Power County | minutes | meeting 2026-08-24 | Commissioner's Meeting Agenda source: https://www.powercounty.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_08242026-332 POWER COUNTY COMMISSION Page 1 of 9 REGULAR SESSION MINUTES Monday, August 24, 2026 POWER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Meeting Minutes Commission Chambers 543 Bannock Ave. American Falls, ID 83211 www.powercounty.gov Monday, August 24, 2026, 9:00 a.m. I. CALL TO ORDER The Board of County Commissioners met in regular session Monday, August 24, 2026, and called the meeting to order at the hour of 9:00 am, in the Commission Chambers of the Power County Courthouse. II. COMMISSIONERS/STAFF PRESENT: Commissioner Chris Fehringer, Chair Commissioner Kryst Krein Commissioner Jason Povey ABSENT: None STAFF: Sharee Sprague, Clerk Mariano Villa, Deputy Clerk Brock Bischoff, Legal Counsel OTHER PARTIES PRESENT: Kami Chandler Macie Evans Steve Brown Michael Ottley Brad Rogers Jacob Reiss Jeff Rankin Kim Piper Laura Porath Kasey Kendall Deanna Curry Ryan Grayson III. AGENDA A. NOTICES/REPORTS 1. Public Comment: No public comment was provided. 2. Idaho Partner CES Procurement Specialists: Steve Brown, representing the CES Cooperative Purchasing Program, provided an overview of the governmental, not-for-profit purchasing cooperative. He explained that CES allows member agencies to purchase from pre-bid contracts through a catalog of approved vendors, reducing the time and expense associated with the traditional RFP process. Membership is free, with administrative fees paid by participating vendors rather than member agencies. Mr. Brown noted that CES offers contracts for a wide variety of products and is expanding service and lease contract options. The organization recently expanded into Idaho and Utah and currently has approximately 15 Idaho members. He stated that CES is working to build an Idaho-focused vendor network to keep more tax dollars within the state. He offered to provide the county clerk with a participation agreement for POWER COUNTY COMMISSION Page 2 of 9 REGULAR SESSION MINUTES Monday, August 24, 2026 review and explained that surplus program revenue is reinvested into Idaho training and other member benefits. 3. Idaho Association of Noxious Weeds: Mike Ottley and Danielle Gunn presented an overview of the statutory responsibilities of the county's noxious weed program and emphasized the importance of maintaining a dedicated noxious weed superintendent position. They reviewed the superintendent's legal duties, including public education, enforcement, reporting requirements, and implementation of integrated weed management plans. They expressed concern about the increasing spread of noxious weeds. Danielle Gunn encouraged renewed cooperation among agencies and restoration of grant-funded weed control efforts. She also states that available grant funding has not been fully utilized by the County. The Commissioners were also reminded that the superintendent position requires specialized pesticide licensing and endorsements. The Commissioner’s thanked Mr. Ottley and Ms. Gunn for their presentation and stated that they will take their advice under consideration. 4. Board Updates: The following board updates were given; Fair board - Key Issues Raised • Commissioner Fehringer reported the board has been overwhelmed which has contributed to things not getting done properly at the fairgrounds. • Groundskeeper, Alan Phillips, has resigned, however, Natalie Fuss has agreed fulfill the contract term for this year. Groundskeeper / Staffing Discussion • There is a recognized need for a dedicated all-rounder groundskeeper. • The fair board wants to be involved in writing the job description and setting expectations. • A key concern identified was that the groundskeeper currently receives direction from multiple individuals. It is recommended that the groundskeeper report to and receive direction through a single designated point of contact. Budget & Resources • Three budget lines were identified: the $6,000 in use, a part-time grounds line (lawn mowing), and a part-time building manager line (event setup/bathroom cleaning). • A suggestion was made to consolidate these and potentially use them as seed funding. • The new budget includes a buildings and grounds line the groundskeeper could draw from. Weeds Department Integration • The fair board questioned why they were purchasing chemicals independently when the county weeds department exists. Discussions were held about potentially combining the groundskeeper and