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minutes meeting date 2026-10-13 · fetched 2026-11-01 · 16845 characters · official file · plain text
POWER COUNTY COMMISSION
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REGULAR SESSION MINUTES
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
POWER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Meeting Minutes
Commission Chambers
543 Bannock Ave.
American Falls, ID 83211
www.powercounty.gov
Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 9:00 a.m.
I. CALL TO ORDER
The Board of County Commissioners met in regular session Tuesday, October 13, 2026, and
called the meeting to order at the hour of 9:00 am, in the Commission Chambers of the Power
County Courthouse.
II. COMMISSIONERS/STAFF
PRESENT:
Commissioner Chris Fehringer, Chair
Commissioner Kryst Krein
Commissioner Jason Povey
ABSENT:
None
STAFF:
Sharee Sprague, Clerk
Mariano Villa, Deputy Clerk
Brock Bischoff, Legal Counsel
OTHER PARTIES PRESENT:
Jeff Rankin
Kim Piper
Deanna Curry
Chet Taylor
Ryan Grayson
Laura Porath
Jacob Reiss
Jacob Taylor
Justin Huse
Elizabeth McCormack
Karlyn Soriano
Mark Blanscett
Christin Hileman
Krystal Denny
Emily (Proximity)
III. AGENDA
A. NOTICES/REPORTS
9:00 am
Public Comment: No public comment was given.
9:02 am
&
12:53 pm
Board Updates: The following board updates were given:
Fair board (Commissioner Fehringer):
•
Fair Board & Job Description: Commissioner Fehringer provided job descriptions
to Fair Board members to review and highlight relevant duties; setting a
starting wage is a key priority.
•
Livestock Barn Spray Insulation ($30,000 Total): Required to fix severe
POWER COUNTY COMMISSION
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REGULAR SESSION MINUTES
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
condensation causing water buildup and potential structural damage.
Funding split: $10,000 from the Fair Board, with the Livestock Committee
requesting the remaining share from PILT funds. This will be discussed further
during the next meeting.
Waterways (Commissioner Krein):
•
Commissioner Krein states that he spoke with Waterways about the
installation of a new camera.
No action was taken.
9:05 am
Elected Officials/Department Head Meeting: The following updates were provided by
Elected officials/department heads;
(Director Ryan Grayson - Probation)
•
No court last week, slow week; building functioning well; drug testing and drug
court group meeting held in open space
(Clerk Sprague - Election/Clerk-related official)
•
Early voting moving to new location tomorrow; budget corrections and
payments from PILT coming next meeting.
(Director Jeff Rankin – Landfill/Solid Waste)
•
Free yard waste day October 24th; secured load ordinance discussion — current
ordinance conflicts with state law and is unenforceable.
(Building Administrator Kim Piper – Planning/Zoning)
•
Zoning board very busy; requesting commissioners take final approval authority
on conditional use permits (solar, wind, batteries, etc.), requiring ordinance
change.
(Maintenance Director Chet Taylor – Facilities)
•
Leak at sheriff's office near server room; recommend getting a bid and hiring
someone to fix, then pursue contractor
•
Prosecutor's office cleaned out; Discussion covered the legal requirement for
public auction or sealed bid process before accepting private offers. Public
Surplus platform was identified as the preferred method.
•
Museum building items – Discussion covered liability concerns regarding moving
items out of old museum building, it was agreed to ask appropriate agencies for
their direction
(Prosecutor Bischoff)
•
Agenda transparency concerns; building security/IT leak concerns; office has a
gas smell likely from dry drain traps in basement
(Treasurer Curry – Treasurer)
•
Landfill fees delayed due to missing city files; they have been located and will
have certifications presented on the October 26th meeting
(Assessor Porath – Assessor
•
Landfill fees delayed due to missing city files; now certified for October 28th tax
bill 212223
•
Contentious public interactions; security called a couple of times
•
Holiday schedule discussion: Day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve half-day
POWER COUNTY COMMISSION
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REGULAR SESSION MINUTES
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
(noon) requested
(Jacob Reiss – IT)
•
File consolidation to two servers complete 27
•
Mobile device management solution rolled out 28
•
M2 support agreement started October 1st — basic/time-and-material only;
departments must contact IT first to avoid $140/hr on-site charges 2930
•
Door lock hardware quote: $900 for Deanna's office and election rooms 31
Commissioner Krein
•
Legislative session starting; encouraged departments to come together and send
letters to local legislators on impactful issues
•
Updated the group on developer town halls regarding data centers
Commissioner Povey
•
Comp time and vacation accrual concerns raised and encouraged group to have
employees use their vacation and comp time to avoid burnout ; policy review
needed
•
Updated the group on getting more Christmas lights this year
Commissioner Fehringer
•
Commissioner Fehringer thanked the group for all their hard work and
encouraged them to reach out to the Commission if they have any questions
10:16 am
Assessor’s Office Update: Assessor Porath provided the following updates;
•
Opening Hours: Requested opening at 8:00 AM using existing flex schedules
without budget impact; decision deferred until Sheriff Kendall is available.
