Gooding County | minutes | meeting 2026-07-13 | Regular Session Board of County Commissioners
source: https://www.goodingcounty.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_07132026-896

REGULAR SESSION, JULY 13, 2026
Commissioner Bolduc opened the meeting at 10:00 a.m. Commissioner Buhler, Commissioner Eames, Prosecutor Misseldine, 
Mike Elliott, County Clerk Chad Hoeft, and the Chief Deputy Clerk Jackie Fuqua were present.
NATE FRANCISCO- SOLID WASTE BUDGET & FEE DISCUSSION
Nate Francisco with Southern Idaho Solid Waste presented the preliminary FY2027 budget. Gooding County’s share for the 
operation of the solid waste system is $1,375,081.00. There are cost increases in the proposal, but they are looking into more 
efficient ways for the future such as a shredder machine or a shredder loader bucket. Both have a cost and benefit. The current 
site has longevity of another fifty years and they are working on a longer-term plan that might involve land south of Twin 
Falls.
ASSESSOR BALDWIN- BUDGET SESSION
Assessor Baldwin presented his FY2027 budget to the Board. His budget mostly stays the same except for the Driver’s License
line. He is asking to hire another employee to help with coverage when the other is using P.T.O. Currently they use someone 
from another office, but when that person can’t help there are issues. 
NEW ALCOHOL LICENSE HEARINGS
Commissioner Bolduc opened the hearing at 10:30 a.m. Commissioner Eames made motions to approve alcohol licenses #44 
for Bridy Peruvian Grill & Bar and #45 for Smoke City Wendell LLC. Commissioner Buhler seconded the motions. Motions 
carried. 
SOUTH CENTRAL PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICT- BOARD OF HEALTH APPOINTEES
Commissioner Eames made a motion to nominate Linda Montgomery as the Jerome County representative and Commissioner 
Jared Orton as the Minidoka County representative to the South Central Public Health District’s Board of Health. 
Commissioner Buhler seconded the motion. Motion carried.
DENISE HELSLEY- WEEDS BUDGET SESSION
Denise discussed her FY2027 budget requests with the Board. Mostly the same budget but with a modest salary increase 
request.
Commissioner Bolduc recessed the regular session and opened the Ambulance District meeting at 11:00 a.m.
AMBULANCE DISTRICT
Director Jon Kepler gave an update on the SIRCOMM billing process. He said Gooding County is billed for every call in the 
county. If a QRU in Gooding County doesn’t respond, such as Bliss QRU but Gooding EMS does respond, we are essentially 
getting charged for both. Bliss QRU has a waiver from the State so they don’t have to respond to all calls to keep their license, 
just the ones they can, which isn’t very many. Director Kepler said we should bill the Bliss QRU charges to the City of Bliss if 
they don’t respond to calls. There was discussion on possibly not having a QRU in Bliss but having the Fire Department 
trained. Prosecutor Misseldine suggested that Director Kepler write a letter to all QRU’s stating we would make them pay for 
future missed calls.
The Board also asked about the employee survey that was carried out a while back. Director Kepler said he has addressed 
some of the issues and other fixes are in process.
He also reported there will be a new substance applied to the EMS parking lot that is better and more environmentally friendly,
next Friday.
Commissioner Bolduc adjourned the Ambulance District meeting and went back into the regular session at 11:11 a.m.
DISCUSS COUNTY CLERK BEING OUT OF THE COUNTRY
County Clerk Chad Hoeft will be out of the country for one week and his Chief Deputy Clerk Jackie Fuqua will cover the 
Clerk’s duties.
MAGIC VALLEY AUCTION CONSIGNMENT AGREEMENT
The county has 15 vehicles it would like to list on consignment with Magic Valley Auction. Commissioner Eames made a 
motion to approve disposing of the county property by consigning with Magic Valley Auction. Commissioner Buhler seconded
the motion. Motion carried.
DISCUSS & APPOINT A TEMPORARY PLANNING & ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
The Commissioners expressed their thanks and gratitude to Mike Kerswell for his time as administrator. They began 
advertising for the position but offered the position to Cynthia Scott, who has been appointed as acting administrator before. 
She will consider it. Commissioner Eames made a motion to appoint Cynthia Scott as Acting Administrator and receive 
administrator pay until she either agrees to accept the position or until someone is hired and has had 30 days training.
Commissioner Buhler seconded it. The motion carried.
BUDGET WORK SESSION-
SHERIFF/TREASURER/CORONER/EMERGENCY MANAGER
FY2027 budgets were discussed for the Sheriff’s office, including Wendell, Hagerman Police and Waterways, Treasurer, 
Coroner and Emergency Management.
Sheriff Gough would like to see a significant rise in salaries for his officers as surrounding counties and cities are more 
competitive in wages and he fears we will lose many. He also would like to have all officers get a work phone through the 
county’s Verizon plan, which is free and only $35 a month, as opposed to being issued a refund check every month for around 
$20 for using their personal phone. Currently, if evidence is on their personal phone, it can be confiscated. He is also 
requesting new tasers and body cams as they have reached their end of life. 
The Treasurer, Coroner and Emergency Management budgets would mostly stay the same but with increases in salaries.

TREASURERS’ STATEMENT OF CASH & QUARTERLY REPORT
Treasurer Cynthia Sliman presented to the board the treasurers’ statement of cash and quarterly report. Commissioner Eames 
made a motion to approve the treasurers’ statement of cash and quarterly report. Commissioner Buhler seconded the motion. 
Motion carried. 
DISCUSS ZOOM ACCOUNT FOR PLANNING & ZONING
It was discussed that there is no need for Zoom anymore as Teams meetings are generally used now.
EXECUTIVE SESSION – PURSUANT TO IC §74-206(b) PERSONNEL MATTERS
Commissioner Buhler moved to go into executive session pursuant IC§74-206(b) Personnel Matters.  Commissioner Eames 
seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Buhler-Yes, Bolduc-Yes Eames- Yes. The Board recessed the executive session at 1:00 
p.m.
CLAIMS
Commissioner Eames moved to approve the July 9, 2026, claims. Commissioner Buhler seconded the motion.  Motion carried.
General $403,005.00
            Road and Bridge $ 0           
Consolidated Elections $293.57
District Court $3,387.95 
Fair $4,603.38 
Public Health $14,652.42
Hagerman Police $1,956.89
Wendell Police $28,422.79
Opioid $0
Jr. College $32,250.00              
            Landfill $610,913.94
Broadband $3,571.43
Revaluation $935.00
            Veterans Memorial $-0      
Weeds $326.41
Waterways $237.18
TOTAL $1,104,555.96
Ambulance District $83,953.96
BROADBAND
No Broadband business today.
MINUTES
July 6, 2026, minutes were tabled until the next regular session.
CORRESPONDENCE
No correspondence today.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No public comment today.
COMMITTEE MEETING REPORTS
No committee meeting reports today.
Commissioner Bolduc adjourned the meeting at 1:25 p.m.
/s/Mark E. Bolduc ________________      /s/Vern Eames____________           /s/Ron Buhler______________
Mark E. Bolduc, Chairman                         Vern Eames, Commissioner               Ronald Buhler, Commissioner
Attest: /s/ Chad Hoeft_____________
Chad Hoeft, Clerk