weeds department roles. Other Topics • Alcohol at the fairgrounds building was flagged as a significant conversation to be had. • Opportunity was noted in the campground and building. • The fair board expressed enthusiasm and felt they are taking the right steps. Museum Update Commissioner Krein provided an update on museum and historical preservation projects, including a proposed 3D model and historical signage. Coordination with BOR and the Highway Commission is ongoing, with the goal of supporting tourism and community interest. Development Commissioner Krein provided an update on early discussions with Google and Amazon regarding community education about data centers. Idaho Power is also considering POWER COUNTY COMMISSION Page 3 of 9 REGULAR SESSION MINUTES Monday, August 24, 2026 another town hall to provide information and answer community questions. No formal commitments have been made. 5. Budget Workshop: Budget discussions were held during various department updates. No action was taken. 6. Commissioner’s Business as Needed: Commissioner Fehringer updated the board to dispel recent rumors regarding the potential elimination of the weeds department, clarifying that no such action is planned. He also addressed a local landowner's proposal regarding the placement of a feedlot or beet dump near Riverbend Estates which would most likely draw complaints and would be discussed by the Planning & Zoning board. Additionally, Commissioner Fehringer informed the board about an upcoming city council meeting focused on exploring shared planning and zoning services between the city and the county. B. MOTIONS: 1. Agenda: A motion to approve the agenda for Monday, August 24, 2026, was presented by Commissioner Povey with a second by Commissioner Krein. Following audible call of the Board, motion unanimously carried. 2. Convene as Ambulance District Board at 9:14 am: A motion to adjourn as the Power County Board of County Commissioners and convene as the Power County Ambulance District Board was presented by Commissioner Povey with a second by Commissioner Krein. Following an audible call of the board, the motion unanimously carried. 3. Power County Ambulance Administration & Financial Report: Director Kami Chandler appeared before the Board and presented the accounts receivable reports from Systems Design West for the date ending July. Ambulance Chief Kami Chandler reported that the department responded to 132 calls in July, including 68 billable and 64 non-billable calls. Of the billable calls, 38 were BLS and 30 were ALS. The department completed 10 inter-facility transports, with most patient transports going to Power County Hospital (24) and Portneuf Medical Center (21). An additional 13 BLS transports were made to ERMC and facilities in Utah. July billing is still being finalized after identifying a discrepancy involving two non-billable calls. Power County Collections reported $2,448.91 in collections for July, resulting in net revenue of $1,520.85. Commissioner Povey informed Chief Chander on a Rural Health Transformation Fund grant opportunity, due September 16, that could provide funding for the purchase or equipment of an ambulance. To conclude, Chief Chandler, presented a third party agreement through Systems Design West. Following discussion, a motion to authorize Chairman Fehringer to sign the agreement, contingent on review and approval by the Prosecutor Bischoff. Following audible call of the board, the motion unanimously carried. During the discussion of the ambulance district’s finances, commissioners expressed concerns regarding a projected budget shortfall estimated at approximately $300,000 to $500,000. Clerk Sprague clarified that the projected shortfall is based on a three-year average of revenues, with a conservative 10% reduction applied to account for potential fluctuations. As a result, the projected amount does not represent an existing or current deficit. Treasurer Curry provided additional clarification regarding the management of ambulance district funds. She explained that ambulance revenues are routinely transferred from the district’s checking account into the county’s investment pool, where the funds can earn interest while remaining within applicable FDIC insurance limits. The investment pool currently holds approximately $1.243 million in ambulance district funds. Treasurer Curry confirmed that these funds would be available to address a shortfall if one occurs, although any transfer would be processed through the Clerk’s office rather than directly by the Treasurer. Overall, the ambulance district remains financially solvent based on current projections, with approximately $1.243 million held in reserve. While a potential shortfall has been projected, it is not currently an actual deficit, and the district has sufficient reserved funds and an established process for transferring money if additional funding becomes necessary. POWER COUNTY COMMISSION Page 4 of 9 REGULAR SESSION MINUTES Monday, August 24, 2026 Following discussion, a motion to accept the Financial Reports as submitted was presented by Commissioner Povey with a second by Commissioner Krein. Following audible call of the Board, motion unanimously carried. 