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minutes meeting date 2025-12-08 · fetched 2026-09-09 · 9202 characters · official file · plain text
BOCC Dec 8 2025 Public Hearing FREMONT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING MINUTES December 8, 2025 Present for the meeting were: Commissioners Blair Dance, Rick Hill, and Mark Chandler Also attended by: Clerk Abbie Mace and Clerk Elect Meredith Mattingly Commissioner Dance called the meeting to order and welcomed those in attendance. Treasurer Lori Beard RE: Tax Cancellations – action item; Credit Card Request – action item Ms. Beard presented the tax cancellations for the month of November 2025 in the amount of $16804.40. Ms. Beard discussed how tax collection is going. Commissioner Dance made a motion to approve the tax cancellations for the month of November 2025 in the amount of $16804.40. Commissioner Hill seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Ms. Beard requested a credit card for Laura Singleton in the Courts with a credit limit of $2500. Commissioner Chandler made a motion to approve the credit card for Laura Singleton with a credit limit of $2500. Commissioner Hill seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Planning and Zoning Planner Jacob Farnes RE: Ellsworth Minor Plat Amendment – action item Mr. Farnes presented application #24-104 for Ellsworth Minor Plat Amendment along with Findings of Facts, Conclusions of Law and Decision. Commissioner Chandler made a motion to approve application #24-104 for Ellsworth Minor Plat Amendment along with Findings of Facts, Conclusions of Law and Decision. Commissioner Hill seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Public Works Director Brandon Harris RE: Road Agreement with Forest Service – action item; Last Chance WWTP DEQ Loan Offer – action item; Executive Session IC 74-206(1)(c) – action item Mr. Harris presented our annual road agreement with the Forest Service for renewal. Fremont County has about 2 dozen roads that they maintain for the Forest Service. Mr. Harris discussed roads, maintenance, road oil, state funding, reimbursement, and logging. Commissioner Dance suggested we compile a report detailing the cost to the county of maintaining the roads and submit it to the federal government. Mr. Harris explained if an agreement is made prior to upgrading, Fremont County may get some money reimbursed. Commissioner Dance made a motion to enter into the Cooperative Forest Road Agreement between Fremont County and the USDA Forest Service Caribou-Targhee National Forest. Commissioner Chandler seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Mr. Harris presented a DEQ loan offer for the Last Chance WWTP, Sewer treatment plant. The amount funded by DEQ ARPA is $12,518,934. In order to finish the project, the County needs a loan of $7,564,866. If we agree to the loan more money through ARPA may be available. Commissioner Dance made a motion to approve the State of Idaho DEQ loan offer, acceptance and agreement for wastewater facility design and construction application WW2323. Commissioner Hill seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Commissioner Dance made a motion to go into executive session pursuant to IC 74-206(1)(c) To acquire an interest in real property which is not owned by a public agency; at 11:50 a.m. Commissioner Hill seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with Commissioner Dance voting “Aye”, Commissioner Hill voting “Aye”, and Commissioner Chandler voting “Aye”. Commissioner Dance declared the meeting open at 12:00 p.m. Public Hearing RE: Sterling Rezone – action item FREMONT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PUBLIC HEARING Stirling Zone Change from Rural Conservative to R2 Residential Low Density Fremont County Courthouse/Commissioners Room Monday, December 8, 2025 1:00 PM Present for the meeting was: Commissioners Blair Dance, Rick Hill, and Mark Chandler Also attended by: Clerk Abbie Mace, Clerk Elect Meredith Mattingly, Planning and Zoning Administrator Tom Cluff, and Planning and Building Planner Sara Bowersox Commissioner Dance called the hearing to order and welcomed those in attendance. He introduced county employees in attendance. Commissioner Dance explained the purpose of the hearing and asked if any of the Commissioners have a conflict. Commissioners have no conflict. Commissioner Dance asked Clerk Abbie Mace if the hearing had been properly noticed. Clerk Mace stated that it had. Commissioner Dance turned the time over to Planning and Building Planner Sara Bowersox to discuss the purpose of this hearing. Ms. Bowersox stated Mr. Sterling wants to change the zone from rural conservation to residential low-density, which he already borders. He wants the opportunity to possibly divide and sell. Applicant, Ben Sterling, states he wants to rezone to the same zoning as his bordering neighbors. Written comments would have to have been submitted to the County Clerk’s Office 8 days prior to the hearing. Commissioner Dance accepted those as part of the record. Commissioner Dance explained the procedure for the public comment portion of the hearing. Each person will have 5 minutes to comment and will need to state their full name and address clearly for the record. There will be no more public comment after this meeting is closed. The Commissioners have 60 days to make a decision on this matter, so a decision may not be made today. There was no public comment. Commissioner Dance thanked everyone for the comments and their attendance. The hearing was closed at 1:10 p.m. by Commissioner Dance. Commissioner Hill made a motion to adopt ordinance #2026-02 amending the Fremont County Development Code (FCDC) zoning map; and providing the effective date thereof - changing this property from rural conservation to low-density. Commissioner Chandler seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Exhibit List: Exhibit #1 – Staff Report Exhibit #2 – Sterling Rezone Map Miscellaneous Commissioner Hill made a motion to approve the claims for December 8, 2025 as presented. Commissioner Chandler seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Commissioner Chandler made a motion to approve the minutes from December 1, 2025 as amended. Commissioner Hill seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Commissioners discussed their recommendation for the DIGB6 representative. Commissioner Dance explained the need to put together a resolution to add another representative to the DIGB6 board. Sheriff Quayle put forth 3 names. There was a recommendation to put forth an IT person, someone who understands what happens behind the scenes of the communication system. Chad Quayle is also a city councilman, which will also provide good relations between the county and city. Commissioner Dance made a motion to have Civil Attorney Blake Hall make a resolution that would identify Chad Quayle as our second representative to the DIGB6 board. Commissioner Hill seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Commissioners reviewed the applications for the Fair Board and directed that reviewing be set up for next week’s meeting. Commissioners discussed drafting a response to a letter they received from Thayne Smith. Ms. Beard and Ms. Blanchard discussed the receipt of a letter from Thayne Smith. The letter was regarding a perceived unlawful tax increase. Ms. Blanchard discussed her role in the valuation of County Property. She explained that the State of Idaho also studies the data and decides whether the County is in compliance. Commissioner Dance agrees, explaining that the State of Idaho does ensure compliance through completion of a yearly audit. Ms. Blanchard shares she did get a phone call from the Governor’s office in regard to the letter. She walked them through the process of valuation in the State of Idaho. The Governor’s office said they’d call and talk with the gentleman. Clerk Mace explained budgeting. Commissioner Dance continued that there really is no correlation between property value assessment and the budgetary cap set by the state. He asked if the letter had been forwarded to the State Tax Commission for review? Ms. Blanchard responds, no. Commissioner Dance suggested we do so, so that they can reply to the letter. Commissioner Dance states we’ve given all the information we can give; the constituent seems to distrust our response. Both Commissioner Chandler and Commissioner Hill agreed. Ms. Beard shared another conversation she had with Mr. Smith, he felt he shouldn’t have to pay school tax if he doesn’t have kids in school. Commissioner Dance made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 1:30 p.m. Commissioner Chandler seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. There being no further business to come before the board the meeting was adjourned. _________________________________ Blair Dance, Chairman Fremont County Commissioner Attest: _____________________________ Meredith Mattingly, Clerk HISTORY Recorded by Min. 610966 Public Hearing 12-8-2025 on 12/15/2025
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