•
Staffing & Activity: High workload—including steady lunch crowds and
extended H2A worker activity—prompted hiring new bilingual employee Kelsey
(shared two days with Kim's office), with potential need for a full-time position.
•
CWP & DMV Operations: Highlighted security concerns over emailing CWP
(concealed weapons permit) applications due to personal identifiable
information and customer friction with two-office visits. Staff are building fleet
renewal spreadsheets to offset confusion from eliminated registration stickers,
while hoping to avoid adopting a DMV kiosk despite being on the waitlist.
No action was taken.
10:34 am
Proximity: Emily (Proximity) presented a community engagement platform featuring
resident contact management, geofenced email/SMS outreach, surveys, event/task
tracking, and AI-driven sentiment monitoring across social media and news.
•
Key Interest: Commissioners highlighted the AI smart messaging engine—which
detects trending issues and drafts responses—as the most valuable feature to
address questions from the community.
•
Next Steps: Emily will submit a proposal covering features, pricing, user seats,
and API details for review on October 26.
No action was taken.
11:01 am
Granite Peak and Annex Discussion: Granite Peak and SICOG presented the finalized
SHPO/EPA MOA and reviewed bid specifications for asbestos abatement, demolition,
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REGULAR SESSION MINUTES
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
and lead-contaminated soil remediation. project is estimated to take three weeks, with
bids open for 30 days. Discussion included an 85% minimum performance bond for
contracts over $50,000, prevailing wage and EPA DBE requirements, city demolition
permitting, soil compaction, disposal cost savings, and work-hour restrictions to avoid
school traffic. Museum materials will be disposed of as asbestos waste. Air clearance is
required before demolition, and change orders require prior approval. RFP for
demolition targeted for release by the October 26 meeting. No action was taken on this
item.
No action was taken.
11:46 am
Landfill Update: Commissioners and Landfill Director Jeff Rankin discussed acceptable
landfill materials and disposal cost reductions. Clean, segregated concrete, wood, and
potentially brick may be accepted at the county landfill. Light fixtures, furniture, interior
fixtures, and materials not confirmed asbestos-free require further review. All museum
contents will be treated as asbestos waste and transported to Pocatello. Commissioners
supported exploring available disposal alternatives to reduce project expenses. On a
separate matter, Director Rankin submitted 3 claims that needed to be paid out of the
FY26 budget.
Building & Grounds: No action or update was taken on this item.
12:53 pm
Public Surplus: Deputy Clerk Mariano Villa states that they are just waiting for a response
from a representative from Idaho Public Surplus to complete the account set up.
Commissioner’s Business As Needed: No discussion was held for this item.
9:01 am
Generator Discussion: Commissioner Fehringer states that the highway district
confirmed willingness to pay the additional $6,700 for a new generator (30 kW unit, in
stock) if the county covers subscription costs. The generator was discussed in the context
of communication needs, particularly given recent connectivity issues. No action was
taken on this matter.
B. MOTIONS:
9:00 am
Agenda: A motion to approve the agenda for Tuesday, October 13, 2026, was presented
by Commissioner Povey with a second by Commissioner Krein. Following audible call of
the Board, motion unanimously carried.
12:01 pm
Request for Proposals – Mosquito Abatement Request for Proposal: Commissioners
reviewed proposals from VDCI, Mountain Vector Control LLC and Teton Valley Pest
Control. Ultimately the Commissioner’s narrowed it down to VDCI and Mountain vector
control. Both vendors offer flat monthly billing, with additional services, including drone
use, requiring prior approval. Discussion covered GIS mapping and reporting, treatment
thresholds, and monitoring approximately 16–18 mosquito traps throughout the county.
Treatment thresholds are one larva per dip, 15 Culex mosquitoes per trap, and 20
nuisance mosquitoes per trap. Samples are tested the same night, with written reports
provided the following day. Commissioners also noted that House Bill 960, which sought
to eliminate county mosquito abatement programs, was defeated. The Idaho Mosquito
and Vector Control Association is pursuing legislative advocacy to protect these
programs. Following discussion, a motion to approve the Mountain Vector Control RFP
for Mosquito Abatement services was made by Commissioner Krein with a second by
Commissioner Fehringer. Following audible call of the Board, Commissioners Krein and
Commissioner Fehringer voted in favor of the motion and Commissioner Povey voted
against the motion. Motion carried by majority vote.
POWER COUNTY COMMISSION
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REGULAR SESSION MINUTES
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
11:51 am
Consenting Agenda: A motion to approve the consenting agenda, with the addition of 2
additional claims for Snake River Dispos-All ($6,450.15 & $6,765.20) and 1 additional
claim for Paragon Consulting ($29,659.00) with demand checks authorized for those
claims, a correction on the minutes to correct a name that was incorrectly included, the
disclaimer by Commissioner Povey to be attached to the October 5, 2026, minutes, and
to hold off on the search and rescue claim pending further discussion, was presented by
Commissioner Povey with a second by Commissioner Krein. Following audible call of the
board, the motion unanimously carried.