4. Reconvene as Board of County Commissioners at 9:54 am: A motion to adjourn as the Power County Ambulance District Board and reconvene as the Power County Commissioners was presented by Commissioner Povey with a second by Commissioner Krein. Following an audible call of the board, the motion unanimously carried. 5. IT Update: The Sollus team provided an update on several information technology projects and recommendations. Discussion centered on the county's service agreement with M2, including concerns over camera retention periods and the upcoming contract renewal. The group recommended reducing service levels to Basic while transitioning more Tier 1 and Tier 2 support responsibilities to in-house IT staff. The Sollus team also recommended that all county employees submit IT issues through the IT help desk rather than contacting vendors directly. Routing requests through IT allows staff to troubleshoot problems first, ensures repairs are handled consistently, and prevents unauthorized vendor work or unexpected charges. Additional updates included replacing an outdated server room temperature monitor and the new courthouse metal detector has been installed and is now operational. Also presented were two connectivity options for the NEXGEN 911 system and recommended installing a dedicated internet connection through Iron Networks rather than relying on the county's existing network. The dedicated connection will provide greater reliability for the county's critical dispatch operations, while the existing county connection will serve as a redundant backup if needed. The commission agreed to proceed with the dedicated connection at a cost of $80 per month with a one-time $200 installation fee. Regarding purchase authorizations for the IT department, a motion to authorize Commissioner Povey to approve expenditures of up to $5,000 for the IT department was made by Commissioner Fehringer with a second by Commissioner Krein. Following audible call of the board, the motion unanimously carried. 6. FY27 Fiscal Budget Hearing: Commissioner Fehringer opened the FY27 Fiscal Budget Hearing at 12:00 pm. Roll call of attendance: • Commissioner Krein • Commissioner Povey • Commissioner Fehringer • Mariano Villa • Laura Porath • Deanna Curry • Jeff Rankin • Kim Piper • Kasey Kendall • Sharee Sprague • Ryan Grayson • Macie Evans • Kami Chandler Clerk Sprague began with the following updates; Budget Corrections • A $525,000 construction budget line for the landfill was inadvertently omitted during review of the engineer’s agreement. The amount needs to be added to the proposed budget. • Additional errors were identified, including transposed numbers and a published budget amount that exceeded the amount previously approved by the Commissioners. • Without the additional $525,000 landfill expense, the County could utilize local recovery POWER COUNTY COMMISSION Page 5 of 9 REGULAR SESSION MINUTES Monday, August 24, 2026 funds but would still have a projected shortfall of $20,712.97. Revenue Proposals • Residential partial-parcel rates were proposed to increase to $80. • A 25% increase was proposed for commercial and business parcels, which is projected to generate an additional $76,677.02 in revenue. • A $5 gate fee at all transfer sites was discussed, with an estimated potential increase in revenue of approximately $145,000. Insurance and Operating Costs • The County’s liability insurance increase came in at 4%, while the ambulance insurance increase was 2%, both significantly lower than the previously projected 15% increase. • The overall impact of insurance costs is approximately $383,998. • Waste transfer costs are projected to increase by approximately $100,000 this year. Employee Wages • Proposed department wage increases initially ranged from 3% to 14%. • The Commission approved a 3% wage increase across the board. • A Commissioner raised the