Bannock County | minutes | meeting 2026-03-24 | March 24, 2026, Commissioner Meetings source: https://www.bannockcounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260324-Minutes-Final.pdf March 24, 2026, BOCC Minutes Meeting Details Date of Meeting: Tuesday, March 24, 2026 Commissioners present: Ernie Moser, Jeff Hough, and Ken Bullock Clerk of the Board: Jason C. Dixon Absent Board Members: Staff present: Deputy Clerk Nancy Allen, Comptroller Kristi Klauser, PIO Emma Iannacone, HR Director Matthew Phillips, and Prosecutor Ian Johnson Agenda Details AGENDA Regular Business meeting (action item) Agenda: 1 • Indigent Business may require an Executive Session pursuant to Idaho Code §74-206(1)(d) to consider records exempt from public disclosure (action item) 2 BOARD OF AMBULANCE DISTRICT • Ryan O’Hearn, City of Pocatello Fire Chief, to (1) discuss a capital purchase of a new ambulance and, (2) potentially discuss filling positions in South County (requested 10 minutes) (action item) 3 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS • Proclamations: Strengthening Families Month and Week of the Young Child (action item) 4 • Danae Zepeda, SICOG, regarding approval to submit two grants for fuel mitigation for Dempsey Creek and Crystal Springs with the Idaho Department of Lands (requested 15 minutes) (action item) 5 • Scott Crowther, Event Center/Wellness Complex, requesting approval of and signature on (1) Rental Agreement with Load ‘em in the Dark (2) grant application for Event Center AED, and (3) approval to move forward with YDC picnic area (requested 10 minutes) (action item) 6 • Jeff Hough, Commission, discussion about nuclear survey (requested 5 minutes) (action item) 7 • Approval of the Bannock County Board of Commissioners Quarterly Jail Inspection report executed on March 19, 2026 per Idaho Code §20-622 (action item) 8 • Executive Session under Idaho Code §§74-206(1)(e) to consider preliminary negotiations involving matters of trade or commerce in which the governing body is in competition with governing bodies in other states or nations and/or (f) to communicate with legal counsel for the public agency to discuss the legal ramifications of and legal options for pending litigation, or controversies not yet being litigated but imminently likely to be litigated. The mere presence of legal counsel at an executive session does not satisfy this requirement with potential action following adjournment of Executive Session (requested 10 minutes) (action item) 9 SIGNATURE ONLY (action items): Renewal of BLM five-year Law Enforcement Contract 10 CONSENT AGENDA (action items): • Manual Checks • Alcohol Licenses and Catering Permits • Certificate of Residency Approval • Personnel Actions with potential Executive Session under Idaho Code §§ 74-206(1)(a),(b)&(d) for personnel actions or personnel records exempt from disclosure with potential action following adjournment of Executive Session • Mileage and Travel Approvals MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF BANNOCK COUNTY COMMISSIONERS March 24, 2026, BOCC Minutes • Minutes: 11 Public Hearing for Vacation of Easement – Burrup (action item) Meeting Notes 1 9:00 AM Hough called the meeting to order. Community Resources and Advocacy Director Shantal Laulu presented cremation applications for case numbers 20260018, 20260019, and 20260020. Moser moved to approve cases 20260018, 20260019, and 20260020, and Hough suggested to amend the motion to include approving the release of liens for case numbers 20110459 and 20150074, and Instrument No. 21700535. The motion passed. 2 9:02 AM Moser moved to enter into the Ambulance District. The motion passed. Shane Grow, Assistant Chief of Operations, and Dean Bullock, Assistant Chief of Fire Prevention and Safety also appeared. O’Hearn reviewed the capital purchase request for a Chevy Tahoe. Bullock moved to authorize the purchase. The motion passed. 9:06 AM Discussion turned over to personnel for South County. Johnson pointed out potential issues for a vote on the matter due to open meeting process and discussions. Hough relayed this discussion would be on hiring for the Ambulance District as a whole. Moser requested an update. Grow explained they are working on budget numbers to increase staffing by four with the intent to improve service across the whole county. Discussion ensued on timing for those potential hires. Klauser explained it was only budgeted for peak hours. O’Hearn reviewed there are additional funds for cost reporting with PCG that will be more than budgeted. More information will be gathered for the April meeting. 9:13 AM Moser moved to exit the Ambulance District. The motion passed. 3 9:15 AM Tennille Call, Director of Education for United Way, Shantay Bloxham, United Way CEO, and Leslie Foltz, Executive Director of Bannock Youth Foundation appeared. Hough read the Strengthening Families Proclamation. Hough moved to adopt and sign the proclamation. The motion passed. 9:28 AM Hough moved to pass the Week of the Young Child Proclamation. The motion passed. 