Cassia County | minutes | meeting 2026-03-23 | 2026_03_23-bocc-recorded-minutes.pdf source: https://www.cassia.gov/media/Commissioners/Minutes/2026/2026_03_23-bocc-recorded-minutes.pdf Cassia County Board of Commissioners REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Monday, March 23,2026 Cossia County Coutthouse . Commission Chambers 7459 Ove ond Ave . Room 206 . Burley lD 83378 9:00 AM The Cassia County Board of Commissioners met today at the place and time as posted by agenda pursuant to ldaho Code I74-204 for Open Meetings Law. ACTION AGENDA ITEMS 9:03 AM Call to order 1, 2 3 Pledge of Allegiance and prayer 9:04 AM Roll call Roll Call. Present: Leonard M. Beck - Chair, Kent R. Searle - Member, Bob Kunau - Member, Sharene Ahlin - Deputy Clerk (Not voting) 4) 9:05 AM Calendar, meetings, committee reports, and correspondence were reviewed. 5) 9:09 AM Approve payables for 3/23/2O26 9:09 AM Motion and Action: Approve payables in the amount of S3OO,7O7.63 as presented on 3123/2026, Moved by Bob Kunau - Member, Seconded by Kent R. Searle - Member. Motion passed unanimously. 6) 9:10 AM Approval of synopsis for February 2026 9:11 AM Motion and Action: Approve synopsis for February 2026 as presented, Moved by Kent R. Searle - Member, Seconded by Bob Kunau - Member. Motion passed unanimously. 7) 9:11 AM Review and approval ofAlcohol Perm it applications for which there is a transcribable verbatim record of the proceedings as required by ldaho Code 523-1015. a) Wick's Steak Place - Beer, Wine, Liquor 9:14 AM Motion and Action: Approve the Alcohol and Beverage Catering Permit for Wick's Steak Place for an 812812026 even as presented, Moved by Bob Kunau - Member, Seconded by Kent R. Searle - Member. Motion passed unanimously. 8) 9:17 AM Approval of Clerk's Office recommendations regarding junior college Certificates of Residency 9:18 AM Mr. McMurray joined the meeting cAsstA couNw coMMlssloN REGULAR SESSION Monday, March 23, ?.026 l lPage MINUTES 9:17 AM Motion and Action: Approve Clerk's Office recommendations to approve two junior college Certificates of Residency as presented, Moved by Bob Kunau - Member, seconded by Kent R. searle - Member. Motion passed unanimously. 9) 9:18 AM Personnel Matters - Change of Status Requests a) Building and Maintenance - Lourdes M. Chavez-Martinez - Custodian - Voluntary resignation b) CCSO -Justin Merrill - Part time as needed patrol - new hire c) CCSO - Benjamin Frank - Certified Patrol Deputy (County) - transfer d) CCSO - Austin Vance - Patrol Deputy (City) - transfer e) Clerk - Michelle Wallace - Deputy Auditor Level 2 - certification and evaluation 9:20 AM Motion and Action: Approve Change ofStatus Requests as presented, Moved by Bob Kunau - Member, Seconded by Kent R. Searle - Member. Motion passed unanimously. 10) Executive Sessions 9:50 AM Motion and Action: Enter Executive Session pursuant to ldaho Code 5 7 4-206 (1) (b) to consider personnel issues, and ldaho Code 574-206 (1) (d) to consider records that are exempt from public disclosure, Moved by Kent R. Searle - Member, Seconded by Bob Kunau - Member. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 3). Yes: Kent R. Searle - Member, Bob Kunau - Member, Leonard M. Beck - Chair. 10:07 AM Upon exit of Executive Session, the board took the matter under advisement 10:07 AM Motion and Action: Approve recommendations of the Social Services Director regarding indiSent matters, Moved by Bob Kunau - Member, Seconded by Kent R. Searle - Member. Motion passed unanimously 11) 9:23 AM Determine name for new office building a) Various suggestions for a name for the new building were discussed. b) Matter to be placed on the next agenda for further discussion. 12) 9:36 AM Review Animal Damage Control FY2026 letter and activity report a) A report was received from the Animal Damage Control district that detailed their activities for the year b) An accompanying letter expressed appreciation for the county's contribution to support their efforts. 13) 9:40 AM Review and approve Gary Jones Construction invoice 9:42 AM Motion and Action: Approve the payment of S286,301.28 to Gary Jones Construction as presented, Moved by Bob Kunau - Member, Seconded by Kent R. Searle - Member. Motion passed unanimously. 14) 9:43 AM Execute Fourth Amendment to lndependent Contractor Agreement with IHC/CRH for Ambulance Services 9:44 AM Motion and Action: Authorize the chair's signature to the fourth amendment to the independent contract agreement between Cassia County and lntermountain Health Services as presented, Moved by Kent R Searle - Member, Seconded by Bob Kunau - Member. Motion passed unanimously SCHEDULED ACTION AGENDA ITEMS 15) 9:29 AM Consider bids for remodeling to house Juvenile Probation at the MPO building - Prewitt a) There was discussion that the low bid for the remodeling was from Allbright Construction. 