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Commissioners Meeting

minutes meeting date 2026-04-27 · fetched 2026-09-09 · 11114 characters · read by OCR, check numbers against the source · official file · plain text

Monday, April 27, 2026
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JEROME COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Monday, April 27, 2026
PRESENT: Ben Crouch, Chairman
Charles Howell, Vice Chairman
Art Watkins, Commissioner
Ryan Treanor, Deputy Clerk
Meeting convened at 9:00 am.
Commissioner Reports
Commissioner Watkins – Commissioner Watkins reported that he worked on deposition prep. He
then signed checks for South Central Community Action Partnership. Then he attended the
empty bowls fundraiser.
Commissioner Howell – Commissioner Howell reported that he signed a letter for Jerome 20/20.
He gave a speech at the state recreation convention with the members of the Snake River Canyon
Parks board. Then he attended an emergency SIRCOMM meeting. The board is working on
creating their budget for the upcoming year. He took a phone call from a commissioner in Blaine
County about some issues with inspections from the Idaho Department of Water Resources not
being done until June.
Commissioner Crouch – Commissioner Crouch reported that he attended the Joe Mama’s car
show meeting. He attended the deposition prep. Then he was reached out to about some manure
issues. He mentioned that the fair board had a meeting to discuss the sign for the rodeo arena,
and that he will be going there this week to help with finishing the paperwork to have the sign
placed.
Airport Building Painting Discussion
Marty Luhr was present.
Marty wanted to discuss the fuel levels at the airport. He has been told to hold off on purchasing
more fuel until prices go down. He is not sure that he would like to wait as he feels the prices
won’t go down drastically. The Board asked if Marty has ever felt that he should have waited
after purchasing fuel. Marty replied that he has never felt that he should have waited with
purchasing fuel.
Marty discussed that the office building is in need of being repainted. He does not have any
quotes yet for the project, but he is going to get the quotes this week. The Board asked if the cost
would come out of the airports budget and whether it would be able to be done by airport staff.
Marty stated the costs would be in the budget. He is willing to paint the building, but that there
are some issues with other employees not wanting to paint.

Monday, April 27, 2026
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Lien Release Matter
Kim Drury and Cy Lootens were present.
Kim discussed that there is a person who has a lien with the county from previous medical bills.
The individual is looking to have the lien removed to be able to get a new mortgage for their
home. The lien is not attached to anything, but if the lien is removed then the lien can be placed
upon the new home. This individual has not paid since 2003. The Board asked if there are any
other accounts like this that have not been turned over to collections. Kim affirmed that there are
likely other cases that have not been turned over to collections.
Misdemeanor Probation Monthly Report
Andrea Gonzalez was present.
Andrea provided a report on the misdemeanor probation department. She reported that there
were 40 new cases during the previous month. A total of 40 cases were closed. During the
previous month there was a total of $26,828.42 received in fees.
Meeting recessed at 11:46 am.
Department Head Luncheon
Cy Lootens, Kirsten Hartley, Gary Taylor, Amanda Worthington, Mark Reyes, Mark Swenson,
Tevian Kober, Mario Umana, Andrea Gonzalez, Jesse Vallez, and Matthew McGregor were
present.
The Board discussed that a public relations firm has been hired by the Board. The firm is not
solely to be used by the Board, but is available to all departments to get news out to the public.
Gary Taylor discussed that he is holding a meeting later today to discuss his vision for the
sheriff’s department, as well as announcing his under sheriff.
The Board announced that there is an America 250 board. This board is in need of more
members to help with ideas for celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.
The Board reminded everyone that budgets will be starting soon, and to start preparing for the
budgeting process.
Matthew McGregor announced that there has been a roll out of multi factor authentication
requirements across the county. He and the rest of IT have been working hard to get everyone
ready for this upcoming change. He also reported that with most multi factor software that
employees can either use their phone or a Yubi key to accomplish the multi factor authentication.
The Board also discussed the adoption of the new energy ordinance. The process began last year
with a moratorium to temporarily ban all permit applications from being submitted for energy
facilities. After working with both the planning and zoning department and the planning and
zoning commission, the Board was able to put together an energy ordinance for Jerome County.
The ordinance will continue to be discussed and refined over the coming months. The Board also

