decision was made on the re-zone request.

The Ambulance Request for Proposal was discussed. Time is running out for the County to advertise the Request for Proposal as the ambulance contract is up September 30, 2008.

Motion to convene as a Board of Equalization by Shaw, second by Rose.
SHAW - AYE
ROSE - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

Michael and Elizabeth Blair, 1445 Lara Place, Mountain Home, met with the Board to speak on behalf of their application for Property Exempt from Taxation, Exceptional Situation. The Commissioners asked the Blair’s questions in reference to the financial statement that was received with the application. Motion to deny the application from Michael and Elizabeth Blair for Property Exemption from Taxation by Shaw, second by Cruser.
SHAW - AYE
ROSE - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

Motion to reconvene as a Board of Commissioners by Shaw, second by Cruser.
SHAW - AYE
ROSE - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

The proposed budget report was reviewed briefly. Clerk Grimmett stated she would work on the report more.

Rez Cotton, representing Central District Health, came before the Board to introduce herself as the new public health nurse at the Central District Health Office. Ms. Cotton reviewed her goals with counseling Juveniles in the Community. Russ Duke, Director of Central District Health, joined the meeting. Discussion followed on the programs available to the Juveniles and their parents. Flu shots were discussed. Meals for seniors were also discussed and changes will be made in order to continue to operate, for example cutting deserts off the menu. Fuel prices and the increase in food costs are forcing the changes. Commissioner Rose asked what the additional cost would be and Mr. Duke stated he could come back and visit the Board with a figure. West Nile Virus was discussed and Commissioner Rose stated areas have already been treated in the County.

Nick Schilz, Chief Deputy Sheriff’s Office, requested the Board sign an application for a Homeland Security Grant.

John Steiner, Idaho Wind Farms and Randy Reynolds, property owner, appeared and asked for a reduction in the permit fees for the wind turbines. Mr. Steiner stated the refund would go back to the landowner for fencing costs. Building permits and fees were discussed for the temporary buildings for the construction crews.

Motion to reduce the wind turbine permit fees from $3000 to $2500 by Shaw, second by Rose.
SHAW - AYE
ROSE - AYE
CRUSER - NAY Motion carried and so ordered.

Jo Gridley, Assessor, came before the Board to discuss the Employee Committee and their meetings about employee policies. Smoking in County vehicles was discussed.

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

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