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minutes meeting date 2025-12-29 · fetched 2026-09-09 · 14834 characters · official file · plain text
BOCC Dec 29 2025 Public Hearing FREMONT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 29, 2025 Present for the meeting was: Commissioners Blair Dance, Rick Hill, and Mark Chandler Also attended by: Clerk Meredith Mattingly and Civil Attorney Blake Hall Commissioner Dance called the meeting to order and welcomed those in attendance. Chief Deputy Sheriff Cody Gudmunson RE: Grant Fund Application Signatures – action item Mr. Gudmunson requested signatures for a Grant Fund Application through Parks & Recreation for a new jet ski with an 80-20 match. The 20% is included in the Sheriff’s recreation budget. Commissioner Dance made a motion to authorize signing the grant application through Parks & Recreation for the purchase of a new jet ski. Commissioner Hill seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. St. Anthony City Mayor Donald Powell RE: Letter of Support for a Grant – action item Mr. Powel requested a letter of support for a grant the City of St. Anthony is applying for. Mayor Powell is re-applying for a T-Mobile grant to help pay for two new pavilions. One pavilion will be located by the city splash pad and the other by the pickle ball courts. The pavilions will be made out of vinyl and be low maintenance. Commissioner Hill made a motion to endorse the St. Anthony city project of building two pavilions at the city park by signing the letter of support provided to him by Mayor Powell. Commissioner Chandler seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Public Works Director Brandon Harris RE: Macks Inn Restroom and RV Dump Transfer – action item; Last Chance WWTP Pay app, Change Order, and Loan Increase Letter – action item Mr. Brandon Harris discussed the Macks Inn Restroom and RV Dump Transfer to the City of Island Park. Commissioner Chandler made a motion to authorize Mr. Brandon Harris to commence negotiations with the Forest Service to transfer the Macks Inn Restroom and RV Dump to the City of Island Park. Commissioner Hill seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Mr. Brandon Harris presented Last Chance WWTP Pay App #12 in the amount of $439,054.00 Commissioner Dance made a motion to approve Pay App #12 on the Last Chance Wastewater Treatment Project in the amount of $439,054.00, payable to GSE Construction. Commissioner Chandler seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Mr. Brandon Harris presented information only on a possible low-interest loan increase in the amount of around $1,000,000.00. Public Hearing RE: Re-Establish Areas of Impact – action item FREMONT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PUBLIC HEARING Re-Establish Areas of Impact Fremont County Courthouse/Commissioners Room Monday, December 29, 2025 10:00 AM Present for the meeting was: Commissioners Blair Dance, Rick Hill, and Mark Chandler Also attended by: Clerk Meredith Mattingly, Civil Attorney Blake Hall, Planning and Zoning Administrator Tom Cluff. Commissioner Dance called the hearing to order and welcomed those in attendance. He also introduced county employees in attendance. Commissioner Dance explained the purpose of the hearing and asked if any of the Commissioners have a conflict with this hearing. Commissioners have no conflict. Commissioner Dance asked Clerk Meredith Mattingly if the hearing had been properly noticed. Clerk Mattingly stated that it had. Commissioner Dance turned the time over to Planning and Building Administrator Tom Cluff to discuss the re-establishment of areas of impact in Fremont County. Mr. Tom Cluff presented the staff report and discussed attachments. Mr. Cluff discussed and gave some history on the area of impact boundaries along with current legislative changes. The legislature amended the area of impact statute in 2024 making clarifications and some changes. The County reached out to the Cities and gathered information from them. The County studied population growth within cities and applied this information when figuring the acreage sufficient to accommodate the projected demands of growth. The County, using all gathered information, data, and necessary formulas, drew new Area of Impact boundaries. Zoning was assigned to each new area, with the default being residential. The new Area of Impact is smaller than the previous one. Anyone located within the new Area of Impact was previously located within the Area of Impact. Commissioner Dance stated that written comments would have to have been submitted to the County Clerk’s Office 8 days prior to the hearing. He asked Clerk Mattingly if we received any written comment. Clerk Mattingly stated we had. Commissioner Dance accepted these comments as part of the record. Commissioner Dance explained the Public Comment portion of the hearing. Each person that has signed up to comment would be allotted 5 minutes to comment. At the beginning of their time, they will need to announce their full name and address for the record. Time will not be allowed to be given up and donated to other commenters. There will be no more public comment after this hearing. There may not be a decision made today, as the Commissioners are allowed 60 days to make a decision on this matter. Commissioner Dance opened the meeting for public comment. PUBLIC COMMENT: Loy Schroeder; 3945 Wise Owl Way, Island Park, Idaho: Ms. Schroeders’ major concern is ‘rushing’. She feels the public was not made aware of the changes. She feels not enough time was taken in preparation of these changes. Matt Hively; 801 Main Street, Ashton, Idaho: Mr. Hively was speaking on behalf of the Henry’s Fork Foundation. Mr. Hively disagrees with the zoning changes and the introduction of new zones. The Henry’s Fork Foundation is concerned about the potential impact of new zoning on water and the quality of water. Mr. Hively explains they were