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Commissioners Meeting

minutes meeting date 2025-09-29 · fetched 2026-09-09 · 13275 characters · read by OCR, check numbers against the source · official file · plain text

Monday, September 29, 2025
Page 1 of 7
JEROME COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Monday, September 29, 2025
PRESENT: Ben Crouch, Chairman
Charles Howell, Vice Chairman
Art Watkins, Commissioner
Ryan Treanor, Deputy Clerk
Meeting convened at 9:01 am.
Commissioner Reports
Commissioner Watkins – Commissioner Watkins stated that he has continued to review the
information from the appeal hearing before they reconvene. He attended a REDS meeting
virtually. The REDS board will be disbanding and will no longer be its own board. Then he
attended the 4H awards banquet. There was a meeting in Hazelton regarding a potential health
facility. Later he attended the National Parks presentation.
Commissioner Howell – Commissioner Howell stated that he attended the 4H banquet. He felt
that the banquet was well put together. He attended the sheriff appreciation dinner. He has been
receiving lots of comments regarding Martha and Mary’s Pantry. Then he attended the Southern
Idaho Solid Waste meeting. They are working to finalize a new mission statement. Power county
has been wanting to join the Southern Idaho Solid Waste as a member. The board stated that they
will work to have their contract changed and would likely not have them join as a member.
Commissioner Crouch – Commissioner Crouch stated that he attended the rotary meeting. He
attended the South Central Public Health meeting. The chair for the board changed. They
discussed the remodel of the building by SIRCOMM in Jerome. Then he attended the sheriff
employee appreciation dinner. He spent some time during the week going over the different
energy policies before the time today regarding the Jerome County energy ordinance. He
received several phone calls from constituents regarding the proposed nuclear power plant.
Wage Change Forms
Jesse Vallez and Cy Lootens were present.
Jesse received the wage change forms for county employees for the new upcoming fiscal year.
She brought them to the Board to sign and approve.
Polling Places Approval for November Election
Cy Lootens, Ryan Treanor, and Jesse Vallez were present.
Cy stated that the election in November will take place for just the Eden and Hazelton Precincts.
This would lead to only one polling location being used at the Valley School building. Any early
voting or absentee voting would be done at the Jerome Administration Offices building.

Monday, September 29, 2025
Page 2 of 7
Commissioner Howell moved to approve the polling places for the November
election. Seconded by Commissioner Crouch. The motion passed with a
unanimous vote.
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 9:49 am and ended at 9:53 am.
Property Tax Discussion
Nikki Kober, Windy Jay, Tevian Kober, and Jesse Vallez were present.
Nikki stated that she is here on behalf of her mother Loretta Hughes. She has been appointed to
be her financial power of attorney. She found out after this that her mother is delinquent on her
property taxes. Her mother no longer receives retirement and only receives social security. She is
looking to sell off her mother’s truck to be able to pay off the delinquent taxes. Tevian stated that
Loretta should be able to file for a hardship exemption form.
Commissioner Crouch moved to take off the total of the fees and interest in the
amount of $453.04, for parcel number RP09S17E120100. Seconded by
Commissioner Watkins. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Evaluation
Kirsten Hartley was present.
Commissioner Crouch moved into executive session per Idaho Code 74-
206(1)(b) for personnel. Seconded by Commissioner Watkins. The motion
passed with a unanimous roll call vote.
Executive session started at 10:30 am and ended at 11:51 am.
Evaluation
Matthew McGregor was present.
Evaluation
Mario Umana was present.
Evaluation
Andrea Gonzalez was present.
Evaluation

