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Cassia County

2026_07_27 BoCC Recorded Minutes.pdf

minutes meeting date 2026-07-27 · fetched 2026-09-09 · 14881 characters · read by OCR, check numbers against the source · official file · plain text

Cassia County Board of Commissioners
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Monday, July 27, 2026

Cassia County Courthouse = Commission Chambers
1459 Overland Ave = Room 206 = Burley ID 83318

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9:00 AM
The Cassia County Board of Commissioners met today at the place and time as posted by agenda
pursuant to Idaho Code § 74-204 for Open Meetings Law.

ACTION AGENDA ITEMS

1) 9:02 AM Call to order

2) Pledge of Allegiance and prayer

3) 9:06 AM Roll call

Roll Call.

Present: Leonard M. Beck - Chair, Kent R. Searle - Member, Bob Kunau - Member, Sharene Ahlin — Deputy Clerk
(Not voting)

4) 9:06 AM Calendar, meetings, committee reports, and correspondence were reviewed.
5) 9:09 AM Approve payables for 7/27/2026

9:10 AM Motion and Action: Approve payables in the amount of $1,223,413.56 as presented on 7/27/2026,
Moved by Bob Kunau - Member, Seconded by Kent R. Searle - Member. Motion passed unanimously.

6) 9:11 AM Review and approval of Alcohol License applications for which there is a transcribable verbatim

record of the proceedings as required by Idaho Code §23-1015.

a) ElJefazo Mexican Grill - Bottled/canned beer ON premises, Retail wine

b) El Torito Market - Bottled/canned beer ON premises, Bottled/canned beer OFF premises

c) Las Penitas Market & Taqueria - Bottled/canned beer ON premises, Bottled/canned beer OFF premises

d) La Hacienda Mexican Food - Burley Liquor, Draft beer, Bottled/canned beer ON premises,
Bottled/canned beer OFF premises, Retail wine, Wine by the drink

e) Lulu's - Draft beer, Bottled/canned beer ON premises, Bottled/canned beer OFF premises, Retail wine,
Wine by the drink

f) Maglaughlin Gas and Grocery - Bottled/canned beer OFF premises

g) Rock City Mercantile - Bottled/canned beer ON premises, Bottled/canned beer OFF premises, Retail
wine, Wine by the drink

h) Shakers - Declo liquor, Draft beer, Bottled/canned beer ON premises, Retail wine, Wine by the drink

i) Smith's #123 - Bottled/canned beer OFF premises, Retail wine

9:19 AM Motion and Action: Approve the nine Alcohol License applications as presented, Moved by Bob Kunau
- Member, Seconded by Kent R. Searle - Member. Motion passed unanimously.

CASSIA COUNTY COMMISSION

REGULAR SESSION Instrument # 2026003184
Monday, July 27, 2026 BURLEY, CASSIA, IDAHO
8-19-2026 08:47:31 AM No. of Pages: 8

Recorded for : CASSIA COUNTY Co!
Lipace joseas cnn MMISSIONERS

J Fee: 0.00
Ex-Officio Recorder Deputy ZI
Index to: COMMISSIONERS MINUTES

9:47 AM Review and approval of Alcohol License applications for which there is a transcribable verbatim
record of the proceedings as required by Idaho Code §23-1015.

j) Cassia County Fair Board & Rodeo - Draft beer, Bottled/canned beer ON premises, Wine by the drink
k) Hansen's Hub - Bottled/canned beer OFF premises

1) Nara Ramen and Sushi Bar - Draft beer, Bottled/canned beer ON premises, Wine by the drink

9:49 AM Motion and Action: Approve the three Alcohol License applications as presented, Moved by Bob Kunau
~ Member, Seconded by Kent R. Searle - Member. Motion passed unanimously.

9:25 AM Mr. McMurray joined the meeting.
7) 9:25 AM Personnel Matters - Change of Status Requests
a) CCSO — Natalia Ortega — Records and Community Service Officer — new hire
b) CCSO—Lendon Moss — Detective 3" Class Investigations — transfer
c) CCSO ~Joseph Knight - Senior Patrol Deputy (County) — transfer
d) CCSO -— Ethan Justice — Corporal Patrol Deputy (County) — transfer
e) MCCJC —- Carmen Fuentes — Detention Deputy — voluntary resignation

9:27 AM Motion and Action: Approve Change of Status Requests as presented, Moved by Kent R. Searle -
Member, Seconded by Bob Kunau - Member. Motion passed unanimously.