4 9:14 AM Charity Staggs, SICOG, and Karen Trumbull, Office of Emergency Management, appeared. Staggs reviewed the applications for two fuels reduction projects. Moser moved to approve the submittal of the grant applications. The motion passed. 5 9:20 AM Christopher Freed, Load ‘em in the Dark Cattle Co., also appeared. Crowther explained that Freed has a few events that are put into one contract. The proposed contract terms were reviewed. Hough moved to accept the contract. The motion passed. 9:22 AM Dan Montgomery with the YDC also appeared. Crowther proposed, after meeting with the Portneuf Greenway and YDC, to submit for greenway money for a picnic area near the YDC. Discussion ensued on the project, grant application, and participants. Moser moved to approve going forward with the grant. 9:27 AM Crowther reviewed there have been requests to have AED’s at concerts. There is a grant with a partial match. Bullock moved to authorize the grant application. The motion passed. 6 9:28 AM Hough explained he has been working with the INL to help Bannock County participate in the nuclear world. The INL conducted a heat map survey for the County. The next step is to submit a survey to residents regarding having nuclear business such as a supply chain business or nuclear reactor in the County. Iannacone reviewed no cost methods to distribute the survey. 9:31 AM Assistant Planning Director Tristan Bourquin approached the table. Bourquin relayed the benefit of the public outreach and that participation has increased using the PIO. Post cards were sent out on one project and were beneficial. Discussion ensued on the survey purpose and results, and whether INL should help with the survey. Hough explained this will help prepare the County to apply for a grant through the INL for other things. Moser moved to send out the survey. Discussion on sending results to agenda. The motion passed. 7 9:41 AM Hough moved to approve the jail inspection report. The motion passed. March 24, 2026, BOCC Minutes 8 9:42 AM Bullock moved to enter into executive session under under Idaho Code §§74-206(1)(e) to consider preliminary negotiations and/or (f) to communicate with legal counsel. The motion passed by roll call vote. 9:46 AM Hough moved to exit executive session. The motion passed. 9 9:46 AM Discussion ensued on the contract terms. Bullock moved to approve the BLM contract. The motion passed. 10 9:50 AM Hough moved to approve the consent. The motion passed. 9:51 AM Hough moved to enter executive session under Idaho Code §§ 74-206(1)(a), (b) and (d) for personnel actions or personnel records exempt from disclosure. The motion passed by roll call vote. 10:07 AM Hough moved to exit executive session. The motion passed. 11 10:12 AM Public Works Director Kiel Burmester appeared. Moser moved to open the public hearing. The motion passed. 10:13 AM Mike Fallert, Pocatello, explained he has been working with the Burrups to vacate an easement on their property that was platted 47 years and never used. There are no adjoining properties or splits. There are no opposing interests. The Burrups have not enjoyed full use of that portion of their property. 10:14 AM Moser moved to close public testimony. The motion passed. 10:14 AM Burmester reviewed the vacation request in the Chilton Subdivision. Staff findings, under Idaho Code §§ 50-1306 and 40-203 are that the easement is not situated on land owned by the United States or the State of Idaho nor surrounded by such land, it is not the sole access to public lands, and it has not been used or maintained by public for at least three years in the past 15 years, it was never constructed and at least 20 years have elapsed since any common law dedication. The ACI was also looked at and it does not appear in any future plans at this time. 10:17 AM Bullock moved to vacate the easement for parcels RRBUA000300 and RPRRCHI000600. The motion passed. Action Item Summary ACTION/DIRECTION ASSIGNED TO Applications for cremation assistance were approved for case numbers 20260018, 20260019, and 20260020, along with release of liens for case numbers 20110459 and 20150074, and Instrument No. 21700535. Indigent Purchase of vehicle approved through Board of Ambulance District. Ambulance Proclamations for Strengthening Families Month and Week of the Young Child were approved. Commission Grant applications with the Idaho Department of Lands for fuels reduction projects in Dempsey Creek and Crystal Springs were approved for submission. OEM/Grant Team Grants applications were approved for a picnic area near the YDC and for AEDs. Parks & Rec/Grant Team Load ‘em in the Dark contract approved. Parks & Rec Survey to gauge community input regarding nuclear energy will be sent out by electronic means. Commission Jail inspection report was approved. Sheriff Executive session held to consider preliminary negotiations and to communicate with legal counsel. Clerk Approved Law Enforcement contract with BLM. Sheriff Items in the consent agenda were approved. Clerk/Auditing/Resolution Executive session held to consider personnel matters. Clerk Petition VAC-25-1 requesting to vacate the road easement at the south end of Nelson Lane in the Chilton Subdivision, located on parcels RRBUA000300 and RPRRCHI000600 was granted. Resolution/Planning/ Assessor