possibility of increasing the across-the-board wage adjustment to 4%, which would require approximately $33,000 in additional funding. • The Commission discussed identifying the additional funds within the existing budget rather than increasing the total amount published in the budget. • Clerk Sprague recommended that the wage increase be kept at 3% for all departments as an additional increase does not seem sustainable. Clerk Sprague advised that if the Board directed to move to a 4% wage adjustment across the board the adjustment and changes could be done by budget change resolution after the budget is adopted, provided the overall grand total of the budget does not increase. Available Funds and Budget Items • Approximately $504,287.03 remains available in local and tribal consistency funds. Clerk Sprague requested that Commissioners refrain from spending these funds until October 1. • The budget includes $428,443 in grant funding, which does not have a direct impact on taxpayers. • Inter-fund transfers included in the budget total $339,968.35. • A current bill payment added to this year’s budget represents an additional $1,039,983 in budget impact. Postage Machine Trust Account • As of July 27, the postage machine trust account had a remaining balance of $12,780.93 after $12,589.66 had been expended. • Based on current use history, Clerk Sprague advised that the remaining funds should carry the needs for FY2027 and if there is a shortfall, she will update the Board and request supplanting the shortage from the general contingency expenditure line. Clerk Sprague reported that a part of the FY2028 budget process will include postage usage reports from the date of changing to the new system thru April 15, 2028 for budget request information. Questions Emergency Management Emergency Manager Kami Chandler reviewed the Emergency Management budget and identified several transposed line items that require correction. • The travel line was listed at $14,000 rather than the correct amount of $1,050. • Office supplies and telephone expenses were transposed between the respective budget lines. • Additional line-item corrections may be needed as the budget is reviewed. POWER COUNTY COMMISSION Page 6 of 9 REGULAR SESSION MINUTES Monday, August 24, 2026 602 Line Director Ryan Grayson raised concerns regarding several expenses within the 602 fund, including: • Utilities for the new building. • Office supplies. • Medical insurance associated with the new building. Sheriff’s Department Sheriff Kasey Kendall reviewed the 812 budget and identified several transposed numbers within the budget line items. These figures will need to be corrected as part of the overall budget review. Clerk Sprague requested that the public hearing be continued to September 8 to allow the identified corrections to be made and the revised budget to be republished. The Commission also discussed potential adjustments to employee wages and available funding sources while maintaining the corrected published budget total of $19,953,820.33. Following discussion, a motion to continue the public hearing to September 8th and direct the Clerk to publish the corrected budget of $19,953,820.33 in the Idaho State Journal & the Power County Press was presented by Commissioner Povey with a second by Commissioner Krein. Following audible call of the board, the motion unanimously carried. 7. Landfill Fee’s & Update: An extensive discussion was held regarding proposed updates to the county landfill and transfer station fee schedule in response to rising operating and transfer costs. Proposed Fee Changes • Residential parcel fee: Increase from $60 to $120. • Household waste: Increase from $60/ton to $100/ton. o Each household receives 500 pounds per week free of charge. • Construction and demolition waste: $100/ton, with the 500-pound weekly allowance. • Unsorted/mixed loads: $100/ton. • Out-of-county waste: $200/ton, with no free allowance. • Brush: One free load per week; $20 for each additional load. • Tires: Fees to follow the printed schedule provided by Jeff. • Wood chips: Increase from $1 to $2. • Dead animals: Increase from $45 to $50/ton. • Crushed asphalt/concrete: Cost plus $10/ton. • Campers: $200. • Mobile homes: $500. • Late gate fee: $20. • Large-format printing: Approximately $0.003 per square inch, with a $10 minimum for public requests. Additional Discussion The County is currently levied at the maximum tax amount, so additional revenue must come primarily from fees. The new tipping/transfer fees to Milner take effect October 27, with