8) Executive Sessions

10:26 AM Motion and Action: Enter Executive Session pursuant to Idaho Code § 74-206 (1) (b) to consider
personnel issues, and Idaho Code § 74-206 (1) (f) to communicate with legal counsel regarding
pending/imminently-likely litigation, 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.

10:57 AM Upon exit of Executive Session, the board took the matter under advisement.

9) 9:40 AM Consider invoice from Koyle’s Classic Construction for snow groomer shed concrete slab

9:41 AM Motion and Action: Approve the invoice from Koyle’s Classic Construction in the amount of $24,108.55
for the concrete slab for the snow groomer shed as presented, Moved by Bob Kunau - Member, Seconded by
Kent R. Searle - Member. Motion passed unanimously.

10) 10:18 AM Review and execute Cassia County Fair Agreement with City of Burley

10:19 AM Motion and Action: Review and accept the Cassia County Fair agreement as presented, Moved by
Kent R. Searle - Member, Seconded by Bob Kunau - Member. Motion passed unanimously.

11) 10:20 AM Approve ESRI renewal quotation for Zoning and Building Office

CASSIA COUNTY COMMISSION
REGULAR SESSION
Monday, July 27, 2026

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10:20 AM Motion and Action: Approve the ESRI renewal quotation for the Zoning and Building Office as
presented, Moved by Kent R. Searle - Member, Seconded by Bob Kunau - Member. Motion passed unanimously.

12) 10:22 AM Approve new ESRI license for 911 for the new Flex system

10:22 AM Motion and Action: Approve the purchase of the new ESRI license for 911 in the amount of $2,075.00
as presented, Moved by Kent R. Searle - Member, Seconded by Bob Kunau - Member. Motion passed
unanimously.

13) 10:25 AM Approve and execute letter to MJ Fisher regarding Cassia County Extension Educator opening

10:25 AM Motion and Action: Approve the chair to sign the letter to MJ Fisher regarding the posting of the open
educator position in the Extension Office as presented, Moved by Kent R. Searle - Member, Seconded by Bob
Kunau - Member. Motion passed unanimously.

SCHEDULED ACTION AGENDA ITEMS
14) 9:30 AM Board of Equalization - Accept abstract of annual assessed property tax roll
a) Angie Nava from the Assessor’s Office reviewed the annual roll abstract reports for the Board.
b) The net real and personal property value for the annual assessment roll was noted to be
$4,006,075,650. New construction values were noted to be $155,776,520.

9:40 AM Motion and Action: Accept the abstract as presented in the form PMB106 as presented, Moved by
Kent R. Searle - Member, Seconded by Bob Kunau - Member. Motion passed unanimously.

15) 9:51 AM Department Head Reports Including Budgetary Updates
a) Reports were received from: Deputy Assessor Angie Nava, Undersheriff Kevin Horak, Extension Educator
Grace Wittman, I.T. Director Ean Pigford, Building and Zoning Administrator Kerry McMurray, Chief
Deputy Clerk Theresa Forthun, Treasurer Laura Greener, and Coroner Craig Rinehart.
b) General matters were reported. Items of note included:

i) LT. Director Ean Pigford stated that the migration to Microsoft Office 365 is nearly completed. He
noted that the time card related emails to supervisors are currently not functioning.

ii) Grace Wittman advised the Board that the Extension Office will be moving to the Fairgrounds as of
8/12/2026, and will plan to move back to the regular offices on 8/24/2026.

iii) Chief Deputy Clerk Theresa Forthun noted that the translator costs continue to run over what had
been budgeted. She also requested that all department heads attend to any remaining time cards to
be processed.

iv) Treasurer Laura Greener reviewed the monthly reports and reported total interest for the month of
June in the amount of $102,812.19.

16) 11:22 AM Sign final plat on Cottonwood Acres Subdivision
a) Mr. McMurray discussed that the commissioners would have to ensure is that the installation of the
improvements and repairs are guaranteed. He noted that they have received a warranty bond in the
amount of $245,146.40 which represents 50% of the cost of infrastructure; noting that the bond is in an
appropriate amount. The roads have been installed, the electrical conduit has been installed and they

CASSIA COUNTY COMMISSION
REGULAR SESSION
Monday, July 27, 2026

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are now waiting for Raft River Electric to pull the wires. The irrigation structures are installed. It was
clarified that the roads are the interior roads of the subdivision, which are proposed to be private roads.

b) McMurray discussed that they had received a notification of a boundary line dispute on the west side of
the property between Mortensen and Perry.