The following items were approved under the consenting agenda;
Claims: The following claim reports were approved by the Commissioner’s;
FUND
Paid
0001 GENERAL FUND (CURRENT EXPENSE)
$ 25,173.03
0003 FAIR BOARD
$ 1.37
0004 POWER COUNTY AMBULANCE DIST.
$ 75,702.79
0006 DISTRICT COURT
$ 830.34
0008 JUSTICE FUND
$ 19,401.57
0009 DRUG COURT
$ 1,666.35
0010 ENHANCED 911 SERVICES
$ 246.70
0011 HEALTH DISTRICT
$ 338.75
0015 ELECTIONS
$ 90.73
0020 REVALUATION
$ 863.61
0023 SOLID WASTE (LANDFILL)
$ 103,265.42
0024 TORT
$ 1,500.00
0027 WEEDS
$ 20,130.89
0038 WATERWAYS
$ 2,992.32
0039 MUSEUM
$ 387.90
0050 PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES
$ 8,600.00
Total Amount Paid
$ 261,191.77
Approval of Past Meeting Minutes: Minutes for meetings held on 9/28/26 and
10/05/2026 were approved.
Treasurer’s Update: No update or action was taken on this item.
12:34 pm
–
12:50 pm
Personnel: Clerk Sharee Sprague presented a salary adjustment spreadsheet reflecting a
4% across-the-board increase for all full-time employees and designated part-time
positions. Clerk Sprague states that court assistance officer Kaybree Ozborne was
excluded from the adjustment list and handled separately through a salary approval form
due to additional training and responsibilities. PRN and pay-per-call ambulance positions
were also excluded. Rounding discrepancies and two budget shortfalls resulting from
mid-year raises not included in the original budget requests were identified, with the
shortfalls to be addressed through budget correction or resolution. Prosecutor Bischoff
recommended to not vote on this item due to the lack of specific agenda notice for the
salary adjustment items and recommended greater specificity in future agendas to
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REGULAR SESSION MINUTES
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
ensure compliance with open meeting law. The Commissioners agreed that it could have
been done better, but proceeded with the vote, noting that the 4% salary increase had
been previously approved and personnel matters being addressed under the personnel
action item on the agenda. Following discussion, a motion to approve the salary
adjustments submitted by Clerk Sprague, was presented by Commissioner Fehringer with
a second by Commissioner Krein. Following audible call of the board, the motion
unanimously carried.
The following personnel salary approval forms were submitted for approval;
•
The Power County Transfer Station submitted a merit-based raise and requests
Rodney Ralphs receive $14,788.80 annually or $15.80 hourly as compensation
for completion of assigned job duties.
•
The Power County Transfer Station submitted a merit-based raise and requests
Alexander Gonzales receive $10,358.40 annually or $16.60 hourly as
compensation for completion of assigned job duties.
•
The Power County Clerk’s Office submitted a merit-based raise and requests
Kaybree Ozburn receive $19,266.00 annually or $19.00 hourly as compensation
for completion of assigned job duties.
•
The Power County Clerk’s Office submitted a merit-based raise and requests
Dulce Gonzalez receive $15,210 annually or $15.00 hourly as compensation for
completion of assigned job duties.
•
The Power County Assessors office/ Building Administrators office hired Kelsy
Gamez Deputy Assessor at $45,000.00 for Drivers License overflow & Bldg/P&Z
shared employee
•
The Power County Prosecutors Office submitted a merit-based raise and
requests Jessica Hickman receive $58,600.00 annually or $32.20 hourly as
compensation for completion of assigned job duties.
Following discussion, a motion to approve the personnel salary approval forms as
submitted, including retroactive approval of Jessica Hickman’s salary rate effective
October 3rd, was presented by Commissioner Povey with a second by Commissioner
Krein. Following audible call of the board the motion unanimously carried.
C. POINTS OF ORDER:
10:07 am
Resolution 2026-13 Ambulance Fee’s: Chairman Fehringer opened the meeting for
Resolution 2026-13 to adopt the Resolution for Ambulance Fee’s at 10:07 a am and roll
call of attendance is as follows;
•
Commissioner Fehringer
•
Commissioner Povey
•
Commissioner Krein
•
Prosecutor Brock Bischoff
•
Clerk Sharee Sprague
•
Deputy Clerk Mariano Villa
•
Assessor Laura Porath
Following discussion, the resolution was tabled to the next meeting so Chief Chandler
could clarify the intent of the response fee language. No action was taken.
POWER COUNTY COMMISSION
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Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Meeting closed at 10:14 am
Sheriff’s Office Update: Sheriff Kendall was unable to attend due to pressing matters.
The item was tabled until the next meeting.
V. ASSESSMENTS/CONCLUSIONS:
Next Meeting: The next regular session for the board to meet is slated for October 26,
2026.
Adjourn: Having no further business to come before the Board, a motion to adjourn
was presented by Commissioner Povey with a second by Commissioner Krein.
Following audible call of the Board, motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at
12:55 pm.
The foregoing minutes were approved by the Board of County Commissioners during the Regular
Board Meeting held October 26, 2026.
ATTEST:
MARIANO VILLA, Deputy Clerk
__________________________________
COMMISSIONER POVEY
Mariano Villa Jr.
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