Monday, September 29, 2025
Page 3 of 7
Mark Reyes was present.
Meeting recessed at 11:51 am.
Meeting reconvened at 1:15 pm.
National Future Farmers of America (FFA) Convention Presentation
Michelle Aoi and Bill Bridges were present.
Michelle stated that she has a student from her FFA group who has come to present the FFA
creed in Spanish as part of their presentation. They are looking for sponsors for the trip to the
national convention in Indianapolis. They are doing several other fund raisers to try and help
raise the full amount to go on the trip. One of her students will be competing nationally to
present the FFA creed in Spanish, one student will receive their American FFA degree, and
another student is looking to run for a national leadership position.
Evaluation
Jesse Vallez was present.
Commissioner Crouch stated that they would continue the previous executive session, per Idaho
Code 74-206(1)(b), to continue employee evaluations.
Executive session started at 1:27 pm and ended at 2:32 pm.
Evaluation
Kacie Buhler was present.
Evaluation
Brent Culbertson was present.
Energy Ordinance Discussion
Kacie Buhler, Mike Seib, Ryan Christensen, Lyle Johnstone, Aaron Menenberg, Jacob Miller,
and Leon Letson were present.
The Board stated they were reconvening the discussion regarding the county energy ordinance.
They reviewed some of the other surrounding counties ordinances. Kacie stated that they should
start by reviewing these ordinances and the things that everyone liked about them.
Commissioner Crouch stated that he liked some of the parts of the Lincoln County ordinance
policy. He liked the resolution that they started with in their ordinance. He would like to see
something in the ordinance that states something about protecting the growth and expansion of

Monday, September 29, 2025
Page 4 of 7
the airport, and to not allow anything within a certain distance of the airport. Kacie stated that
there was something similar in the Lincoln County ordinance of protecting their airport and its
growth.
Commissioner Howell stated that there were some things listed in the ordinance that the energy
that would be produced would be for personal use, but that later it states that gas would not be.
He would like to see both stated that they could be produced for personal use.
Commissioner Crouch stated that Gooding County gives a specific definition on the scale of a
“large scale project.” The Lincoln County ordinance did not really give any specifics on the
actual size of the projects. He also liked that Lincoln County discussed public meetings being
required regarding projects of this kind. He would also like to see something included that would
require a report from the FAA to see if the project would affect the airport.
Kacie pointed out that there is a section that states that the application would need to be
completed within a year, she is not sure if that is the amount of time that should be required, but
that she would like to see some sort of time requirement. She went over how Lincoln County
also included a section about not allowing projects to be built in APA protected areas. Under
current county ordinance APA sections would not be allowed to have these projects.
The Board asked about how this would affect anything that is currently approved. Mike stated
that this would not affect things that are currently approved. The Board also asked about how
projects would be kept under a certain size if it pertains to personal property instead of public.
Mike stated that they would need to look to define that further in the ordinance to prevent large
scale projects on personal land.
Memorandum Decision for L&S Holdings LLC LCO Permit, Archery Range Ordinance
for Snake River Canyon Parks, Ambulance Lease Agreement
Mike Seib, Bill Bridges, Kacie Buhler, Cy Lootens, and Jesse Vallez were present.
The Board received a copy of the memorandum decision for L&S Holdings LLC. The Board
stated that they did not see any issues with the decision.
Commissioner Crouch moved to sign off on the memorandum decision for L&S
Holdings LLC for their LCO permit. Seconded by Commissioner Howell. The
motion passed with a unanimous vote.
The Board asked about the ordinance regarding the archery range in the park. Mike stated that he
does not have it drafted but that he can work on that. He will need to know about the specific
location of the archery range so he can make it more specific to that location as well.
The Board asked about the ambulance district lease agreement. Mike stated that Shayne will be
working to draft up a new lease agreement. Once he has finished it he will bring it before the
Board for approval.