the larger budget impact expected in fiscal year 2028. The County’s brush-grinding contract ends next year, requiring a new contractor. The estimated cost is approximately $15,000 annually, with approximately $3,200 in expected revenue from chip sales. City and PSI will be notified in advance so they can account for future fee increases in their budgets. A new resolution incorporating the approved fee changes will be drafted. Following discussion, a motion to fee changes for the landfill was presented by Commissioner Krein with a second by Commissioner Povey. Following audible call of the board, the motion unanimously carried. POWER COUNTY COMMISSION Page 7 of 9 REGULAR SESSION MINUTES Monday, August 24, 2026 8. Consenting Agenda: A motion to approve the consenting agenda was submitted was presented by Commissioner Krein with a second by Commissioner Povey. Following an audible call of the board, the motion unanimously carried. The following items were approved under the consenting agenda; Approval of Past Meeting Minutes – Minutes for meetings held on 8/5/2026, 8/7/2026 and 08/24/2026 were approved. Certificate of Residency; College Tuition Application – Pursuant to l.C. §33-2110 the Applications for Certificate of Residency for Junior College Tuition assistance were approved and are as follows; Applicant Name Accredited College Term Covered Annmarie Medina College of Southern Idaho 2026 Fall Semester Vidal Villafana-Cuevas College of Southern Idaho 2026 Fall Semester Treasurer Update – Treasurer Deanna Curry submitted to the Board of Commissioners with a LGIP monthly statement, Treasurer’s Cash, Joint Month End Reports ending July 2026. Reports were reviewed and approved by the board. Claims – The following claims report was approved; FUND Paid 0001 GENERAL FUND (CURRENT EXPENSE) $ 66,821.82 0003 FAIR BOARD $ 500.00 0004 POWER COUNTY AMBULANCE DIST. $ 222,780.48 0005 POWER COUNTY ABABTEMENT DIST. $ 16,060.00 0006 DISTRICT COURT $ 1,630.44 0008 JUSTICE FUND $ 16,914.63 0010 ENHANCED 911 SERVICES $ 387.48 0011 HEALTH DISTRICT $ 427.08 0020 REVALUATION $ 76.77 0023 SOLID WASTE (LANDFILL) $ 47,176.16 0027 WEEDS $ 57.12 0038 WATERWAYS $ 1,254.17 0039 MUSEUM $ 164.45 0050 PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES $ 1,315.45 Total Amount Paid $ 375,566.05 9. Building & Grounds: The following items were discussed under building & grounds; 1. HVAC / Air Conditioning • Three AC units are in the museum building, all the same age and known to be dilapidated going in. • One unit is in the process of failing; replacing the compressor was quoted at ~$9,000– $14,000. • Two other companies were contacted: one doesn't service that style of unit; the other gave a rough verbal estimate in the same ballpark but no written estimate yet. • A central air unit for the whole building was explored (~$44,000–$45,000 estimate). • Harmison Heating & Cooling indicated it would require roof placement and re- POWER COUNTY COMMISSION Page 8 of 9 REGULAR SESSION MINUTES Monday, August 24, 2026 engineering of the duct system. • A follow-up question was raised about placing the condenser unit on the ground instead, which Maintenance Director Chet Taylor agreed to explore. 2. Janitorial / Museum Cleaning Schedule • Janitorial frequency for the museum was clarified as once a week (since it opens one day a week). • Drug testing area was indicated to clean frequently for testing. • Specific cleaning tasks documented: • Windows cleaned once a month • Floors mopped/swept once a week • Bathrooms and cabinets dusted once a week • Vacuuming also requested • Cleaning scheduled for Thursday nights. 3. Fairgrounds / Buildings & Grounds Expansion • Discussion about adding a fairgrounds line under Buildings & Grounds was raised but left unresolved, as supervision responsibilities are still unclear. 4. Asphalt/Landscaping • Asphalt pricing for a spot near the building was requested; no price obtained yet. • Sam Jessup (contractor on the water project) was suggested as a contact for a quote since equipment is already on-site. 10. Memorandum of Understanding – Annex Building: The Commission reviewed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Idaho State Historic Preservation Office regarding the controlled demolition of the Power County Annex Building. Power County was invited to participate as a signatory to the agreement as part of the brownfield remediation process. During discussion, Commissioners noted that the county's role in negotiating the agreement was limited and sought clarification on several provisions, including