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Commissioners Meeting

minutes meeting date 2026-07-27 · fetched 2026-09-09 · 16722 characters · read by OCR, check numbers against the source · official file · plain text

Monday, July 27, 2026
Page 1 of 7
JEROME COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Monday, July 27, 2026
PRESENT: Ben Crouch, Chairman
Art Watkins, Commissioner
Ryan Treanor, Deputy Clerk
Commissioner Howell was absent.
Meeting convened at 9:00 am.
Commissioner Watkins – Commissioner Watkins reported that he attended a meeting virtually
regarding the airport. Then he attended the rotary meeting. He then went and signed checks for
the South Central Community Action Partnership board.
Commissioner Crouch – Commissioner Crouch reported that he attended an ICRMP conference
from Monday through Wednesday. There were discussions regarding insurance practices and
policies, as well as safety practices. He attended the Depew arena check presentation. Later he
met with an individual who is looking to bring in an ag spraying business.
HR Budget Discussion
Staff present: Jesse Vallez, Tracee McKim, and Cy Lootens
Tracee stated that the reason to discuss the HR budget is regarding the request for Jesse’s
increase in wage, as well as to discuss a potential additional person for the HR department. Jesse
stated that she wanted to discuss the new position. She feels that there is not a need for a third
full time employee for the county. She reached out to the sheriff regarding this new position and
what he was looking for. The main reason that he was looking for a new position is to take over
doing background checks of new hires. There was also discussion regarding keeping track of
POST certifications as well as other certifications that the officers may receive, and grant
writing. She also discussed the possibility of having a part-time person instead of a full-time
individual.
Emergency Management Budget Discussion
Staff present: Kirsten Hartley, Tracee McKim, and Cy Lootens
Public present: Bill Bridges
Tracee stated that the reason for the meeting was to discuss a potential raise to Kirstens wages
per Kirstens request. Kirsten stated that she had requested an 8% raise. Her reasoning was after
doing a check into other county emergency managers that have similar sized populations her
wage is lagging. She went over the different counties and the wages that are received for
emergency management supervisors.

Monday, July 27, 2026
Page 2 of 7
Recognition for Years of Service
Staff present: Cy Lootens and Mark Reyes
Public present: Larry Hall, Bill Bridges, Brenda Weekes, and Juli Hall
The Board wanted to thank Larry Hall for his years of service before he moved out of the area.
The Board presented him with a plaque that was created thanking him for his service on the
Snake River Canyon Parks board and Jerome 20/20.
July 2026 Invasive Species Update
Staff present: Cy Lootens
Public present: Andrea Thompson and Nic Zurfloh
Andrea stated that she is with the State Department of Agriculture. She works as a liaison
between her department and the groups that they serve. Nic is the overseer of noxious weeds and
invasive species in the region. He wanted to give an update on how things are going recently. He
reported that there has been nothing new found regarding the quagga muscles. They usually
spawn in the early fall, but the state has been watching the river as early as May to ensure that
they are going to catch them in case they spawn earlier. He stated that the boating measures are
still in place to wash crafts going in as needed and to ensure they are washed as they leave the
water. The Board asked how those requirements are being received. Nic stated that this has been
something that boaters have become accustomed to. Andrea asked if the Board has heard any
issues regarding these requirements. The Board stated that there have not really been any
complaints that they have received. Nic went over the process of treating the quagga muscles and
how they have treated separate sections of the snake river. Andrea also stated that there has been
an update to the leadership at the Department of Agriculture.
Meeting recessed at 11:48 am.
Meeting reconvened at 1:15 pm.
Commissioner Howell was present for the afternoon meetings.
Annual Magic Valley Paramedics Presentation
Staff present: Cy Lootens and Tracee McKim
Public present: Christian Shandra, Jeff Stevens, and Stan Flint
Christian stated that he is a part of the magic valley paramedics. He and the other members are
here to give an annual report on their finances. Their services help to transport individuals to
local hospitals as well as other hospitals that an individual may need. The services they provide
cover a base of over 100,000 individuals. They have seven ambulances in their district. Another
service they provide is help to individuals who fall into the canyon or go down Yingst grade and
can’t get back to the top. They work together with air St Lukes to help provide a quicker
response to other larger hospitals for more intensive patients. The ambulances that they have are
in Twin Falls, Jerome, Kimberly, and Filer. Currently Magic Valley Paramedics has around 80
people on staff. The call volume for Jerome County was just shy of 2,400 calls over the last year.
An average of 6.6 calls are received each day from Jerome County.