2lPage cAssrA couNw coMMrssroN REGUTAR SESSION Monday, March 23,2.026 b) lt was determined that since the bid was so much lower than the other bid that was received that it would be a preferable to include a small contingency to cover any potentially missed items. The Board determined that a S2,000.00 contingency would be appropriate. 9:34 AM Motion and Action: Approve the presented bid in the amount of 54,100.00 to Allbright Construction, and to include an additional amount of 52,000.00 as a contingency for that project, Moved by Bob Kunau - Member, Seconded by Kent R. Searle - Member. Motion passed unanimously. 16) 10:07 AM Discuss water situation and concerns in Cassia County - Jaxon Higgs a) Higgs reviewed a PowerPoint presentation for the Board, noting the extent of the water shortage currently being experienced in the region. b) The possibility of a disaster declaration was discussed. l7l 17:22 AM Consider purchase of two Dodge Durangos and trade in of two vehicles for Sheriff's dept a) SheriffThompson discussed that they would like to purchase to new Dodge Durangos with the cost of each vehicle before trade in allowances is 540,305. b) The Sheriff plans to trade in some older vehicles towards the purchase of new vehicles. c) The trade in vehicles include a 2018 Dodge Ram 2500 for 511,000 and a 2022 Fotd F150 for 525,000. 11:29 AM Motion and Action: Authorize the purchase of two new 2026 Dodge Durangos from Young Automotive as presented, Moved by Kent R. Searle'Member, Seconded by Bob Kunau - Member. Motion passed unanimously. 11:31 AM Motion and Action: Approve the trade in of the 2018 Dod8e Ram pickup on one of the new Durangos with a value of S11,000 as presented, Moved by Kent R. Searle - Member, Seconded by Bob Kunau - Member. Motion passed unanimously. 11:31 AM Motion and Action: Approve the trade in of lhe 2022 Ford pickup for one of the new Durangos with a value of 525,000 as presented, Moved by Bob Kunau - Member, Seconded by Kent R. Searle - Member. Motion passed unanimously. 18) 11:32 AM Sign titles for vehicles beinB traded in 11.:33 AM Motion and Action: Authorize the chair to sign the release of the title for the 2022 Ford F150 as presented, Moved by Kent R. Searle - Member, Seconded by Bob Kunau - Member. Motion passed unanimously 19) 10:30 AM Review and discuss fee increase for special assessments for water districts - Treasurer a) Treasurer Greener reviewed the matter, discussing that the amount being billed for the water charges does not cover the costs incurred by her department. She recommended an increase in the fee. b) lt was discussed that the proposed increase would exceed 5%. A public hearing would need to be scheduled to consider an increase. c) A public hearing was scheduled for 5/4/2026 at 11:15 AM. CASSIA COUNTY COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION Monday, March 23, 2026 3lPage 11:33 AM Motion and Action: Authorize the chair to sign the release of the title for the 2018 Dodge pickup as presented, Moved by Bob Kunau - Member, Seconded by Kent R. Searle - Member. Motion passed unanimously. 2OJ 1.0:57 AM Construction project status report and items for consideration - Gary Jones Construction a) Chad Gill provided an update on the project. b) The underground plumbing placement is currently being set. c) Once that has been completed the electricians will start their rough in, which will be followed by the build ing pad prepa ration. d) Gill discussed that they will need a determination of the changes to the second floor as those changes could affect the amount of steel to be ordered for the bu ild ing. 21) 11:34 AM Reports of USFS and BLM a) 11:34 AM USFS - Kevin Draper i) Concern was expressed regarding the dry conditions and fire danger for the upcoming summer. ii) Casey Johnson will present a fire outlook report to the Board on 6122/2026. b) 11:41 AM BLM - John Elliott i) Elliott also expressed concern for the upcoming summer with dry conditions. He stated that the BLM is bringing additional staff members on to dealwith the potential fire season. ii) Kasey Prestwich, project manager for the Gateway West pro.ject appeared to answer questions and provide an update to the Board. iii) He stated that the BLM is currently focusing on the section E8, which runs from the Hemingway substation south of Boise to the mid-point substation south of Shoshone. He discussed that their focus is currently on the terms and conditions for that segment including mitigation plans, review of cultural resources and preparing historic properties treatment plans. iv) Segment 7, which is located in Cassia County was not noted to be in their program for final design or construction for at least the next five years, possibly longer. 22) t2:06 PM Adjourn 12:06 PM Motion and Action: Ad.journ, Moved by Bob Kunau - Member, Seconded by Kent R. Searle - Member Motion passed una nimously. 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