c) Mr. Mortensen spoke to clarify the west property line. He noted that there had been probably five
surveys of the property line. The Perry’s thought the property line would be approximately 15 feet over.
A history of the fencing on the property was discussed. Mortensen discussed that a court date has been
set in the matter of the disputed boundary line. Surveyor Brandon Landrum discussed the survey work
that had been done over time.

d) There was discussion that a plat would have to be approved as presented. If the disputed lots were to be
excluded then the developer would have to go back through the process.

e) Mr. Knudsen is the attorney of record for the Perry’s. It was discussed that there was a zoom attendee
by the name of Perry present. The Perry’s were asked to speak, however their camera and microphone
remained off and no comment was received. A brief break was taken to allow Mr. Knudsen to contact
his client. Mr. Knudsen was not successful in reaching the Perry’s.

f) 12:25 PM Prosecutor McCord Larsen suggested that the Board could approve the final plat with a caveat
that if there is a change ordered by the court or an agreement that would change the plat that the
parties come to that they would file an amended plat and that amended plat would not have to go
through the amendment processes and that they would be able to bring it back to this body and have
that amendment signed off on as long as it is pursuant to a legally binding agreement or a judgment.

12:31 PM Motion and Action: Approve the presented plat for the Cottonwood Acres Subdivision subject to any
settlement between the parties or a court ordered judgment that would affect this final plat and that then an
amended plat would then be presented that meets the requirements of the court order as presented, Moved by
Bob Kunau - Member, Seconded by Kent R. Searle - Member. Motion passed unanimously.

17) 11:02 AM Auditor’s Quarterly Report
a) Deputy Auditor Michelle Wallace reviewed the quarterly reports for the Board.
b) She explained that revenues were tracking ahead and that expenditures were below year to date.
18) 11:07 AM Approve for publication proposed FY2027 budget for Cassia County and Road and Bridge
a) Deputy Auditor Michelle Wallace reviewed the proposed FY2027 budget publication notice for the
Board. The overall proposed budget for FY2027 is $44,189,438.00 which reflects an overall reduction of
$1,121,927.00. The anticipated amount to be levied is listed as $7,872,363.
b) She explained that the LATCF funds must be expended by the end of calendar year 2026. Those funds
are currently being used to fund a portion of the expenses for the new building.

11:20 AM Motion and Action: Approve the publication of the proposed FY2027 budget as presented, Moved by
Bob Kunau - Member, Seconded by Kent R. Searle - Member. Motion passed unanimously.

19) Reports of USFS and BLM
a) 12:10PMBLM
i) Jim Tharp appeared to provide a report for the BLM. There was discussion regarding the use of
drones in weed spraying on BLM land. Tharp explained that they would have to go through the

CASSIA COUNTY COMMISSION
REGULAR SESSION
Monday, July 27, 2026

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NEPA process. It was recommended for the Weed Supervisor to meet with the BLM to look into the
NEPA process and to see if they can determine treatment as appropriate.

ii) 12:17 PM Gateway west discussion by Casey Preswich, project manager for the Gateway West
transmission line. He provided a map to the Board to show where the BLM has provided a right of
way grant to Pacific Corp and Idaho Power for segment 7 where it crosses Cassia County.

b) 12:20 PM USFS

i) Daniel Fischer with the USFS, Acting District Ranger with the Minidoka Ranger District. He detailed
their efforts with the Summit Creek Fire and noted that they were pretty confident that fire is out.

ii) A report of their recent activities was received. They recently participated in an educational fishing
event at Lake Cleveland with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS ACTION AGENDA ITEMS
20) 10:58 AM Construction project status report and items for consideration - Gary Jones Construction
a) Chad Gill from Gary Jones Construction explained that they had experienced a delay with the welding
work. They plan to start placing rebar by the end of the week.
b) He explained that framing should be starting in approximately three weeks.
21) 12:36 PM Adjourn

12:36 PM Motion and Action: Adjourn, Moved by Kent R. Searle - Member, Seconded by Bob Kunau - Member.
Motion passed unanimously.

CASSIA COUNTY COMMISSION
REGULAR SESSION
Monday, July 27, 2026

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APPROVED:

Leonard M. Beck, Chair

DEPUTY CLERK OF THE BOARD:

Dhan UL.

Sharene Ahlin

CASSIA COUNTY COMMISSION
REGULAR SESSION
Monday, July 27, 2026

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Cassia County Commissioner Meeting
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