Monday, July 27, 2026
Page 3 of 7
Jeff went over the finances of the Magic Valley Paramedics. The transportation for Jerome
County are up this year compared to last year. The cost of services for transporting individuals
has gone up over the last few years as they have reviewed pricing to cover the area.. Taxes help
to cover the cost of the business from both Jerome and Twin Falls County. The employees for
the ambulance district usually receive a raise each year which has also led to the cost of
transports increasing.
Christian also went over some of the improvements that the ambulance district has been making
over the last year. There was the implementation of a new training course for debriefing on their
calls and how the debriefs can be more thorough. Over the next year they are scheduled to
receive 2 new ambulances. They are looking for a new station in the Kimberly area as the current
station will no longer be renewing the lease for that location.
Treasurer’s Office Discussion
Staff present: Tevian Kober, Cy Lootens, Tracee McKim, and Tracy Perkins
Public present: Guy Stubbs
The Board wanted to discuss the treasurer’s office and some complaints that were received. The
complaints are regarding the treasurer Tevian not being in the office at all. Tevian stated that she
has been working on some items over the past few weeks and been attending meetings online.
Some of the tasks included planning a conference and working on putting baskets together for
the conference. The Board stated that the complaints are a continual issue and not just a recent
one. They have continued to receive multiple complaints about her not attending work at all.
Tevian stated that there were some issues with her pickup one week and then another week she
was out camping with her family. The Board asked if she is in each day when she is not working
on the conference or attending meetings online. Tevian responded that she is in every day when
she is not meeting online or working on the conference.
County Health Insurance Update
Staff present: Cy Lootens, Tracee McKim, Jesse Vallez, Carli Petruzzelli, and Tevian Kober
Public present: Guy Stubbs
Guy stated that he has returned this week to go over more info regarding the new health
insurance company SelectHealth. There was a discussion about having an HSA option through
SelectHealth as well. He then went over the specifics of the HSA options with the Board. He
stated that HR did a survey to see if any employees would be interested in enrolling in an HSA
option. He also went over the total individuals who are being covered by the insurance plan.
Commissioners and staff discussed the benefits of the HSA plan to employees looking to save
money on health care for their families.
Commissioner Howell moved to approve the use of SelectHealth for the fully insured
plan for employees and the option 2 for an HSA option with SelectHealth. Seconded by
Commissioner Watkins. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Monday, July 27, 2026
Page 4 of 7
Tax Deed Hearing
Staff present: Tevian Kober and Nina Lagle
The Board met to go over a tax deed hearing with the county treasurer Tevian Kober.
There were a total of six properties that were being included for the tax deed hearing. Tevian
went over each property included in the process of tax deed. She discussed the history of
notifying the owners of the impending tax deed.
The Board wanted to confirm if any of the mailing were returned signed by the individuals at
these properties. Tevian went over the history of the letters, and which were signed. The Board
asked if there was a significant effort to contact these individuals and if the treasurer feels
comfortable with the efforts made. Tevian responded that she felt comfortable with the effort that
was made. She also stated that the sale would take place on September 8th at 10 am on the front
steps of the Administration Offices Building.
Commissioner Crouch moved to proceed towards tax deeds sale on the properties
discussed, parcels: RP09S17E080620, RPJ13700390050, RP000050020050,
RPJ1370068012A, RPJ1736000031B, and RPJ1370272005A. Seconded by
Commissioner Watkins. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Budget Workshop, Computer Arts Agreement
Staff present: Cy Lootens and Tracee McKim
Cy stated that he has the renewal agreement with Computer Arts for the upcoming fiscal year.
He stated that the renewal cost will be slightly cheaper than the past year. Other software
companies were explored this year by the clerk’s office and IT. But it was determined to stay
with Computer Arts again this year.
Commissioner Watkins moved to accept the master agreement with Computer Arts for
the next fiscal year. Seconded by Commissioner Crouch. The motion passed with a
unanimous vote.
Tracee then covered the sections of the budget that the Board wanted to go over in more detail.
The first is regarding the wages for the emergency management manager. The Board stated that
they feel that the current manager is doing a much better job of communicating. After discussion
and review of the market adjustment provided by Kirsten there was agreement to approve a
higher raise for the emergency manager with the standard 4% raise planned for all employees
along with an additional 3%. The next item to discuss was the raises for IT employees. After
discussion and review of the market adjustment provided byMatthew there was agreement to
approve a higher raise for the IT department with the standard 4% raise planned for all
employees along with an additional 3%.
Tracee then discussed the ambulance budget for the upcoming year. She made a three percent
increase across the board before the presentation that was given today. She wanted to see if there
were any other sections of the budget that the Board wanted to discuss. The Board wanted to see

