Sentinel Media records · public agendas and minutes, text only, refreshed nightly from each body's own site · not a newspaper

Jerome County

Commissioners Meeting

minutes meeting date 2026-03-30 · fetched 2026-09-09 · 12139 characters · read by OCR, check numbers against the source · official file · plain text

Monday, March 30, 2026
Page 1 of 5
JEROME COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Monday, March 30, 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 stated that he attended the rotary meeting. 
There was a presentation from Mark Reyes about the GIS department and the Snake River 
Canyon Parks board. He attended the open house discussing BESS. Then he went to the SCCAP 
board meeting. Later he attended the IAC legislative meeting online. He attended the active 
shooter training at the Administrative Offices Building. 
Commissioner Howell – Commissioner Howell stated that he attended the Southern Idaho Solid 
Waste meeting. The bids for the projects that Southern Idaho Solid Waste is looking to do came 
in 2 million under budget. The Jerome County 1.8 million lower than the engineers estimates for 
a total cost of $2,605,685.00. The winning company for all projects was Streamline LLC. He 
attended the Mid Snake River Water meeting. There was a discussion regarding the members of 
the board and when they need to be reappointed. He attended the active shooter training at the 
Administrative Offices Building. He did an interview with the local TV station. 
Commissioner Crouch – Commissioner Crouch stated that he attended the rotary meeting. He 
stated that the presentation was very good. Then he attended the BESS open house. He talked 
with Cy regarding some items for the America 250 meeting. 
Coroner Facilities
Dan Chatterton and Cy Lootens were present.
Dan stated that he wanted to go over the coroner facilities for the county. Currently if there are 
remains that need to be held overnight, there is only one mortuary who is willing to come in at 
night to help with that. If this does happen there is an employee who has to come out while he 
looks at the body or does any necessary autopsies. This process is not really fair to the mortuaries
in town. The issue that is ongoing would be resolved if the county was able to have a cooling 
facility, an autopsy table, and good lighting overhead. There was a case that he covered where he
located three bullet wounds to an individual, and then when the body was taken to Ada county 
with better lighting, there were actually eight bullet wounds found. 
He would like to see the building behind the Administration Offices Building become a place 
where he can take a body for storage and autopsy requirements. He would like to see this put into
place with the requisite facilities to provide better services to the county. He could retain his 
current office for paperwork, and potentially grow into the building as a full time office. He was

Monday, March 30, 2026
Page 2 of 5
able to look into some options for the coolers, that would be required for keeping the bodies 
properly, of about $15,000. This would be the most cost effective way in his mind to move to 
where the facilities needs to be for the counties coroner needs. If the garage of that building was 
updated to match the requirements, then it could become the cooler facility that the county needs.
IT Purchases, Website ADA Accommodations, Offsite Immutable Backups
Matthew McGregor, Cy Lootens, and Eli Bair were present.
Matthew stated that he has three items to discuss today. The first is regarding an offsite backup 
location. This would be the location that the immutable backups are placed so that they can’t be 
changed. Eli stated that the location is one of the closest locations to us. Matthew stated that 
there were several options that were looked into for this. Each of the other options that were 
looked into each had some flaws in prices or processes. The best option that was found would be 
with C2 for a yearly cost around $7,100. Matthew stated that the cost is around a quarter of the 
cost that was quoted from another company.
The next item is regarding ADA compliance for the county website. Matthew stated that there 
were some updates to ADA for websites. These requirements would mean that the website would
need to be user friendly to those who are blind or deaf. With these new updates the county IT 
could do the updates or the county can pay for a company to manage these requirements. He has 
also been working on the issue regarding the search engine results for the county website. He 
stated that IT has spent over 30 hours recently to work on the search engine results, but that the 
issue is that he won’t know if it was successful for over six months. That is just how long it takes
for search engines to update information for search results. He stated that the company in the 
quote for the ADA requirements would be able to help with meeting the requirements. Another 
thing that would be beneficial is that if the county is sued over the compliance of the website, 
that the other companies lawyers would be available to help by stating that the improvements are
suitable for the required updates. The quote for the services are being prorated for this year and 
would be around $10,000.
The last item is regarding a mobile device management solution. Matthew stated that quote is 
regarding a risk factor assessment. It would also include a continued monthly review and 
assessment of the county security measures. This would also help with building out a long term 
safety plan. It would also help with making sure that the county is matching the requirements of 
the Microsoft licensing that the county has. The Board also wanted to know if there can be some 
reviews built in to review the services provided from this quote. Matthew stated that this would 
be something that can be done, and that IT can review the services that are being rendered. 
Commissioner Crouch moved to approve the following expenditures for the 
backup support for county data in the amount of $7,073.80 annually, to update 
the county website with ADA compliant instructions in the amount of $9,963.71, 
and the IT performance assessment of system and security measures for a six-
month term in the estimated total of $3,000 plus monthly costs. Seconded by 
Commissioner Watkins. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Monday, March 30, 2026
Page 3 of 5
Eli stated that he has been working with a member of the ETS broadband group. The main part 
has been installing the required switches to help with the network for the county buildings. There
were some miscommunications between ETS and the county in regards to the expectations of the
setup for the county buildings’ broadband. He has worked with updating the topology so that it is
more in line with what the county expected. He stated that the services have been tested to see if 
it is meeting what was promised. He stated that the service is showing the speed that was 
promised, but that he still wants to find more to test to make sure that the speed is fully matching
the promise that was made. During this process he has had to reach out to individuals from 
multiple other areas to make sure that the installment is done correctly.
Veterans Affairs Discussion
Cy Lootens was present.
The Board wanted to discuss the Veterans Affairs services for the county. Commissioner Howell
stated that he has reached out to Twin Falls regarding the fees that are currently being paid 
regarding Veterans Affairs. He would like to review the information on a later date once he has 
received the current expenses for these services.
Meeting recessed at 11:10 am.
Meeting reconvened at 1:15 pm.
Airport Leases Discussion
The Board wanted to discuss leases at the airport. There was a request that was received from 
Mark Doerr to have an airport hangar be changed from his company name into his personal 
name. The Board received feedback from legal counsel that there would be no issue in approving
that change.
Commissioner Crouch moved to accept Mark Doerr’s to change his lease from 
his company name to his personal name. Seconded by Commissioner Watkins. 
The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
The other airport lease was regarding a lien that had been placed on a hangar. There was 
feedback received from legal counsel that if payments have been made that the lien could be 
removed. The Board has confirmed that payments have been received for the specific hangar for 
several years now.
Commissioner Crouch moved to release the lien on the Higley hangar out at the 
airport. Seconded by Commissioner Howell. The motion passed with a 
unanimous vote.
Public Hearing for a Zoning Map Amendment for Dennis Stauffer Estates for a De-
Annexed Property Located at Approximately 110 E 50 N, Jerome