Monday, April 27, 2026
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noted that with Jerome County having the largest transfer station in the state that there will be no
end in interest from energy companies to come into the county, so the Board wants to make sure
that the energy ordinance is refined to be the best energy ordinance for the county.
Meeting reconvened at 1:30 pm.
South Central Public Health Fiscal Year 27 Budget Presentation
Linda Montgomery, Cy Lootens, Tracee McKim, Josh Jensen, Makayla Harral, Tanis Maxwell,
and Logan Hudson were present.
Logan is the director of the South Central Public Health District. He has come today to present
the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The budget hearing for the Public Health District will
be held next month. He gave a presentation on the purpose of the Public health district and the
proposed budget totals for each line item. One of the largest things that is bringing the budget
higher is for the expansion of the building in Jerome County. The public health district received
just over an acre just south of the current building to allow for the expansion of the offices in
Jerome. He discussed that the increase in charges is done through a formula, and what the
formula came out with was an increase of $750 from Jerome County. The total to be contributed
from Jerome County is $270,704.
Makayla Harroll is the dietician that helps with the WIC program. She is based out of Jerome
herself. The members of her department help with multiple different counties to help with WIC
certification. She discussed some changes that have taken place within the program that she
oversees. There has been a reduction in members on WIC. One thing that has been difficult is
that there has been a shortage in employees in her department.
Tanice is the family and health administrator for the health district. This department is meant to
help with infectious diseases and vaccinations. One of the things that her department tracks is
statistics for infectious diseases. There are about 70 different diseases that they are required to
track. She also helps with immunizations and they are provided at the location in Jerome.
Another thing that her department can help with is teaching parents how to better interact with
children up to kindergarten age.
Josh is part of the environmental health department. There haven’t been an uptick in sewage
claims. Jerome is continuing to grow and is one of the larger groups for these requests. One of
the big projects was for the new National Guard facility off the highway. He is also working with
Maverick to install a new location out in the Eden and Hazelton area. Another large project was
for the new RV park just off highway 93.
Annual Department of Juvenile Corrections Report/ Juvenile Probation Monthly Report
Mario Umana and Jeff Miller were present.
Jeff reported that the data that will be included in the annual report will include info from
October 1, 2024 until September 30, 2025. There was a total of 55 youth arrests and a total of 44
youth admitted to detention. During the previous year 144 charges were filed; 33 felonies, 86
misdemeanors, and 25 status offenses. Then Jeff discussed the outcomes of the youth cases in the

Monday, April 27, 2026
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county. There were 19 probation intakes and 14 releases, as well as 70 diversion intakes and 63
releases. Each year the state calculates the success rates of both the probation and diversion sides
of the juvenile probation department. The probation success rate was 100% and the diversion
success rate was 89%. Another thing that the state tracks is the recidivism rates of the juveniles
in the county. In a 24 month span there was a 16% recidivism rate.
Mario gave a report on the juvenile probation department. There are 94 juveniles on probation. A
total of 14 new cases were received during the previous month. There were 12 cases closed
during the previous month. A total of $1,289 received in fees. He is going to have some of his
staff rotate their shifts, and this would start when the school district goes down to a four-day
school week.
Read and Approve Minutes
Commissioner Crouch moved to approve the minutes. Seconded by
Commissioner Howell. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Indigent Matters
Commissioner Howell moved to approve the indigent request to remove a lien
and then reestablish a new lien. 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 Crouch. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
To see an image of the report please see page 6 of the minutes.
Meeting adjourned at 2:57 pm.

Monday, April 27, 2026
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________________________
______________________________
Ryan Treanor, Deputy Clerk
A. Ben Crouch, Chairman
______________________________
Charles M. Howell, Commissioner
______________________________
Art Watkins, Commissioner

BUDGET TOTALS
DEPARTMENT PAYROLL ACCT PAY GRAND TOTAL

| 1/CLERK $44,355.74
ASSESSOR $8,079.87 $8,079.87
TREASURER $7,676.76

HUMAN RESOURCES 5,022.31 $ 5,022.31
CORONER 1,019.22 $ 1,019.22
EMERGENCY MANAGEMEN|] $ 2,120.00 $ 2,120.00
DATA PROCESSING $ 13,372.62 $ 13,372.62
CHARITY 1,000.00 | $ 1,000.00
PLANNING & ZONING $ 15,839.77 $ 15,839.77
GENERAL FUND RESERVE $ -
VETERANS [Pg
b 142,251.34 | 3 4,407.66

ub Total (Justice Fund) $ 316,344.43 6,288.67
VETERANS MEMORIAL

7|FAIR $ 10,068.37
9|CAPITAL FAIR
[HEALTH DISTRIET [|

LECTION CONSOLIDATION $ 2,346.75
SOLID WASTE -
Tort
WEED i

WATERWAYS BOARD

8|WATERWAYS SHERIFF
BROADBAND GRANT FUNDS

BOND REDEMPTION
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN
Sub Total $ 41,633.16|$ 4,084.27|$ 45,717.43

GRAND TOTAL $ 500,228.93 |$ 14,780.60 |$ 515,009.53

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