PRESENT: Charles Howell, Chairman Catherine Roemer, Vice Chairman Roger Morley, Commissioner Jane White, Deputy Clerk JEROME COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Meeting convened at 9 A.M. COMMISSIONER COMMITTEE REPORTS Commissioner Morley reported from a legislative reception that he said had provided excellent networking about social problems. He had also visited Western States Equipment about a problem with the loader purchased for the Jerome Airport. Commissioner Roemer related that directors at a Mid-Snake Water Resource Commission meeting had discussed proposed amendments to the water quality section of the Water Management Plan. She said Bob Muffley would bring final revisions for the Board s review and alerted the Commissioners that they may be asked to sign a Source Water Protection Plan. Commissioner Howell reported about tower sites from a SIRCOMM (emergency communications) meeting and also said directors had changed some employment rules. He had attended a Crisis Center Board meeting and told the Commissioners he was concerned about the lack of a sustainability plan so counties would not need to finance the Center after its first two years of operation. Commissioners Roemer and Howell had also attended the legislative lunch. BUSINESS AND/OR ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS The Board signed a Personnel Action Form for Gary Taylor, retroactive to October 1, 2017, to correct an incorrect amount of salary increase on a previous form. The Board signed a Direct Deposit Detail with a grand total of $98,008.78 and a Payroll Claims Approval by Fund with a grand total of $164,904.54, both dated October 20, 2017, for the October 1-October 14 payroll. CLAIMS Commissioner Howell signed claims from the FY 2017-18 Budget from October 12, 2017, to October 24, 2017, as follows. Page 1 of 7
Commissioner Howell signed claims for the 2016-17 fiscal year as follows: Clerk, $86.57; Assessor, $88.98; Commissioners, $219.00; Emergency Management, $48.90; Data Processing, Page 2 of 7
$100.00; General, $1,831.96; Subtotal General, $2,375.41; Sheriff, $4,944.80; Sheriff- Detention, $2,038.32; Public Defenders, $1,176.50; Juvenile Probation, $555.78; General Justice, $627.69; Subtotal Justice, $9,343.09; Airport, $435,620.98; District Court, $1,049.12; Capital Fair, $3,606.02; Indigent, ($36,002.88); Revaluation, $174.12; Tort, $1,000.00; Waterways-Sheriff, $831.16; Total, $417,997.02. JUDGE HALLOWEEN DOORS The Commissioners judged seven County department doors decorated for Halloween. Taking first place was the door to the juvenile probation department. Other doors were decorated by offices of the assessor, clerks at the Judicial Annex Building, the commissioners and human resources, planning and zoning, sheriff, and social services. The Employee Committee provided a pizza party for first place and goody bags for the other offices that participated. MARIO UMANA JUVENILE PROBATION REPORT Juvenile Probation Administrator Mario Umana was present. Umana presented written juvenile probation statistics from September 16 through October 20, which included 89 juveniles on probation and $762.50 in fees collected. He answered questions from the Commissioners and commented on the progress of the diversion program. Umana also presented an Annual Juvenile Justice Report for the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections; Commissioner Howell checked that the Board had reviewed and approved it. DESERAE JONES MISDEMEANOR PROBATION REPORT Misdemeanor Probation Administrator Deserae Jones was present. Report: Jones reviewed her monthly written statistics, which included 234 active probation cases, 288 unsupervised cases, and $4,559 collected in supervision fees. She explained the procedures for domestic violence court that had begun in Jerome County on September 21. Jones verified with the Commissioners that her office could hold potluck lunches on special occasions without employees using comp time. The Board believed they would be working lunches because the probation office would be open. DUI Recidivism: The Commissioners had recently requested to know the success of the DUI (Driving Under the Influence) court instituted in Jerome County the previous year. Jones reported there were no statistics for such a new program but that the recidivism percentage for all of District V was 11.7 percent. AIRPORT EQUIPMENT REPAIR Airports Manager Garth Baker was present. Also present was Doug Fisher, Limelight Equipment. Page 3 of 7
Fisher, who had sold a loader to the County for use at the Jerome Airport, said he regretted the discovery that it needed repairs. He explained that the dealer from whom he bought it thought the loader s shaking was normal but that the local Cat dealer said it needed repair because it had not been serviced with a necessary lubricant. Fisher said he would work with the Board for the County not to be responsible for the entire repair bill. Commissioner Howell wanted to repair the loader in preparation for winter weather and then determine who would pay the bill. FERNANDO ROMO URBANIZATION Planning and Zoning Administrator Art Brown, P&Z Assistant Administrator Nancy Marshall, and Attorney Mike Seib was present. Also present were Fernando Romo and Salvador Briewela, who spoke and interpreted for Romo. Seib advised that Brown was interpreting a Special Use Permit to mean that Romo could not place another trailer on his property. He said Romo might need to obtain another Special Use Permit (SUP). Briewela explained that Romo removed a trailer from his property when Brown informed him it was in violation of an SUP but that Brown had not told him if he replaced the trailer, it would have to be within one year in order to comply with the Permit. Seib stated the intent of the Special Use Permit determines whether it transfers with the property. It was determined Seib would write a new Special Use Permit, to be approved at the discretion of the Board. Meeting recessed at 12:11 P.M. Meeting reconvened at 1:16 P.M. LARRY HALL GRANT AND TAX EXEMPTION APPLICATION Larry Hall, executive director of Jerome 20/20, was present. Gem Grant Application: Hall requested that the County apply for a grant to help with infrastructure for a truck stop being built on the west side of the City of Jerome. The Board determined that Commissioner Roemer would be the Board s contact with the Department of Commerce in applying for the grant. Application for Tax Exemption: Hall presented drafts for an application, application attachment, and additional requirements for the Board to consider when granting companies tax exemptions according to Idaho Code Section 63-602NN. He said the Board of County Page 4 of 7