Monday, March 30, 2026
Page 4 of 5
Kacie Buhler, Ryan Christensen, and Kolbie Simmons were present.
Kolbie stated that she is requesting a zoning assignment for a property located at approximately 
110 E 50 N. The property was recently de-annexed from being inside city limits, and back to the 
county. That is the reason for the request for zoning approval. The Board asked why the property
was de-annexed. Kolbie stated that it was done due to the strange shape of the property, and it 
not really fitting into the plans for the city. There are also several easements that needed to be 
cleared up on the property. The Board asked if there is any plans to develop the property. Kolbie 
stated that there is no plan currently to develop it. The Board asked if the property is being used 
for farming. Kolbie stated that the property is being farmed or used for different farming 
purposes. Kacie would like to work better with the city in the future in case there is another de-
annexation. This way it can save the applicant a large sum of money as the applicant had to pay a
large fee for multiple rounds of advertising.
Sign and Approve Claims
Commissioner Howell 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 5 of the minutes.
Employee Paid Time Off Payout Requests
Commissioner Watkins moved to approve the PTO payouts as presented. 
Seconded by Commissioner Howell. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Meeting adjourned at 2:54 pm.
________________________
______________________________
Ryan Treanor, Deputy Clerk
A. Ben Crouch, Chairman
______________________________
Charles M. Howell, Commissioner
______________________________
Art Watkins, Commissioner

BUDGET TOTALS

DEPARTMENT PAYROLL ACCT PAY GRAND TOTAL
4{CLERK CdS 43,778.36 | § 280.59
2(ASSESSOR [TS 988GSTS TS 9,565.75 |
3|TREASURER |S 7.676.721
4|HUMAN RESOURCES $5,658.27
6ICORONER CS 1,019.22/$ __—155.00 | $ 174.
10|BUILDING & GROUNDS MAll $__10,130.60|$ 3,597.90 |$ 13,728.50 |
14]EMERGENCY MANAGEMEN| $ _2,120.00 | $ 95.00
13|EXTENSION AGENT |S 3,776.29/$ 365.66 |$ 4,141.95 |
14|DATA PROCESSING $ 8,004.81[$  12,979.20[$ 20,984.01
‘SJELECTIONS |
16|CHARITY $ :
(O[GENERAL 15 “aa soa |) “Taree |S — soz
21/PLANNING & ZONING $ 15,839.78 | $ 637.28|$ 16,477.06

29
30

: E

GENERALFUNDRESERVE| | OS
VETERANS es | a
ub Tota eneral Func ; : 7.14 | $ §5.36 b 92,582.50

A o
- OD .0O0

SHERIFF
5|SHERIFF-DETENTION
6|ADULT PROBATION

7|PROSECUTOR

$ 33,723.20

$ 99,020.59
$17,690.14
$

33,723.20

8|PUBLIC DEFENDERS
9| JUVENILE PROBATION

9 nt 4./65.90
$ 96,867.43 | 3 2,153.16
$ 10,448.01 | $ 7,242.13

18|GENERAL JUSTICE

$ 12,619.70 | $ 467.00
$ 50,759.85 | $ 784.00
$

3 "i
$ 13,086.70
$ = 51,543.85

5

VETERANS MEMORIAL

Sub Total (Justice Fund) | $ 296,119.15 15,412.19 |$ 311,531.34
AIRPORT TS 4 902.10 | 8 6.62 | §

o ‘<
D a

6|/DISTRICT COURT $ 8,556.40 1133.6
7|FAIR $ 9,375.10
9|/CAPITAL FAIR

11)/HEALTH DISTRICT

. = 0
$ 9,690.00
$ 9,375.10

15|/ELECTION CONSOLIDATIO
20|REVALUATION

$2,346.75
$ 15,544.23
ee ee ee

39

BROADBAND GRANT FUNDS

23

24(TORT

27

29/AMBULANCE |
so WATERWAYS SHERIFF | [ro amo 00} —ro,000.0
38|WATERWAYS SHERIFF $  10,000.00[$ 10,000.00

41|BOND REDEMPTION
48

GRAND TOTAL

$ 498,070.87 121,579.77

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN $ -
Sub Total $ 40,724.58 | $ 74,812.22 | $ 115,536.80
$

$ 619,650.64

Text is extracted by machine from the official file linked on each page; the official file is the record. Sentinel Media, LLC.