Caribou County | minutes | meeting 2025-11-10 | Minutes source: https://www.cariboucounty.us/Commissioners/2025 Minutes/CCM 11-10-2025.pdf?t=202512091812500 COMMISSIONER MEETING OF November 10, 2025 The Caribou County Commissioners met in regular session on November 10, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Those in attendance were: Mark Mathews, Commissioner Chairman Kya Simmons, Public Safety Bryce Somsen, Commissioner Rowdy Larkins, Maint. & Bldg Marty McCullough, Commissioner J. Adam Mabey, Sheriff Jill Stoor, Clerk Paul Gritton, City of Soda Doug Wood, Prosecutor Justin Hatch, CC Extension Office Kevin McLain, Road & Bridge Brandon Hall, The Idaho Enterprise Eric Hobson, Public Safety The meeting opened with Doug Wood leading the pledge of allegiance and prayer. Kevin McLain, Road & Bridge: Kevin mentioned that at the Turner Rd/Mountain Road intersection there is a culvert that comes through on the east branch canal and it is starting to rot and decay and they will replace it next spring. He would like to make it wider if possible so that it is safer for traffic. They have been hauling chips from Pocatello to the Grace area. Bingham County crushed 1000 yards of gravel and gave it to Caribou County for the use of one of the pits at the company ranch. So last week they fixed roads out that way including Cow Camp and then they will haul chips again on Wednesday. Kevin shared that both Peterbilt snowplows are totally functionable. The road grader that will be sent out to Dwight will be awhilé as the left joy stick needs to be replaced and the availability is all but nonexistent. They have bladed the Narrows and Diamond Creek and touching up roads for bus routes. Kevin would like to have papers drawn up at his office for mileage and such for road work so he can invoice them. Kevin will be in Boise for LTAC meetings for the rest of the week. Commissioner Somsen has a snowmobile grooming meeting Wednesday and there will be discussion on the parking lot in Lago. It was agreed to possibly work on it in the spring to save making a mess this fall. BLM has approved to be bigger. Concerning an Easement Agreement, Doug had a few questions on that and Kevin will try to get these addressed today. This easement is for the 8-Mile bridge and is from LTAC. A single date instead of a range is a question, and fences that may be taken out and the owners should be notified, which Kevin shared they have been contacted. This will be sent back and presented later. “re en SoS SRM BEAR BE “A SNC TEE REE POS ANTAL RE AEA EDITION FLEAS I IRE AE LITT TIRE EE I OTE SIE I AI EE BO IEE LEE GEL NO Commissioner Minutes 11-10-2025 Page 1 e Commissioner Somsen made a motion to convene an executive session for 74-206 (b) for Kevin McLain at 9:18 a.m. Commissioner McCullough seconded the motion. Commissioner Somsen voted aye; Commissioner McCullough voted aye; Commissioner Mathews voted aye. The motion passed and the executive session began. e Commissioner Somsen suggested ending the executive session at 9:30 a.m. No decisions were made. Eric Hobson, Public Safety: e Doug wanted to publicly thank Eric and the Fire Department for putting a fire out in his back yard in the middle of the night. e Eric stated that they bought some cameras for the repeater sites. He shared a demonstration on these. One is on Sedgwick and one is on Soda Point. He would like to put one up on Woodall, Rabbit and Black Mountain as well. These are live feeds and no recordings. e SHSP (State Homeland and Security) is where the cameras and other projects are funded and Emergency Management Preparedness grant (this pays Eric and Linda wages) funds that they receive every year from the federal government. With the government shut down their applications are pending but Eric said that luckily, they run a year ahead. These were supposed to be assigned on 10-01-2025 so they are just waiting on the Federal Government for now. e Eric shared that we are coming up on Christmas time and he would like to purchase $70 gift cards for EMT and Fire Fighter volunteers. The Board agreed to have Eric purchase these. e He mentions that he missed the walk through at the Event Center and he will start moving stuff in next week. He will reach out to Idaho Standard of Bureau and Rating and start getting that a certified station as this will change the insurance map. Eric hopes to get that done in the winter. e Commissioner Mathews shared that on December 4" there will be an open house at the Event Center. e Heison week 4 of the EMT classes and they still have everyone (16) participating. e Eric shared a handout for a Crisis Center in Pocatello for adults. He mentioned that in Idaho Falls there is one for 5- 17 year olds. They did a tour last week and he was very impressed. This is a walk-in facility and the funding comes through the state. Rowdy Larkins, Building/Maintenance: e Rowdy stated that the fire system needs to be monitored 24/7 at the Event Center. State Fire Idaho and System Tech Inc sent quotes for this. This needs to be done before they can pressurize the system. e Commissioner