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minutes meeting date 2025-12-15 · fetched 2026-09-09 · 10385 characters · read by OCR, check numbers against the source · official file · plain text
Monday, December 15, 2025
Page 1 of 6
JEROME COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Monday, December 15, 2025
PRESENT: Ben Crouch, Chairman
Charles Howell, Vice Chairman
Art Watkins, Commissioner
Ryan Treanor, Deputy Clerk
Meeting convened at 9:00 am.
Commissioner Reports
Ufuoma Ojumah and Ivy Lyn were present.
Commissioner Watkins – Commissioner Watkins stated that he attended the Jerome 20/20
meeting. It was regarding the future of power in Idaho. Then he attended the Hazelton City
Council meeting. He attended the Snake River Canyon Parks board meeting. During the meeting
they reviewed the bids received for the blasting project and approved Nix Excavating. Later he
went to the Mid Snake River meeting. There was a presentation about the state land and soil
evaluation event.
Commissioner Howell – Commissioner Howell stated that he promoted the county during the
last week while he was traveling.
Commissioner Crouch – Commissioner Crouch stated that he went to the rotary meeting. The
Jerome choir performed at the meeting.
Presentation on Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
Aaron Menenberg, Scott Risley, Don Raines, Ivy Lyn, Ufuoma Ojumah, Jerry Holton, Leon
Letson, Kacie Buhler, Lyle Johnstone, Ryan Christensen, Mark Swenson, Julie DeWolfe Arroyo,
and Cathy Roemer were present.
Aaron stated that he is the Idaho Policy Manager for a non-profit company. They help advocate
for a sustainable energy grid. He works with state legislatures and other groups in the area who
are interested in these programs. Scott Risley stated that he is a part of the company RWE. They
help with electrical companies and projects in the area. He confirmed they do not have any
planned projects within the county and wanted to introduce what they do better. Dave Raines
stated that he is also a part of RWE. He works with the area north of New York City.
Aaron stated that the purpose is just to go over the information of the battery energy storage
systems (BESS). This was something he wanted to go over with the energy ordinance still being
worked on. He stated that the demand growth for power in the state of Idaho is very large. The
current demanded growth would be the same as the growth over the last 40 years. Idaho Power
currently covers 24 counties for their service. He went over the process of how Idaho Power uses
BESS for their services.
Commissioner Howell left the meeting for family matters.
Monday, December 15, 2025
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Scott stated that they are working on increasing the storage that they have. They can have the
BESS built at multiple areas to do their process. Dave wanted to go over the basics of what a
BESS is. He stated that the purpose is to store energy during a lower demand time and then send
out that energy in the higher demand times. They build their BESS in areas that help to balance
the energy systems. The BESS can also be used with wind or solar, or from other electric power
stations. He went over some of the processes that they have if one of the systems catches fire.
Then he went over the processes of helping local fire districts to be trained on the proper
processes of dealing with a BESS fire. He stated that they work to build their systems to the best
of the codes in the area they build. Then he went over the different models that his company
installs and how they ensure their safety through certain security processes. The Board continued
the session by asking several questions to the presenters regarding the BESS models discussed.
Reappointment of Planning and Zoning Commissioners, Energy Ordinance Review
Kacie Buhler, Ryan Christensen, Lyle Johnstone, Jerry Holton, Julie DeWolfe Arroyo, Cathy
Roemer, Ufuoma Ojumah, Scott Risley, and Ivy Lyn were present.
Kacie stated that she has brought the reappointment letters for Brett Thompson and Patricia
Heath. She stated that this was discussed last week about reappointing the current members
whose terms will be up at the end of the year. She received the applications and sent them to the
Commissioners last week to review. The Board would need to approve the reappointments by a
motion.
Commissioner Crouch moved to reappoint Brett Thomspon and Patricia Heath to
the planning and zoning commission. Seconded by Commissioner Watkins. The
motion passed with a unanimous vote.
She stated that they wanted to review the energy ordinance. She has completed a draft with legal
counsel for the Board to review. Further, she stated that if there were any changes that the Board
wanted to change then those could be updated. The Board wanted to see if there was a response
from legal counsel regarding the last draft. She stated that they had received a response from
legal. The Board wanted to discuss the major changes that were created in this draft. Kacie stated
that there were some changes regarding the permitting and what zones that energy projects
would be allowed in. Then she went into the different sized energy projects and where those
would be allowed under the new ordinance. The Board wanted to know what the next steps
would be for the ordinance. Kacie stated that it would be to take it to the planning and zoning
commission who would review it in two different meetings.
Meeting recessed at 11:46 am.
Meeting reconvened at 1:15 pm.
Employee Appreciation Discussion
Monday, December 15, 2025
Page 3 of 6
Cy Lootens and Tracee McKim were present.
Commissioner Howell returned to the meetings.