Monday, September 29, 2025
Page 5 of 7
Commissioner Crouch moved to go into executive session per Idaho Code 74-
206(1)(b). Seconded by Commissioner Howell. The motion passed with a
unanimous roll call vote.
Executive session started at 3:52 pm and ended at 4:01 pm.
Security Discussion
Cy Lootens, Matthew McGregor, Mike Seib, Tevian Kober, Windy Jay, Tracy Perkins, Cory
Kehrer, Dean Dekruyf, and Marisela Aguirre were present.
Matthew stated that they need to know about how the door access will work so IT can update the
badge access spots. Cy stated that there are some other things that were brought up by other
employees that he would like to have ironed out before going live with the security. Matthew
would also like to find out who would have access to the building.
The Board asked about how things would work regarding meetings that take place afterhours.
Commissioner Watkins moved to prohibit the public from bringing weapons into
the Jerome Administration Offices building. Seconded by Commissioner Crouch.
The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Discussion: The Board is wanting to enact this motion in light of recent events
and in the purpose of protecting the employees in the building. This will be
effective as of October 1st, 2025.
Personnel/IT Purchases
Matthew McGregor was present.
Commissioner Watkins 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 4:35 pm and ended at 4:39 pm.
Matthew wanted to go over a purchase that will come out of the new fiscal year. It is regarding
the new internet services for the extension office. This will provide them with better service and
will also save the county money each month.
Commissioner Crouch moved to approve the expenditure of $4,612.06 to and the
expenditure of $599.00 for the device to switch to TMobile for primary internet
services in the extension office. Seconded by Commissioner Watkins. The motion
passed with a unanimous vote.

Monday, September 29, 2025
Page 6 of 7
Old Business
The Board revisited the amount that they would donate to the FFA for the members to attend the
national FFA convention.
Commissioner Howell moved to donate $750.00 for the members of FFA to
attend the FFA national convention in Indianapolis to support the youth of Jerome
County. Seconded by Commissioner Crouch. The motion passed with a
unanimous vote.
Read and Approve Minutes
Commissioner Crouch moved to approve the minutes with the recommended
changes. Seconded by Commissioner Watkins. 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 Howell. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
To see an image of the report please see page 7 of the minutes.
Meeting adjourned at 4:55 pm.
________________________
______________________________
Ryan Treanor, Deputy Clerk
A. Ben Crouch, Chairman
______________________________
Charles M. Howell, Commissioner
______________________________
Art Watkins, Commissioner

BUDGET TOTALS
DEPARTMENT PAYROLL —o PAY GRAND TOTAL

CLERK $ 48,178.81 256.68[$ 48,435.49
Taiassesson 13 “‘senaa}§ "sao [8 "a no
| 3|TREASURER

HAR RESOURCES — RESOURCES 3,115.38 |§ 166.60|$ 3,281.98
Pecans — Ht oe

CORONER 961.53 227.23[$ 1,188.76
[TO|BUILDING & GROUNDS Malls —ase.16 [S$ ——s71.59| = —o227.0]

$
$
$

Falecrensionagent—[S9seas0|sauame| games
EXTENSION AGENT 3,562.50|$ 2,444.05 6,006.55
AB[ELECTIONS ee
LAGICHARITY, | CCG
PEELE ANNING 8 ZONING Tee

[s___2,078.30 |

8 SARL FUND RESERVE FUND RESERVE $ -
VETERANS $
a

|S 83,974.45 15 29,105.21 |S 112,679.66 |
3 SHERIFF DETENTION — DETENTION 82,414.00 [$3,320.30 85,743.30
ADULT PROBATION 15,089.92 15,089.92

$
$
8/PUBLIC DEFENDERS $ ”
meet est — tage
GENERAL JUSTICE $ 46,476.85 $ 46,476.85
|__s

Sub Total (Justice aOR Ee ar 1667. 96 $ See

24|TORT -

_——
29| AMBULANCE $ -

-Se|WATERWAYS BOARD |} —s—
38|WATERWAYS SHERIFF

Pi1[BOND REDEMPTION [~~
48/ AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN $

a Total $ 43,367.33 |$ 58,151.96 |$ 101,519.29

| [GRANDTOTAL _—_—_—=i| $ (448,345.03 $ 516,626.37 |$ 964,971.40

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