Somsen made a motion to enter into a contract for the suppression system for the Event Center with State Fire Idaho quote #2043031. Commissioner McCullough seconded the motion. Motion passed. e Rowdy then presented change order #25 for paving the corner in place of dry scape, adding tile in the kitchen by the gas stove, added asphalt to the road, and to remove the cabinet next to the gas stove and put a countertop and add locks to the classroom cupboards. This came to a total of $9832. eR WE PAN REE AE SS ESTE TTS SP SE I TET TE I ee eT Ea MEI NL ELEN I EE AI Commissioner Minutes 11-10-2025 Page 2 Change order #26 is for the upper liner in the mezzanine, and CMU building walls that extend above the roof totaling $7932. Commissioner Somsen made a motion to approve change order #25 that adds pavement, kitchen tile by the gas stove, asphalt on the road, and removing and installing counter top for a total amount of $9832. Commissioner McCullough seconded the motion. Motion passed. Commissioner Somsen made a motion to approve change order #26 that puts a liner in the mezzanine and parapet cap on existing CMU building walls that extend above the roof for a total amount of $7932. Commissioner McCullough seconded the motion. Motion passed. Commissioner Somsen spoke with Shane Davis about snow removal. Snow can be pushed to the east field of the building and Rowdy will put a marker on the sprinkler so it is not hit on the front of the building. North and West sidewalks need done as well. The sink in between the 2 bathrooms at the Event Center won't work with inspection as it will not pass code due to the size of the drain. Rowdy is waiting to hear back on other suggestions. J. Adam Mabey, Sheriff: Sheriff asked about an employee that is coming up with a vacation use deadline that he can’t get used up. Sheriff will check and see if he wants to cash out or extend it. Commissioner Somsen made a motion to extend the time for Deputy Hueckstaedt to use his vacation until March 1st. 2026. Commissioner McCullough seconded the motion. Motion passed. Sheriff asked about setting up for individuals in his department that are in the national guard or military reserves and could they get paid for doing that duty. Currently, the policy does not allow that, but just gives them the days off. This would require a policy change and would need to be added to the budget for next year. Concerning the jail, they have been working on the daily cost per bed. If figured on the average of the normal capacity it would be $130 for 42 beds and at full capacity it would be $111 for 49 beds. IDOC currently is $75. It was suggested to have Sheriff check with Franklin and Oneida counties on their budgets if amount is increased. Jail commander has put together costs per day and it looks like they will break $1,000,000 this year for funds coming into the facility. Sheriff talked about the spending at the Sheriff's office. He proposed to increase the amount to $5000 before needing to bring it to the Board for approval. This would require auditor approval and policy change. Tasers need to be replaced and that would cost around $50,000. He wants to try to find a way to fund that. Jill brought up BanCorp escrow funds as she is in the process of closing the FY25. Also, she asked him about his vehicle that is being investigated in Utah and Sheriff said he will look into both of these. Sheriff went to meeting with the Federal Partnerships. They are looking to get an additional U.S Attorney to help with those cases. They are looking at funding and our fee has been about $300 since 2010 census. This amount may change and that resource is available. “eee nO REE ROIS ERI BA BOES ASTD AP I AT cS RTL ATI TT aT EE NCL TIEN NET STEELE SEES SEE BE TT EIN GS HTT OS CE TI I IO AY TLIO NOEL ELE LES IOI Commissioner Minutes 11-10-2025 Page 3 The canine project is coming along well. He mentioned that he has received pledges to go toward this. Nutrien has pledged $5000, Degerstom has pledged $5000, and Simplot has pledged $7500. He is waiting to hear on a few more. Sheriff shared that their building has an issue. The radio tower is behind the jail and the wires are going into the ground through a pipe and then into the jail. The pipe is filling up with water. They have been working with Eric to see how to pump that out and then next spring get this fixed. He is working with Doug on a code of requirement for a tow list. Sheriff is working with Doug and the City Chief of Police to make sure it is fair for everyone as well. Chief Deputy Roper may need to extend his vacation as well. Commissioner Somsen made a motion to extend Chief Deputy Roper’s vacation to be used to March 1, 2026. Commissioner McCullough seconded the motion. Motion passed. Jill Stoor, Clerk: Jill needed to canvass the November 4 2025 Election. She shared that the election went well. She felt 41% overall was a great percentage for an odd year election. Grace was a little low on numbers having 32% for Grace 1 registered voters participating and 23% for Grace 2. Soda was a high 40% and Bancroft was at 50%. The new