Cy wanted to see what the Board thought about having a gift card be given to each employee for
the holidays as part of employee appreciation. Tracee stated that last year when the
commissioners authorized gift cards they went with Costco because they were able to get them
on short notice, but this year they wanted to use Walmart. Cy was wanting to see what they
thought about doing a $50 gift card to Walmart this year.
Commissioner Crouch moved to approve the expense of $8,250 for employee
recognition in the form of a gift card. Seconded by Commissioner Watkins. The
motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Executive Session per Idaho Code 74-206(1)(b) for Personnel
Jesse Vallez and Cy Lootens were present.
Commissioner Crouch moved to go into executive session per Idaho Code 74-
206(1)(b) for personnel. Seconded by Commissioner Howell. The motion passed
with a unanimous roll call vote.
Executive session started at 1:32 pm and ended at 2:15 pm.
Shoshone Falls Overlook Contract, New Board Member
Bill Bridges, Steven Andersen, and Larry Hall were present.
Larry Stated that they had received the bids for the blasting work for the Shoshone falls overlook
project. The lowest bid was with Nix Excavating. During their previous meeting the Snake River
Canyon Parks board approved the bid. There was a recommendation letter that was prepared by
the board for official approval of the bid.
Commissioner Howell moved to sign the notice of award to Nix Excavating for the
Shoshone Falls overlook blasting in the amount of $96,845.00 and the notice to
proceed to Nix Excavating as presented. Seconded by Commissioner Crouch.
The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Bill stated that they have received another good amount in brick donations. They are looking into
adding other areas that people can donate towards the park. There were a few individuals who
came to their meeting to discuss the archery range with the parks board. There was a concern
Monday, December 15, 2025
Page 4 of 6
raised that if there was a parking lot placed there that it might be used at night. They held a just
serve event to help with cleaning up the park, but they did not have anyone show up for the
event. The rock crawling park is now up and running. He has also received approval from the
Bureau of Land Management to start putting in a horse-riding trail.
Read and Approve Minutes
Commissioner Crouch moved to approve the minutes. Seconded by
Commissioner Howell. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Sign and Approve Claims
Commissioner Watkins moved to approve the claims as presented by staff.
Seconded by Commissioner Crouch. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
To see an image of the report please see page 6 of the minutes.
Legal Counsel
Sam Beus was present.
Commissioner Crouch moved to go into executive session per Idaho Code 74-
206(1)(b) for personnel. Seconded by Commissioner Howell. The motion passed
with a unanimous roll call vote.
Executive session started at 3:32 pm and ended at 4:02 pm.
Future Farmers of America (FFA) Tractor Day Discussion
Miguel Dominguez and Jerry Holton were present.
Miguel stated that he is a part of the FFA in the local high school. He wants to discuss the use of
the annex parking lot for their tractor day event. It will take place on February 23rd. The
members meet at the annex parking lot and then drive their tractors to the high school. The event
starts between 6:00 and 7:00 am for the meet up in the parking lot. The Board stated that they
would reach out to the employees at the annex to confirm this would not create issues and then
reach back out to Miguel.
Meeting adjourned at 4:26 pm.
Monday, December 15, 2025
Page 5 of 6
________________________
______________________________
Ryan Treanor, Deputy Clerk
A. Ben Crouch, Chairman
______________________________
Charles M. Howell, Commissioner
______________________________
Art Watkins, Commissioner
BUDGET TOTALS
DEPARTMENT
CLERK
ASSESSOR
1
3|TREASURER___——s
4|HUMAN RESOURCES
S|COMMISSIONERS __|
6/CORONER
10
11
PAYROLL ACCT PAY GRAND TOTAL
—___
$ 257.00
CORONER _eqoNDS WANT
BUILDING & GROUNDS MAINT. 7,816.59 7,816.59
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
13|EXTENSION AGENT
14|/DATA PROCESSING
15|/ELECTIONS
16|CHARITY
18|GENERAL
4,061. 7
21|/PLANNING & ZONING
22/GIS
29|GENERAL FUND RESERVE
30
ee
£F) 69 | 69/64) 64) 69) 64) 69)/ 49
4,061.77
TO
{$a tf
; 6,4
SERIE 20 2
5|SHERIFF-DETENTION
6|ADULT PROBATION
7|/PROSECUTOR
> - Po EG 9,260.38 | : 1S = -9, 260.38 | 9,260.38
: 3,276.64 768 3,276.61
2,424.98 | $ 2,424.98
8|PUBLIC DEFENDERS
9| JUVENILE PROBATION
398.00 : 398.00
18|GENERAL JUSTICE
50d. 00
: 804.00 :
Sub Total (Justice Fund) 16,163.97 | $ 16,163.97
3|AIRPORT aie saat
5|VETERANS MEMORIAL |
9
11
TU RLECTION CONSOLIDATION | "sso | ——se-00 |
20
23
24\/TORT =——CisSCrT
27|\WEED
29/ AMBULANCE
38
48/AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN
$ 35,696.62
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