Gooding County | minutes | meeting 2026-05-18 | Regular Session Board of County Commissioners source: https://www.goodingcounty.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_05182026-885 REGULAR SESSION, MAY 18, 2026 Commissioner Bolduc opened the meeting at 10:00 a.m. Commissioner Buhler, Commissioner Eames, Prosecutor Misseldine, Chad Hoeft, Hollye Haney, Brylee Drury, Whitney Beaver, Mike Elliot, and the Deputy Clerk, Sara Berling were present. CAROL JOHNSON- ANNUAL JUVENILE JUSTICE/ SNAKE RIVER JUVENILE DETENTION CHANGES Carol Johnson and Jeff Miller spoke to the commission on the annual report for Juvenile justice for October 2024 through September 2025. There was also a brief discussion regarding the Twin falls juvenile detention contracts presented on May 11, 2026. The information provided was for the board to consider. MINUTES Commissioner Eames moved to approve May 11, 2026, minutes with corrections. Commissioner Buhler seconded the motion. Motion carried. TAX DEED HEARING Commissioner Buhler moved to go into the tax deed hearing at 10:30 Elected Treasurer Christina Wines spoke about the next steps for the collection of delinquency on real, personal, and operating property. The Board recessed the Tax Deed hearing at 10:35 a.m. Commissioner Eames moved to approve the issue tax lean. Commissioner Buhler seconded the motion. Motion carried. BROADBAND The commission verified times of the Wendell city meeting and who would attend the meeting. COMMITTEE MEETING REPORTS There were no correspondences to report on. CORRESPONDENCE: Commissioner Bolduc Reported that he shared Sircomm financials with the commission. EXECUTIVE SESSION – PURSUANT TO IC §31-874 INDIGENT MATTERS Commissioner Buhler moved to go into executive session pursuant IC§31-874 Indigent matters. Commissioner Eames seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Buhler-Yes, Bolduc-Yes Eames- Yes. The Board recessed the executive session at 10:40a.m. Commissioner Eames moved to deny case number 26-5-5057. Commissioner Buhler seconded the motion. Motion carried. ETS MANAGEMENT FEE Commissioner Bolduc, Commissioner Buhler and Commissioner Eames discussed ETS contract. Motion made by Commissioner Eames to approve the signing of the contract for $91,440 for year one, $93,921 for year 2 and $96,551 for year three. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Buhler. Motion carried. LARRY BYBEE- PROPERTY ACQUISITION FOR RIVER WALL Larry Bybee presented an update to the river wall project that is ongoing. Mr. Bybee wished to inform the commission of the anticipated next steps to further the project which would include issuing an easement from the county for land to help further the project. The commission made a request to have the proposed land be marked out for them to see. KARL SOUZA- DISCUSS SHERIFF VEHICLE MAINTENANCE & FUNDING Karl Souza wanted to discuss where funds needed to be taken out to start the sheriff’s vehicle maintenance. It was decided by the commission that funding the approved $20,000 would be taken out of the budgeted amount to replace motors for two Sheriff’s pickups within the maintenance line. ETS- STATUS OF BROADBAND PROJECT Chad Larson, Jacob Johnson and Scott Linsley from ETS presented to the commission an update on where the Broadband project is at. They reported that over all the project is on schedule, and they should be able to start connecting customers to the wireless network soon. ETS will be pushing for customer sign-ups at as many county events as possible. They also showed the new landing page for customers interested in the new internet provided though openaccessidaho.com and went over the sign- up processes. The biggest challenge for the Broadband project is the concern with a tower that is projected to go into Wendell. COUNTY CLERK VACANCY HEARING Commissioner Eames moved to adapt Resolution No. 2026-05-18 A resolution of the board of county commissioners of Gooding County, Idaho, Declaring the office of county clerk vacant pursuant to Idaho code §31-2013 and Idaho code §59- 901(d). The motion was seconded by Commissioner Buhler. Resolution adopted. RESOLUTION NO. 2026-05-18 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF GOODING COUNTY, IDAHO, DECLARING THE OFFICE OF COUNTY CLERK VACANT PURSUANT TO IDAHO CODE§ 31-2013 AND IDAHO CODE§ 59-901(d) WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Gooding County, Idaho (the "Board"), is authorized by law to address vacancies in county elective offices; and WHEREAS, Idaho Code § 59-901 provides that an elective civil office may become vacant upon the happening of certain events, including abandonment, prolonged incapacity, prolonged absence, or other statutory grounds; and WHEREAS, Idaho Code§ 31-2013 provides that no county officer may be absent from the state for more than twenty (20) days unless with the consent of the Board; and WHEREAS, Idaho Code§ 31-802 provides the Board with the authority to supervise the faithful performance of the duties of all county officers. WHEREAS, the duly elected County Clerk, Denise Gill (the "County Clerk") has not reported to work since February 12, 2026; and WHEREAS, the Board understands that the County Clerk is presently residing in Texas and is receiving medical treatment for a medical condition; and WHEREAS, the Board finds and determines, based upon the record before it, that the County Clerk, has been absent from the State of Idaho for a period of twenty (20) consecutive days and has failed to report for or perform the duties of the office for a period of ninety (90) consecutive days; and WHEREAS, the Board has sent letters by certified mail to the County Clerk at her Texas address concerning her continued absence, the status of the office, and her opportunity to be heard at a hearing held May 18, 2026; and WHEREAS, based on the present record, the Board finds that the County Clerk has been absent from the performance of the duties of office for a substantial period of time, and that the County must take appropriate steps to protect the continuity of county government and to determine whether a vacancy or other statutory basis for an appointment exists; and WHEREAS, the Board has received no response from the County Clerk, nor a request to continue the inquiry; and WHEREAS, the Board desires to declare the office of county clerk vacant/open and to proceed in accordance with Idaho law for the filling of the vacancy; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Gooding-County, Idaho, as follows: 1. The Board hereby finds that the office of County Clerk is vacant/open as of May 18, 2026, based on the facts and statutory authority stated above. 2. The Board directs all appropriate county officials to take all steps necessary to document this vacancy/openingand to transmit notice to the proper appointing authority or authorities as required by Idaho law. 3. The Board further directs that any appointment, temporary service, notice, or other action taken to fill or administer the office shall be in full compliance with applicable provisions of Idaho Code, including Idaho Code§§ 31-2013, 59-901, and any other governing vacancy-filling statutes. 4. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption. ADOPTED this 18th day of May 2026. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS GOODING COUNTY, IDAHO /s/Mark E. Bolduc_____________ Mark E. Bolduc, Commissioner /s/Vern Eames______________ Vern Eames, Commissioner /s/Ronald Buhler________________ Ronald Buhler, Commissioner Attest:/s/Sara Berling Sara Berling, Deputy Clerk PUBLIC COMMENT Hollie Haney commented to the commission that Larry Bybee had successfully marked out the proposed land for the river wall for them to see. Commissioner Bolduc adjourned the meeting at 12:35 p.m. /s/Mark E. Bolduc ________________ /s/Vern Eames____________ /s/Ron Buhler______________ Mark E. Bolduc, Chairman Vern Eames, Commissioner Ronald Buhler, Commissioner Attest: /s/Sara Berling Sara Berling, Deputy Clerk