e-poll books were a hit and the poll workers really liked them. North Gem supplemental levy passed with 68%; all 3 cemetery levies passed with high numbers. Jill mentioned that we had a high number of absentees as well with 107 absentee votes for just Soda Springs. Commissioner Somsen made a motion to certify the votes for the November 4" 2025 Election. Commissioner McCullough seconded the motion. Motion passed. Doug Wood, Prosecutor: Doug shared that Bear Lake County's prosecutor has been recalled. Doug was asked to help in Bear Lake until they have someone to fill that position. Doug asked if the Board was ok with him helping out. The Board was in favor of having him help Bear Lake County. Sheriff brought up the Federal Prosecution. Doug is working on a case right now. He mentioned that local law enforcements are very active. Jill Stoor, Clerk: Jill mentioned that the easement agreement has been revised and sent back already. Commissioner Somsen made a motion to approve the wording for the easement agreement with property owners and Caribou County for the 8-Mile bridge project. Commissioner McCullough seconded the motion. Motion passed. 2 names were presented for Certificates of Residency for approval. a Commissioner Minutes 11-10-2025 Page 4 e Commissioner McCullough made a motion to accept the Certificates of Residency for the 2 names presented on 11/10/2025. Commissioner Somsen seconded the motion. Motion passed. e Jill made mention that the county has received a Notice of Public Hearing for Grace on November 13, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall. This is a Zoning Map Amendment Change and is near the fair grounds. e She shared that she has copies of 2 letters about keeping the road open on Bridge Creek. These letters were from Paul and Shelley Johnson and Matt Howe. Commissioner Somsen mentioned that he texted them with information about the decision made last meeting. e Bonuses are done and they will go out with this next check. e Jill and Tisha are working through issues with W2's. President Trump passed a law concerning overtime/exemption. With the Government shutdown they have not been able to get answers concerning this. She wanted to make the board aware of the issue. e The 2026 holiday calendar was discussed. Jill is asking for changes as soon as possible. The floating holiday was an issue of discussion. Adding an accrual line item could be an option. e Commissioner Somsen made a motion to accept the holiday schedule for 2026 as presented. Commissioner McCullough seconded the motion. Motion passed. e Bannock County has a Youth Development Center ribbon cutting ceremony on November 19 at 3:00 p.m. which is the same day as the County Officials Institute meeting, e County Officials Institute Meeting is on November 19 in Oneida County with the Fifth Districted Elected officials meeting being held during lunch. e Jill talked with Commissioner Mathews about the next Commissioner meeting on the 24". It was decided to cancel that meeting. e The Republican Committee meeting is today at noon. e The Event Center Open House is scheduled for December 4" 4:00-6:00 p.m. and Jill wanted to finalize a few things for that. Commissioner Somsen was going to check on audio equipment and Tracy Davis from Small Town Rukus will help by being the DJ. It was suggested to get Serendipity to sing the National Anthem. Jill will get the ribbon and scissors. Dancing was a discussion and food as well. Rowdy will check with Jason Smith to do meat. Commissioner Mathews will speak and welcome. Agenda needs to be finalized. Rowdy will also check on side dishes. We will need servers, and a suggestion to have a band. It was suggested to plan on 400 people e Schedulers and cleaning for the Event Center were also discussed. Jill will advertise this part-time scheduler position. e Commissioner Somsen mentioned that the ROKU is not working on the monitors in the Commissioner room but the Apple TV is? Jill will let TJ know about this on Tuesday. ao acm RS PET EEE NE TS A TI SOE SAE NEP A SS SS DT SET TO MEE AR EAI AR NTIS ATTN TTI IY OE TCD LE ET EE TE ELE LEC TE OTE LL LIN SLE LETT ITE EDEL ELIE TEL LOE, Commissioner Minutes 11-10-2025 Page 5 Other: e Commissioner Somsen made a motion to amend the agenda by adding an Executive Session I.C. 74-206 (b) to Kevin McLain’s time and to take off Dwight Lloyd, Helen Barker and Andrea Gumm. Commissioner McCullough seconded the motion. Motion passed. e Commissioner Somsen made a motion to approve the agenda as presented, the minutes of 10/27/2025 as presented, the claims approval report in the amount of $717,395.62 for 11-07-2025 and the payroll claims in the amount of $227,039.83 for 10/29/2025. Commissioner McCullough seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. e The meeting adjourned at 11:23 a.m. The Caribou County Board of Commissioners will meet again on December 8, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. for the next regular scheduled meeting. Signed: Mark Mathews, Commissioner Chair Attested: Jill Stoor, Clerk Sor Commissioner Minutes 11-10-2025 Page 6