Gooding County | minutes | meeting 2026-09-14 | Regular Session Board of County Commissioners source: https://www.goodingcounty.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_09142026-908 REGULAR SESSION, SEPTEMBER 14, 2026 Commissioner Bolduc opened the meeting at 10:00 a.m. Commissioner Buhler, Commissioner Eames, Prosecutor Misseldine, County Clerk Chad Hoeft and Chief Deputy Clerk Jackie Fuqua, were present. EXECUTIVE SESSION Commissioner Buhler moved to go into executive session pursuant to IC§31-874 Indigent Matters. Commissioner Eames seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Eames-Yes, Buhler-Yes, Bolduc-Yes. The Board recessed the executive session at 10:04 a.m. Commissioner Eames moved to approve case number 26-9-5060 for cremation services by Farnsworth Funeral Home in the amount of $1,000.00. Commissioner Buhler seconded the motion. Motion carried. HAGERMAN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGREEMENT Commissioner Eames made a motion to approve the City of Hagerman’s law enforcement agreement for $182,484.00 per annum, payable $15,207 per month. Commissioner Buhler seconded the motion. Motion carried. TREASURER’S STATEMENT OF CASH/OPERATION IN FUNDS/CERTIFICATION SPECIALS Treasurer Sliman presented the statement of cash, operation in funds, as well as the 2026 tax roll certification of specials to the Board. The specials include North Snake Ground Water, American Falls #1, Wendell City Delinquent Irrigation, Hagerman Translator District and Landfill fees. Commissioner Eames made a motion to approve the August statement of cash, operation in funds and the 2026 tax roll certification of specials. Commissioner Buhler seconded the motion. Motion carried. 2026-2027 PATHOLOGY SERVICES AGREEMENT Commissioner Eames made a motion to approve the 2026-2027 Pathology Services Agreement #32028. Commissioner Buhler seconded the motion. Motion carried. Commissioner Bolduc recessed the regular meeting and opened the Ambulance District meeting at 10:35 a.m. AMBULANCE DISTRICT Director Kepler stated that when the FY2027 budget was discussed there was miscommunication concerning the status of the paramedics. County Clerk Chad Hoeft thought there were two part-time, but Kepler said they are full-time. It was decided to adjust the budget to reflect the change in the salary line to be $179,383.00. Barbara Rivers will have the budget published in this week’s paper and the Public Hearing set for Monday, September 28, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. Director Kepler gave an update on the fire deployment unit. He said they had one call for deployment, and it was out for 9 days. They have had numerous calls for paramedic units, but none have been available. Director Kepler also stated they are looking into eligible grant money for vehicles and equipment. They would like to replace the 2017 ambulance that has over 190,000 miles, and near-end life ventilators, monitors and other equipment. Commissioner Bolduc adjourned the Ambulance District meeting and resumed the regular session at 10:58 a.m. UPDATE ON FY2027 BUDGET The Board discussed the need to transfer some funds around in the budget. Commissioner Eames made a motion to make changes to the coroner’s salary line from $3,000 to $30,000 due to a typo, changing the Hagerman Police pay increase from 5% to 10% and eliminate the salaries budgeted in lines 01-20-403 & 01-20-405 of the Jail budget. Commissioner Buhler seconded the motion. Motion carried. CYNTHIA SCOTT- PLANNING & ZONING PURCHASE REQUEST Planning & Zoning manager Cynthia Scott requested the Board allow her to purchase 2 licenses for the next level software for their computer program called Blue Beam Review. The current level is outdated and will soon become obsolete. The next level will allow counts and measuring, overlays on maps and drawings, mark ups and plan editing. Commissioner Eames made a motion to approve the purchase of two licenses at $330.00 per license, totaling $660.00 per year. Commissioner Buhler seconded the motion. Motion carried. REQUEST FOR EXTENSION FOR L2 CERTIFICATION County Clerk Chad Hoeft is requesting the Board allow an extension to certify the L2’s that are due on September 21, 2026. Commissioner Eames made a motion to approve a one calendar week extension for September 28, 2026, to certify the L2’s. Commissioner Buhler seconded the motion. Motion carried. CLAIMS Commissioner Eames moved to approve the August 2026 claims. Commissioner Buhler seconded the motion. Motion carried. General $318,015.91 Road and Bridge $766.12 Consolidated Elections $212.66 District Court $6,212.33 Fair $483,615.67 Public Health $29,304.84 Hagerman Police $1,848.60 Wendell Police $4,110.74 Jr. College $-0- Landfill $-0- Revaluation $3,153.38 Veterans Memorial $6,750.00 Weeds $26,814.83 Waterways $597.56 Broadband $-0- TOTAL $898,812.89 Ambulance District $17,410.25 HARRIS/COMPUTER ARTS AGREEMENT Commissioner Buhler made a motion to approve the Harris/Computer Arts agreement for $25,025. Commissioner Eames seconded the motion. Motion carried. RESOLUTION NO. 2026-9-14 Commissioner Eames made a