Gooding County | minutes | meeting 2025-09-02 | Regular Session Board of County Commissioners source: https://www.goodingcounty.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_09022025-833 REGULAR SESSION, SEPTEMBER 2, 2025 Commissioner Bolduc opened the meeting at 10:00 a.m. Commissioner Buhler, Commissioner Eames and the Clerk, Denise Gill, were present. JUVENILE PROBATION Carol Johnson, Chief Juvenile Probation Officer and Matt Beaver, Diversion Coordinator, presented proposals on pickups for their Diversion program. Commissioner Eames moved to approve purchasing 2025 F150 for $44,508.00 with trade in and no sales tax. Commissioner Buhler seconded the motion. Motion carried. EXTENSION OF L2’S FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS Commissioner Buhler moved to extend the schools L2’s until September 15, 2025. Commissioner Eames seconded the motion. Motion carried. PROCLAMAMTION SEPTEMBER 2025 FALLS AWARENESS MONTH Commissioner Eames moved to Proclamation September 2025 as Falls Awareness Month. Commissioner Buhler seconded the motion. Motion carried The Office of the Commissioners, Gooding County Proclamation Falls Prevention Awareness Month, September 2025 Whereas the State of Idaho is one of the fastest growing states in the nation, including a significant increase in the percentage of older adults; and Whereas Gooding County Takes Great Pride in Providing and Excellent Quality of Life for our Residents while managing its Fiscal Responsibilities; and Whereas falls are the leading cause of accidental deaths and injuries among older adults with 33.6% of Idahoans age 65+ falling each year, higher than the national average; and Whereas 1 in 5 falls results in serious Physical harm such as broken bones, and are the #1 cause of traumatic brain injury across all age groups; and Whereas Idahoans incur a total of $164 million in costs related to falls each year with the average medical cost of a fall in Idaho being $38,373 across all age groups, of which state Medicaid pays $27 million, and Idahoans pay $26 million privately or out-of-pocket; and Whereas falls often lead to additional psychosocial issues including depression, social isolation, decreased mobility, loss of independence, and early institutionalization; and Whereas the impact of falls on local infrastructure including emergency medical services (EMS), fire departments, emergency departments, critical access hospitals, trauma services, and long-term services and support is significant; and Whereas Gooding County Idaho recognizes the importance of health, safety, security, and independence of our residents; and Whereas most falls are avoidable with modest interventions, based on awareness and simple strategies that significantly reduce the risk of these debilitating and often fatal events; and Whereas public and private organizations and individuals throughout our community can effectively work together to provide education and guidance for individuals, families, caregivers, and our community to reduce the devastating impact of falls on our residents Now, Therefore, We, The Commissioners of Gooding County Idaho, do hereby proclaim September 2025 to be Falls Prevention Awareness month. We urge every resident to acknowledge the physical, emotional, social, and financial costs for all of us when our residents fall, and to learn simple strategies to identify risks and reduce falls in our community IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have set our hand, and caused the Seal of Gooding County Idaho to be affixed on the 2nd day of September, In the Year of our Lord two thousand and twenty-five /s/Mark E. Bolduc Mark E. Bolduc, Gooding County Commission Chairman EXECUTIVE SESSION Commissioner Eames moved to go into executive session pursuant IC§74-206(a) hiring personnel. Commissioner Buhler seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Eames-Yes, Buhler-Yes, Bolduc-Yes. The Board recessed the executive session at 10:31 p.m. Commissioner Eames moved to offer Michael Kruzewell the Planning and Zoning Administrator position. Commissioner Buhler seconded the motion. Motion carried. Commissioner Bolduc recessed the regular session and opened the Ambulance District.10:35 a.m. AMBULANCE DISTRICT Director Kepler emailed the Commissioners’ ambulance wrap design. Commissioner Eames moved to pay $140,011 for the Transport Ambulance with the wrap. Commissioner Buhler seconded the motion. Motion carried. Clerk Gill reminded Kepler and Rivers that they had a balance of $376,000.00 in the Ambulance Fund. Commissioner Buhler moved to allow Commissioner Bolduc to sign the North Canyon Medical Transport Agreement. Commissioner Eames seconded the motion. Motion carried. Commissioner Eames moved to have Magnesium Chloride Applied to the Parking Lot of the EMS Quarters. Commissioner Buhler seconded the motion. Motion carried. Kepler asked to get a water softener for Quarters. The Board advised Kepler to get bids on the water softeners for quarters. Assistant Director Rivers explained that GEMT will allow the Ambulance District to receive $87,980.25 in May 2025, for 2023 Medicare Write offs. They will owe the company that submitted the application for GEMT. Chairman Bolduc adjourned the Ambulance District at 11:05 a.m. and reconvene the regular session PLANNING AND ZONING Cindy Scott, Planning and Zoning Acting Administrator, reported that the City of Wendell is requesting Gooding County to waive building permit fees for the Wendell School District for an indoor batting cage. Commissioner Buhler moved to waive the building permit fee for Indoor Batting Cage. Commissioner Eames seconded the motion. Motion carried. JAIL Sheriff Gough and Chief Deputy Smith joined the meeting. Sheriff Gough explained that he needs an incentive to encourage applicants for the jail. Sheriff Gough would like to give hired applicates a signing bonus and a longevity bonus for those that stay at the County. He suggested having them sign an agreement. LAW ENFORCEMENT AGREEMENT CITY OF WENDELL Commissioner Buhler moved to sign the Law Enforcement Agreement with the City of Wendell. Commissioner Eames seconded the motion. Motion carried. EXECUTIVE SESSION Commissioner Eames moved to go into executive session pursuant IC§31-874 Indigent Matters. Commissioner Buhler seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Eames-Yes, Buhler-Yes, Bolduc-Yes. The Board recessed the executive session at 11:30 a.m. Commissioner Buhler moved to deny case 25-8-5050 and release the medical lien on 06-8-3050. Commissioner Eames seconded the motion. Motion carried. COMPUTER FOR ASSESSOR’S OFFICE Commissioner Buhler moved to approve ETS’s quote EM-3715 for a laptop for the Assessor’s Office. Commissioner Eames seconded the motion. Motion carried. BROADBAND The Broadband project is starting in the City Wendell reported Commissioner Buhler. MINUTES Commissioner Eames moved to approve the minutes of August 28, 2025. Commissioner Buhler seconded the motion. Motion carried. Commissioner Bolduc adjourned the meeting at 11:50 a.m. /s/Mark E. Bolduc ________________ /s/Vern Eames____________ /s/Ron Buhler______________ Mark E. Bolduc, Chairman Vern Eames, Commissioner Ronald Buhler, Commissioner Attest: /s/Denise M. Gill______________ Denise M. Gill, Clerk