Jerome County | minutes | meeting 2026-04-21 | Commissioner Meeting source: https://www.jeromecountyid.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_04212026-1648 Tuesday, April 21, 2026 Page 1 of 3 JEROME COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Tuesday, April 21, 2026 PRESENT: Ben Crouch, Chairman Charles Howell, Vice Chairman Art Watkins, Commissioner Ryan Treanor, Deputy Clerk Meeting convened at 9:30 am. Swearing in of Sheriff Gary Taylor, Judge John Lothspeich, Jennifer Mandis, Rachel Robinson, Julie Taylor, Kirsten Hartley, Craig Stotts, Duane Rubink, Don Newman, Jack Johnson, Mario Umana, Doug Harris, Steven Byers, Chris Hogan, Aaron Koopmans, Scott Bishop, Katrina Gratzer, Anthony Gratzer, Eric Goodell, Jesse Vallez, Carli Petruzzelli, Alyssa Osborne, Douglas Jugden, Jesus Mendez, Andrew Vangelisto, Kenny Emery, Matthew Spencer, Jon Daubner, Clint Doerr, Michael Nerrig, Rick Bernsew, Marisela Aguirre, Leticia Beltran, and Vicki Liles were present. The Board thanked everyone for showing up. The Board explained that there is quite a process of appointing a new sheriff. The process included narrowing down the candidates from 8 to a final candidate, which is Gary Taylor. Judge Lothspeich swore in Gary Taylor as the Jerome County Sheriff. Gary stated that he wanted to thank everyone for the support during this process. It has been a very humbling experience. It is a stressful experience to be in the political arena. He is very protective of his family. He wants to do the best job that he can and to earn back the trust of the community. He wants to get to the point where he is elected to the position officially and that is his goal. Meeting recessed at 9:42 am. Meeting reconvened at 3:30 pm. Commissioner Howell was not present due to other obligations. 2026 State Legislative Update Jack Nelson, Mike Pohanka, Ron Taylor, Luke Rummel, Anita Janis, Mark Barnes, and Cy Lootens were present. Jack created a list of items that he feels like may affect Jerome County. He discussed that the Board should consider inviting down Kalee Younger, from the governors office, to discuss energy facilities. He went to a meeting with her earlier this year and was very impressed by her. There were some bills that Jack went over that were created this year. One was regarding the raising of daily per diem for prisoners to $80. There was another bill regarding inappropriate contact between jailers and prisoners. Another bill was created that discussed having someone Tuesday, April 21, 2026 Page 2 of 3 get out of jury duty by being a poll worker instead. Safety on election days for precincts in schools was discussed, and a bill was created to have election days no longer have school in session for the safety of students. There was a bill created regarding short-term rentals and the safety of the property. There were three departments that were discussed and having the head of those boards appointed by the governor, and that the head would be reporting to the governor. There was also a bill regarding personal property rights. Starter home subdivisions were discussed to allow for housing costs to be lowered by lowering the overall space. Another bill discussed adding an accessory building to an individuals property. There were bills regarding how much water a data center can use, as well as a bill discussing the creation of new electric accounts. Personal wells had some more definitions created and added to further define the difference between in home and out of home water sources. A bill was created regarding cloud seeding and making those facilities more . There was a new law discussing the right of maintaining a ditch to your personal property. Homeowners exemptions had a bill created that will have the exemption take in effect for the whole year. There will no longer be stickers for license plates, and that plates can be kept on a car for more than five years if the plate is still legible. A bill was created regarding farm equipment on roadways that makes it to where they don’t have to pull over if there is no safe place to. The last bill that was discussed was a bill to allow all trucks to drive 80 miles per hour like all other traffic. Mike discussed the highway districts and how they received a hit in the most recent budget. He discussed the budget that will be received by all of the districts in the county. He discussed a new bill regarding housing in small communities and hiring for positions in cities. There was a bill regarding home owners insurance being cancelled and that there will need to be a 60 day notice of services being cancelled. Another bill was discussed regarding ground water storage in the state. There was another bill discussing the ability to site individuals who are reckless driving especially in school zones and construction zones. He discussed that there are over 23 million in unpaid citations, and that licenses will be suspended until citations are paid. A bill was taken to take away thermal imaging and the use of drones in finding game. Another bill that was passed was regarding the banning of cratum. There was a bill to increase the amount given through project choice for ISP troopers to be hired. Ron wanted to thank the Board for allowing them to be here today. After this session there are 350 new laws. There was unanimous agreement on 6 different bills. There was a committee created to discuss the use of these funds throughout the state. There was a bill passed regarding taxing districts that would allow for fire, ambulance, and library districts to merge for saving benefits. Another bill that was passed was regarding new housing developments pay for the required infrastructure to the development. There was a declaration regarding a state wide drought. There was a bill regarding the snake river plane aquifer and improvements that need to be made to Milner dam. It also supported other projects in the greater magic valley area regarding water. He also wanted to thank the Board for being approachable when he reaches out regarding different issues that were discussed in the legislature. He will miss having Jack Nelson if he is reelected and working with both of the other individuals from this legislative district. Jack also wanted to thank both the Association of Idaho Cities and the Idaho Association of Counties for their help with different items that were covered during the legislature. Tuesday, April 21, 2026 Page 3 of 3 The Board asked if it was felt that the cuts to the budget were a bit extreme. Ron stated that there was a consensus that the cuts were a bit too extreme compared to what they should have been. Jack described that the cuts were closer to $400 million instead of what the governor was hoping for. The governor was hoping for around $100 million in cuts. There were a lot of issues with the cuts and not really having good explanations for why things were cut, and where they were cut from. The Board asked if there will be a possibility of there being a surplus this time next year. Ron answered that there could be a possibility of a surplus, but that there shouldn’t be a plan to depend on a surplus. Mike discussed how the cuts will affect different districts throughout the state. Jack stated that another thing that could help with increasing funds will be the new Micron factory which will have almost all of the workers earning more than $100,000 a year. With the area in Boise growing so much as well it will continue to help as well. The Board also asked about how much consideration is taken with the suggestions from the IAC on what to pass or work on. Jack feels like those suggestions help. There is a lot of money that is coming into Idaho as well that is trying to help with pushing bills. There was a question asked regarding the law that was passed about trans people not being allowed into certain bathrooms and how that will be policed, or if more police will be hired for that. Ron stated that there won’t be anyone hired for this or anyone to police this specific issue. Meeting adjourned at 4:14 pm. ________________________ ______________________________ Ryan Treanor, Deputy Clerk A. Ben Crouch, Chairman ______________________________ Charles M. Howell, Commissioner ______________________________ Art Watkins, Commissioner