references to a missing stipulation, the dispute resolution process, and termination language within the document. These concerns were reviewed with legal counsel prior to consideration. Recognizing that execution of the agreement is necessary to move forward with the brownfield project and the planned demolition of the annex building, the Commissioners agreed to accept the MOU. Commissioner Povey states Granite Peak will oversee the request for proposals (RFP) process, with demolition anticipated to begin in November. Following discussion, a motion to accept the MOU between the EPA and the Idaho Historic preservation office regarding the controlled demolition of the Power County annex building was presented by Commissioner Povey with a second by Commissioner Krein. Following audible call of the board, the motion unanimously carried. Commissioner Povey noted that any remaining items will be included in the demolition. Following a final walkthrough by the museum board, a previous request to allow an individual to salvage a pinball machine and other items was denied to potential mold. Furthermore, Commissioner Povey noted that ICRMP advised against allowing outside individuals into the building due to liability concerns. 11. Personnel: Several personnel salary approvals were submitted to the Commission for review. Commissioner Krein felt the timing – mid -budget – season was not appropriate as it adds confusion to the numbers. The preference was to revisit personnel raises at the first meeting in October, with a transparent process where departments present their cases openly. Clerk Sprague explained she had previously been given informal approval to explore raises for staff at salary maximums, and had proceeded in good faith. Clerk Sprague also raised concerns about inconsistent treatment across departments. She further stated following personnel evaluations, raises were requested for team members who had reached their salary maximus. The Commission agreed that a better process was POWER COUNTY COMMISSION Page 9 of 9 REGULAR SESSION MINUTES Monday, August 24, 2026 needed where each elected official / department head needed to summarize their needs and be approved by a formal motion. However, the group agreed to discuss the submitted salary approvals during the next fiscal year’s budget in October rather than adjusting the current one which would allow all departments to have an equal opportunity to present their requests. On a separate matter, a motion to accept the resignation of Ambulance employee Ty Bolich was presented by Commissioner Povey with a second by Commissioner Krein. Following audible call of the board, the motion unanimously carried. IV. EXECUTIVE SESSION: 1. Executive Personnel Session I.C. 74-206(1)(b) 9:22 am: A motion to enter into executive session to consider personnel actions pursuant to Idaho Code 74-206(1)(b) was presented by Commissioner Povey with a second by Commissioner Krein. Deputy Clerk Mariano Villa conducted roll call on the motion; • Commissioner Povey, AYE • Commissioner Krein, AYE • Commissioner Fehringer, AYE Following roll call of the Board, motion unanimously carried. Upon conclusion of discussion, Commissioner Fehringer declared the meeting open at 9:53 am. 2. Executive Personnel Session I.C. 74-206(1)(b) 11:24 am: A motion to enter into executive session to consider personnel actions pursuant to Idaho Code 74-206(1)(b) was presented by Commissioner Krein with a second by Commissioner Povey. Deputy Clerk Mariano Villa conducted roll call on the motion; • Commissioner Povey, AYE • Commissioner Krein, AYE • Commissioner Fehringer, AYE Following roll call of the Board, motion unanimously carried. Upon conclusion of discussion, Commissioner Fehringer declared the meeting open at 11:40 am. V. ASSESSMENTS/CONCLUSIONS: 1. Tax Deed Hearing: The agenda was amended and this item was removed as it had already been resolved prior to this Commissioner’s meeting. 2. Next Meeting: The next regular session for the board to meet is slated for September 14, 2026 3. Adjourn: Having no further business to come before the Board, a motion to adjourn was presented by Commissioner Krein with a second by Commissioner Povey. Following audible call of the Board, motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 1:21 pm. The foregoing minutes were approved by the Board of County Commissioners during the Regular Board Meeting held September 14, 2026. ATTEST: MARIANO VILLA, Deputy Clerk __________________________________ COMMISSIONER FEHRINGER, Chairman Mariano Villa Jr.