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minutes meeting date 2026-08-05 · fetched 2026-09-09 · 9079 characters · official file · plain text
POWER COUNTY COMMISSION Page 1 of 3 SPECIAL SESSION MINUTES Wednesday, August 5, 2026 POWER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Meeting Minutes Commission Chambers 543 Bannock Ave. American Falls, ID 83211 www.powercounty.gov Wednesday, August 5, 2026, 9:00 a.m. I. CALL TO ORDER The Board of County Commissioners met in special session Wednesday, August 5, 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 III. AGENDA A. NOTICES/REPORTS 1. Building & Grounds: A meeting was held with the EPA, DEQ, Shippo, and the Preservation Society to reach a tentative agreement regarding the annex project. The agreement requires a Historic Structures Report on the courthouse, with mitigation efforts directed toward preserving the building. The Preservation Society and Museum Board will have input throughout the process. A 3D model or replica will also be created for a historical display at the museum, and a commemorative plaque will be placed on the new building. The project will proceed through the Brownfield process, with a target of completing the demolition in October or November, before snowfall. The EPA will cover the cost of the Corps of Engineers survey. If the county does not make sufficient progress, the EPA may condemn the building at the county’s expense. The MOU provides a five-year period for completing its terms and will expire if the requirements are not fulfilled within that timeframe. Granite Peak will assist with preparing the RFP. Biddings may begin concurrently; however, demolition cannot occur until the MOUs are signed. There will also be a meeting with the Museum Board to identify someone to create the 3D model, with a 3D printer from the high school or a donor being considered. The agreement will be sent to legal for review before being placed on a future agenda. Clerk Sprague provided a brief update regarding the Public Defender's office regarding their temporary setup in the county building. To bridge the gap while awaiting a three-month fiber POWER COUNTY COMMISSION Page 2 of 3 SPECIAL SESSION MINUTES Wednesday, August 5, 2026 installation, a technician from Mountain Home will install a temporary Wi-Fi setup for $250. Although the ADA's office noted that costs should ideally not be pushed to the county, this was approved as a practical necessity and the expense will be processed through claims. Additionally, since the Public Defender's office is not providing furniture, Maintenance Director Taylor will set up Mr. Morrissey’s previous desk for his assistant. Finally, discussions regarding a longer-term lease are ongoing, and a cost spreadsheet has been shared with their representative, who responded positively. 2. Personnel: No action was taken on this item with further discussions scheduled for the next meeting. 3. Building Administration Update: Discussion was held regarding the creation of a new full-time position within Buildings and Grounds to provide support for the fairgrounds, county weed program, and other county maintenance needs. The position is intended to provide greater flexibility in addressing seasonal and ongoing responsibilities throughout the county, with oversight through the Buildings and Grounds department. The Commissioners discussed the current level of fairgrounds maintenance and agreed that additional staffing would provide needed support. The position would serve a variety of county functions as needed, including fairgrounds maintenance, weed management, snow removal, election support, boat dock assistance, and other general duties. Funding would come from existing budget resources. A job description will be developed outlining the position’s responsibilities and qualifications, and the position will be posted once the necessary administrative processes are completed. The Commissioners emphasized the importance of finding an appropriate candidate rather than rushing the hiring process, with final budget adjustments to be addressed as part of the ongoing budget process. No action was taken on this item. 4. Commissioner’s Business as Needed: No update or discussion was held for this item. B. MOTIONS: 1. Agenda: A motion to approve the special agenda for Wednesday, August 5, 2026, was presented by Commissioner Povey with a second by Commissioner Krein. Following audible call of the Board, motion unanimously carried. 2. Budget Workshop: Commissioner Krein presented a review of proposed budget adjustments aimed at identifying areas where expenditures could be reduced or better aligned with historical spending. The review covered several departments and included adjustments to various operating and administrative expenses. Commissioner Krein noted that the proposed changes were based on past spending and were intended to create savings while maintaining flexibility for essential needs. The Commissioners discussed the importance of balancing cost savings with the need to provide departments with adequate flexibility to address unexpected expenses. They also emphasized the value of involving department heads in the process and allowing time for discussion and feedback before changes are finalized. The Commissioners agreed that the proposed adjustments and related policies should be considered as part of the broader budget process. Further discussion with department heads and clarification of procedures, particularly regarding contingency funds, will help establish a consistent approach moving forward. Overall, the review identified meaningful opportunities for savings while recognizing the need for a thoughtful and collaborative implementation process. The Commission reviewed and voted to approve publication of the proposed budget for the public hearing. Clerk Sprague presented the proposed budget total of $19,172,479.16, representing an increase from the current year's budget. A significant portion of the increase was attributed to the inclusion of Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funds, which are now fully POWER COUNTY COMMISSION Page 3 of 3 SPECIAL SESSION MINUTES Wednesday, August 5, 2026 reflected in the budget for the first time. Clerk Sprague confirmed final certification of property values by the State is still pending. The Commission agreed to meet on Friday to review the line- by-line budget before the public hearing, allowing time for corrections and final adjustments. It was noted that changes can still be made downward after publication but the ceiling cannot be raised. Following discussion, a motion to approve Clerk Sprague to publish the FY27 budget at $19,172,479.16, was presented by Commissioner Povey with a second by Commissioner Krein. Following audible call of the board the motion unanimously carried. Prosecuting Attorney, Brock Bischoff presented a staffing and budget proposal for the Prosecutor’s Office, outlining the office’s current needs and challenges. The proposal focused on strengthening administrative support, expanding existing staff responsibilities, and establishing a deputy prosecutor position to better support the office’s workload and ongoing operations. The discussion also addressed challenges related to staffing, compensation, and the use of existing budget lines. Prosecutor Bischoff noted that current resources and compensation levels can make recruitment and retention difficult and emphasized the importance of maintaining adequate staffing for the office. The Commissioners discussed potential adjustments within the existing budget to help address these needs. The Commissioners expressed support for making the Prosecutor’s Office a priority during the current budget cycle and agreed that additional staffing and administrative support should be incorporated into the budget. The proposed staffing changes, compensation adjustments, and related budget transfers were discussed as part of an effort to provide the office with the resources needed to operate effectively. Further budget adjustments and implementation details will be addressed as the budget process moves forward. V. ASSESSMENTS/CONCLUSIONS: 1. Next Meeting: The next regular session for the board to meet is slated for August 10, 2026. 2. 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 12:12 pm. The foregoing minutes were approved by the Board of County Commissioners during the Regular Board Meeting held August 24, 2026. ATTEST: MARIANO VILLA, Deputy Clerk __________________________________ COMMISSIONER FEHRINGER, Chairman Mariano Villa Jr.
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