Commissioners would review exemptions each year and asked that the County add the approved application to its Website. A Motion was made by Commissioner Roemer to adopt the property tax exemption application pursuant to Idaho Code Section 63-602NN for Jerome County as presented. It was seconded and carried with unanimous ayes. The Board asked Hall to research what to consider as a living wage in Jerome County. ART BROWN UPDATE FOR MAPPING EQUIPMENT Planning and Zoning Administrator Art Brown, P&Z Assistant Administrator Nancy Marshall, and Mapper Mark Reyes were present. Also present was Kelle Traughber, secretary for the Jerome Cemetery Maintenance District. Reyes presented quotes for an upgraded GIS unit for mapping, as requested by the Board on October 16. He recommended the quote from GeoLine but cautioned that County software necessary for mapping would be obsolete by 2019, with new GIS software expected for release. Reyes said it would be more difficult to complete the project requested by the cemetery district with the current GIS unit but that it would be possible. Traughber said the cemetery district directors had requested that Reyes present to them his project for mapping the cemetery, after which he would return to the Commissioners for project final approval. PUBLIC DEFENDER AUDIT DISCUSSION Clerk/Auditor/Recorder Michelle Emerson was present. The Board worked with Emerson in preparing answers to information requested by the Idaho State Public Defense Commission about the County s public defenders. CONNIE STOPHER SIEDO UPDATE Present were Connie Stopher, executive director of the Southern Idaho Economic Development Organization (SIEDO), and Madeleine Smith, marketing specialist for the organization. Stopher introduced Smith, who she said had been hired in September and brings great experience to the economic development organization. Stopher said the SIEDO board would be addressing internal changes for better communication. Planned events included a summit on November 16 focusing on tourism and a workshop for talent attraction. She said she had been working with Jerome s economic development organization (Jerome 20/20) and would be evaluating industrial properties to ascertain their infrastructure needs. Page 5 of 7
Stopher said she hopes to report to the Commissioners quarterly. Commissioner Howell asked Stopher to look at the County s Tech Park on Highway 93 on her way home. LETTER TO IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF LANDS Commissioner Howell reported he was awaiting a letter from the Idaho Department of Lands regarding shooting in the Snake River Canyons Park. SNAKE RIVER CANYONS PARK PARKING LOT GRAVEL Commissioner Howell said the Jerome Highway District would be delivering gravel for a parking lot in the Snake River Canyons Park that day. MIKE SEIB LEGAL COUNSEL Attorney Mike Seib was present. Also present was Kelle Traughber, secretary for the Jerome Cemetery Maintenance District. Code Enforcement Violations Referred to the Prosecutor s Office: Seib reported he had not yet been able to meet with the Planning and Zoning administrator about code violations referred to his office. Randy Waters Code Violation: Seib said he also needed to consult the Planning and Zoning administrator about a violation recorded on property of Randy Waters. Role of Commissioners with the Snake River Canyons Park Board: Seib advised the Commissioners are connected with the Snake River Canyons Park Board because they appoint its directors. Commissioner Morley said he would be stepping down as the chairman of the Park Board. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Amateur Radio Operators: Seib said he had added changes to a proposed MOU with the amateur radio operators and would review the Memo again to bring before the Board on October 30. Tort Claim: Seib told the Board a tort claim had been filed with the County s liability insurance carrier and was still within the 90-day period before a lawsuit could be filed. APPROVE CLAIMS A Motion was made by Commissioner Roemer to approve the claims as presented. It was seconded and carried with unanimous ayes. The Board signed a Claims Approval Report dated October 19, 2017, for the Indigent Fund, with a total of $239.20. Page 6 of 7
The Board signed a Claims Approval Report dated October 19, 2017, with a grand total of $20,699.08 for the following funds: General, District Court II, Justice, Fair Capital, Revaluation, Tort, and Auditor s Trust. The Board signed a Claims Approval Report dated October 19, 2017, with a grand total of $100,166.39 for the following funds: General, District Court II, Justice, Indigent, and Revaluation. READ AND APPROVE MINUTES A Motion was made by Commissioner Morley to approve the minutes of October 10 and 16 as written. It was seconded and carried with unanimous ayes. INDIGENT MATTERS A Motion was made by Commissioner Morley to approve indigent matters as presented. It was seconded and carried with unanimous ayes. Dismissed was Case No. 1617-072. Meeting adjourned at 4 P.M. Respectively submitted: Jane White, Deputy Clerk Charles M. Howell, Chairman Catherine M. Roemer, Commissioner Roger M. Morley, Commissioner Page 7 of 7