Monday, July 27, 2026
Page 5 of 7
if Tracee was able to add $500 for a subscription service for the new cameras at the new
Eden/Hazelton War Memorial. Tracee confirmed that she was able to add that into the budget.
The last thing Tracee researched during the week was regarding the amount of autopsies that the
county has performed as requested by commissioners.
Cy stated that he had received an update from HR regarding the proposed additional employee to
cover the sheriff’s office. The new budget request from HR did not show a new position. Instead,
there was an increase in wages included for both HR employees and a restructure of duties to
cover the sheriff’s request. There was a discussion about whether to include a part-time position
and to keep the wages for the other employees to a four percent raise. After discussion the board
decided to restructure one employee’s duties to help balance the work required to handle the
additional duties. This would include a larger pay raise after a review period. And money would
be set aside to hire a part-time person in the future if needed.
IT Purchases & Incident Report
Staff present: Matthew McGregor and Daniel Bickar
Matthew stated that he is looking to purchase some new items. One is a new switch for the
sheriff’s office. The IT team is running out of available ports for the office. Next is a hard drive
spare that he is looking to have in case one of the other drives were to fail. There is an end point
agreement that is coming up at the end of the fiscal year. He has received a quote from another
company who can help to provide this option to the county. The level that he is suggesting is for
the tier three option from the company that would total $15,867.
Commissioner Crouch moved to approve the expenditure of $19,308.56 for the new
switch for the Sheriff’s office, new hard drive, and new software for the county.
Seconded by Commissioner Howell. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
The next item that he had to discuss is regarding repairs that are needed to the IT car. The quote
of the repairs is close to the trade in value of the car itself. He is wondering if the IT group
should start to use one of the other vehicles that the county has that is currently not being
utilized. He thought maybe the IT department could use the Dodge truck instead.
Commissioner Howell moved to approve the repairs to the 2011 Nissan and then send it
to the airport to be used as a courtesy car, and to have the Dodge truck be moved to the
main IT vehicle. Seconded by Commissioner Crouch. The motion passed with a
unanimous vote.
Matthew stated that he also wanted to discuss the upcoming IAC meeting for IT leaders. The
meeting is for one day. In the past they have gone up in the morning and then going home after
the meeting is over.
He also wanted to go over the two incidents during the previous week. One is regarding the fire
suppression system being triggered at the sheriff office. The button for the system was
accidentally triggered. There was a discussion about having a cover placed over the button as it
did not take a lot of pressure to set off the button. The other was regarding the main fiber line to

Monday, July 27, 2026
Page 6 of 7
the sheriff office being cracked. With the fiber line there was a report from ETS that a vendor put
a cover over the line and unfortunately cracked the line to the building. There were no outage
issues with the third party vendor being kept for the case of emergencies.
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.
Read and Approve Minutes
Commissioner Howell moved to approve the minutes from 7/20 as corrected. Seconded
by Commissioner Crouch. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Employee Paid Time Off Payout Requests
Commissioner Crouch moved to approve the PTO payout as presented. Seconded by
Commissioner Howell. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Meeting adjourned at 4:45 pm.
________________________
______________________________
Ryan Treanor, Deputy Clerk
A. Ben Crouch, Chairman
______________________________
Charles M. Howell, Commissioner
______________________________
Art Watkins, Commissioner

BUDGET TOTALS
DEPARTMENT

[ 4|CLERK

| 2/ASSESSOR- sd
| 3|/TREASURER

__ 4[HUMAN RESOURCES

| _5(COMMISSIONERS
- 6|CORONER

PAYROLL ACCT PAY GRAND TOTAL

ee
$ 16.65
$ 476.00 | $ 476.00
ee
$ 162.40 | $ 162.40
$ 582.70 | $ 582.70

CORONER
| 10/BUILDING & GROUNDS MAINT. $ 11i977[$ 1,119.77

| 14] EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

XTENSION AGENT

LECTIONS
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GENERAL
LANNING & ZONING

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CAPITAL FAIR
EALTH DISTRICT

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WATERWAYS BOARD
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LECTION CONSOLIDATION

BROADBAND GRANT FUNDS

$38,000.50

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1,744.24
38,000.50

3 1,155.56

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5 4.5/4.81 | 3
$5,549.27

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540,852.00 |S 40,852.00]

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2414.64[$ 2,414.64

4,974.81
5,549.27

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500.76 | 3

$ 623,182.44 |$ 623,182.44

Sub Total

GRAND TOTAL

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BREE EEESEEERRAR

$ - |$ 666,949.84 |$ 666,949.84
$ - |$ 725,089.62 |$

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