motion to adopt Resolution 2026-9-14. Commissioner Buhler seconded the motion. Motion carried. Roll call vote: Bolduc-Yes, Buhler-Yes, Eames-Yes. The resolution was adopted. A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING A PUBLIC PROCESS TO DE\'ELOP A COMPREHENSIVE WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE EASTERN SNAKE PLAIN AQUIFER AND THE SNAKE RIVER SYSTEM WHEREAS, the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer (ESPA) covers approximately 10,000 square miles in southem Idaho. storing hundreds of millions of acre-feet of water, and is hydraulically connected to the Snake River at various places; and WHEREAS, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated the ESPA as a Sole Source Aquifer, which, alongside the surface waters of the Snake River system, serves as the primary source of clean drinking water for over 300,000 residents across southem Idaho, supplying municipal water systems, rural communities, and individual domestic wells; and WHEREAS, the Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR) has designated the ESPA as a groundwater management area pursuant to Idaho Code § 42-233b and has also issued a moratorium prohibiting new consumptive use water rights subject to certain conditions; and WHEREAS, the health and sustainability of the Magic Valley and Idaho state economies across all sectors-including irrigated agriculture. dairy, food processing, aquaculture, manufacturing, hydropower generation, commerce, and tourism are intrinsically linked to and entirely dependent upon the combined health and viability of both the aquifer and connected springs and reach gains contributing to the Snake River system; and WHEREAS, despite their critical importance, scientific data confirms that water levels within the ESPA and flows throughout the Snake River system have experienced ongoing long-term declines due to shifting weather patterns, changing irrigation practices, and increasing cumulative demands; and WHEREAS, declining aquifer levels and reduced river flows directly threaten senior water rights, regional economic stability, municipal water supplies, spring discharges, hydropower operations, river ecosystems, and long-term community resilience; and WHEREAS, effectively managing this vast, interconnected surface and groundwater resource requires coordinated planning, long-term foresight, and collaborative cooperation across local, state, and federal entities: and WHEREAS, a transparent, inclusive public process engaging local citizens, cities, agricultural producers, business leaders, canal companies, irrigation districts, tribal entities, and other water stakeholders is essential to building an effective, enduring strategy. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Gooding County, Idaho: 1. Recognition of Importance: The Board of County Commissioners of Gooding County recognizes the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer and the Snake River system as an interconnected, sole-source water resource critical to the health, safety, and economic prosperity of our local community and the State of Idaho. 2. Support for Public Process: The Board of County Commissioners of Gooding County fully supports the initiation and execution of an open public process to engage stakeholders in gathering input and identifying sustainable, long-term aquifer and river management solutions. 3. Advocacy for a Joint Water Management Plan: The Board of County Commissioners of Gooding County urges local, state, and federal officials and agencies to collaborate in developing and implementing a Water Management Plan to guide the long- term stewardship, stabilization and governance of both the ESPA and the Snake River system. 4. Distribution: Copies of this resolution shall be transmitted to the Governor, Idaho Department of Water Resources, Idaho Water Resource Board, state legislative representatives, and relevant federal agency partners. ADOPTED by the Gooding County Board of Commissioners at a duly noticed meeting held on the 14th day of September 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/ Chad Hoeft______ Chad Hoeft, Clerk EXECUTIVE SESSION Commissioner Buhler moved to go into executive session pursuant to IC§74-206(f) Communicate with Legal Counsel. Commissioner Eames seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Eames-Yes, Buhler-Yes, Bolduc-Yes. The Board recessed the executive session at 11:40 a.m. Commissioner Buhler moved to go into executive session pursuant to IC§74-206(a),(b) Consider Personnel Matters. Commissioner Eames seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Eames-Yes, Buhler-Yes, Bolduc-Yes. The Board recessed the executive session at 11:50 a.m. MINUTES Commissioner Buhler moved to approve August 31, 2026, minutes Commissioner Bolduc seconded the motion. Motion carried. CORRESPONDENCE It was discussed that there is only one application for the Planning & Zoning position. There were no Broadband, Public Comments or Committee Meeting Reports. Commissioner Bolduc adjourned the meeting at 11:59 a.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