COMMISSIONERS MINUTES                                August 18, 2008


The 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, Civil Attorney Richard Roats and Prosecutor Kristina Schindele.

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

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

Motion by Shaw, second by Rose, to open the public hearing to hear public comment on the acceptance of a donated Ricoh Aficio 4683 Copier, from another governmental entity or jurisdiction. The County proposes to accept a Ricoh Aficio 4683 Copier, Serial Number H802030137 from the City of Mountain Home for use by the E-9-1-1 office. No public was present to testify.
SHAW - AYE
ROSE - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

Motion by Shaw, second by Cruser to close the public hearing.
SHAW - AYE
ROSE - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

Motion by Rose, second by Cruser, to accept the copy machine for use by the E-9-1-1 department noting that no public appeared to testify for or against.
SHAW - AYE
ROSE - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

Motion by Rose, second by Cruser, to approve the minutes for July 17, 2008 and July 22, 2008.
SHAW - AYE
ROSE - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

Motion by Shaw, second by Cruser to accept for the record only the Recorder’s Office Report.
SHAW - AYE
ROSE - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

Chairman Shaw read the Certificates of Residency into the record: Kyle Zachary Moore, Kaylynn Caresse Smith, and Nicholas Hunter Szafranski. Motion by Rose, second by Cruser to approve the Certificates of Residency as read and have the Chairman sign.
SHAW - AYE
ROSE - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

A request was received from the Mountain School District for an extension of turning in their L-2 form to the Clerk. The Commissioners agreed to the extension.

Motion by Rose, second by Cruser, to sign the Proclamation “A Day to Eat Dinner with your Children”.
SHAW - AYE
ROSE - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

Nick Schilz, Chief Deputy Sheriff’s Office, appeared before the Board to discuss the Disaster Services Budget. The Commissioners stated if the job has become more time consuming perhaps a re-evaluation is in order. Discussion followed on several options. The Commissioners will revisit the issue with Sheriff Layher.

Andrea Fogleman and Bonnie Brazier from BDPA, Inc., the County’s Salary Survey’s Company, appeared and explained when the first study was done for the County in the year 2000, BDPA established a classification compensation plan which was internally equitable, meaning how positions compared to one another based on the components of the equal pay act that states that there is certain criteria that needs to be looked at in each job to establish internal equity. The first component in the upcoming project is the classification portion. Some job descriptions need to be updated. Reviewing the evaluation process used along with the equal pay act that states you have to look at the effort, skill, responsibility, and working conditions and the level of each in the separate jobs.
At the time the County did the initial survey it included customer service, decision making, problem solving, initiative, creativity and accountability. A review of those areas to make sure they are still applicable will be done. The kinds and level chart was established to list and separate County jobs. In the last study a comparison was done with and without Ada County and the results were less than a 2% difference. The next component is the salary structure design. The County uses a Step and Grade system. Every year when the County goes through the budget process it looks at a cost of living increase and moving the employee up a step. The steps are 3% before market value and 2% after market value and the cost of living portion is usually 3%. It doesn’t give the County much flexibility and redesigning the salary structure to give the County more flexibility might be necessary. Commissioner Rose stated there are loop holes that are found to work around the step and grade chart. The process of how the job descriptions are changed will be modified. The Commissioners will receive the requests for changes in job descriptions before they are sent to BDPA for review. Different plans were discussed. BDPA will send the Commissioners a contract for review.

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

Regular session resumed at 1:30 p.m. Social Services Director Marianne Bate appeared and stated there were no indigent cases to present.

Correspondence received by mail was reviewed. A letter was received and action was not taken fast enough on a decision on the anemometers therefore the County has no interest in them.

Discussion followed on the Clear Springs Ranch Appeal.

Sheriff Rick Layher appeared and inquired on the two new positions that were approved for his department for the 2009 fiscal year budget. Sheriff Layher stated revenue from the Jail might be lower than anticipated from the State. Sheriff Layher will return later in the day for more discussion on the matter.

Gregory Day, who lives on East 14th North in Mountain Home, appeared before the Board. Assessor Gridley also appeared and gave a brief overview of the homeowner’s application which was not filed in a timely manner. Mr. Day was stationed in a war zone in 2007 and per Idaho Code there is an exception for that. The Commissioners authorized the homeowners exemption for 2007, no exemption for 2008, and the exemption will be in effect for 2009.

An application for property tax exemption from Cam 8 was reviewed. Motion by Cruser, second by Shaw, to approve the application for property tax exemption from Cam 8 on personal property.
SHAW - AYE
ROSE - AYE
CRUSER - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

Bonnie Sharp, Growth and Development Director, appeared before the Board with the applications for the Planners and Economists. Interviews will be scheduled.

Karl and Kari Vogt, Northwest Paramedics, appeared before the Board for the regular monthly meeting. Discussion followed on a complaint received on an ambulance call. The Commissioners informed the Vogt’s they would like to extend the Ambulance Contract for another six months. Mr. Vogt asked if Friday was still the cutoff for the request for proposal for the ambulance service and Commissioner Cruser stated yes. Civil Attorney Roats will prepare an addendum to the current contract between Elmore County and Northwest Paramedics.

Sheriff Rick Layher appeared before the Board to discuss the State inmates at the Elmore County Jail.
Brent Reinke, Idaho Department of Corrections, was phoned and was unavailable. Walt Femling was phoned to ask questions about the draw downs of State Prisoners in County Jails. At a Sheriff’s meeting Mr. Femling attended, the Dept. of Corrections stated that 300 inmates would be sent out of State due to a contract. Elmore County currently only has 18 State inmates. The Commissioners thanked Mr. Femling for the information. Randy Blades was phoned and was unavailable.

Motion by Shaw, second by Cruser, 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 as result of the Executive Session.

Sheriff Rick Layher was still present. Randy Blades phoned and was put on speaker phone. Discussion followed on State inmates and where they were being housed. Mr. Blades stated the inmate population is down in Idaho but the out of State contract is still in effect and therefore that is why the inmates are being housed out of State. The inmates might be moved back to Idaho soon. Mr. Blades said Elmore County should see an increase when that happens.

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 as result of the Executive Session.

Troy Hagen, Director, and Harry Eckert, Deputy Director, with Ada County Paramedics, appeared before the Commissioners. The Commissioners stated they could not discuss the Ambulance Request for Proposal. Mr. Hagen stated Ada County Paramedics was concerned with the substational investment of infrastructure, ambulances and stations that Elmore County would have to secure, and possibly how Ada County could help with that outside the Request for Proposal. Discussion followed on the issue and what options are available to Elmore County.

The Commissioners asked the Clerk to notice up a special session to meet with the Hospital Board of Directors at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 20, 2008, at the Hospital Conference Room.

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