told all current zones would be adopted and not changed. Brooke Mace; 13500 W Hwy 33, Newdale, Idaho: Ms. Mace is the City Clerk for the City of Teton. She explains her concern that there is no Area of Impact on the west side of town. The City of Teton does want to include that area in their Area of Impact. The City of Teton does also have parcels asking to be annexed into town on the west side. Leanne Yancey; 753 N 3100 E, Chester, Idaho: Ms. Yancey says the County didn’t take into account two cities, one being Warm River. Ms. Yancey complains that there is no public participation in this County. She says there were no citizen advisory work meetings. Ms. Yancey also complained the Planning & Zoning meeting minutes were not available for the public. Toby Rhodehouse; 5 W Cedar St., Parker, Idaho: Mr. Rhodehouse shared his understanding of the area of impact and the process that cities can go through to petition for changes. Commissioner Dance thanked everyone for their comments and their attendance. Commissioner Dance asked if there was any rebuttal by Tom Cluff. He declined. The hearing was closed at 10:42 a.m. There being no further business to come before the board, the hearing was adjourned. Commissioners Dance, Hill, and Chandler began deliberations. Commissioner Hill asked Tom Cluff why there are zoning changes on some areas around the City of St. Anthony. Mr. Cluff discussed the reasons for the zoning changes. The county doesn’t have the same zones as the city, so Mr. Cluff used the closest approximation. Commissioner Hill asked about wastewater facilities being approved with a class I permit. Mr. Cluff explained they went with class I permit approval because the DEQ standards that wastewater facilities must adhere to are sufficiently stringent. Commissioner Chandler asked for clarification on the wastewater facilities and DEQ standards and class I permits. Blake Hall clarifies if the city were to annex one of these areas (located within the area of impact), they can choose their own classification. Mr. Hall explains that if the city does not annex any areas located within the area of impact, and then moving forward wants to develop these areas the issue of zoning and class permits, etc. will come into play. Commissioner Hill asks Mayor Powell how the City of St. Anthony feels about this (zoning, class I permits), ‘Are you ok with this?’ Mayor Powell responds yes, he’s comfortable with this. Commissioner Dance re-addresses the idea that cities can annex properties. This tool can be used by cities to make any wanted changes. Tom Cluff reiterates the ability of cities to annex areas located within the area of impact. Ms. Loy Schroeder once again voices her concern regarding the timing of this decision. Ms. Schroeder didn’t know of these necessary changes to the area of impact. Ms. Schroeder believes the public wasn’t adequately informed either and the affected areas didn’t have time to comment. She is frustrated. Ms. Leanne Yancey shares the definition on ‘current area of impact’. Ms. Yancey says the state statute asks for the reestablishment of the area of impact. Ms. Yancey asks ‘Can’t we just adopt what is currently in place again?’ Ms. Yancey continues, then we can move forward making other changes. Blake Hall addresses Ms. Yancey’s concern explaining we could adopt the current area of impact. However, the County would then be in violation of the new statute in two or three respects. These violations would leave the County open for questioning and possible action by the State. Commissioner Hill agrees the County needs to update the Comprehensive Code. However, just because the County hasn’t updated it does not mean it can’t be used as a working document. The Planning & Zoning Department is overloaded. The County must continue moving forward working on what is necessary and making decisions. The public has the opportunity to learn about pertinent legislation and County business. The legislation has been working on this matter for the last year, it is not ‘new’. The County can make a decision. This is a first step. Changes and adjustments can be made as we move forward. Commissioner Hill does not see this as a big hurdle. Mr. Matt Hively states, restricting the open space and the public facilities around St. Anthony would address Henry Fork’s concerns. Commissioner Dance asks Mayor Powell if he has any concerns? Your city is being talked about. Mayor Powell states, ‘It works for us.’ Commissioner Dance explains that he sees greater complications if the County fails to move forward now; if we choose to be out of compliance with the State statute. Commissioner Dance restates that our purpose today is being in compliance with the State statute. The County can correct, mitigate, and address any necessary changes at a later date. Commissioner Dance requests to not hold the County’s perceived lack of moving forward on a Comprehensive Plan against moving forward today. Commissioner Chandler discusses the lagoons near St. Anthony. The city is going to need a possible wastewater facility in the future. St. Anthony is growing. The County is growing and we are all needing room. The city can annex. The city and County can make future changes. Commissioner Chandler addresses the perceived lack of participation from the public. He doesn’t know how we are going to fix this. He explains Planning & Zoning does a great job with what they have; they are very busy. Commissioner Hill agrees; the County can move forward, approve this today, and make adjustments down the road. Commissioner Dance made a motion to approve resolution 2026-05, a resolution amending the Fremont County Comprehensive plan updating a policy related to areas of impact, and amending the preferred land-use map. Commissioner Chandler seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Commissioner Hill made a motion to approve Fremont County Ordinance 2026-03, an ordinance for Fremont County, Idaho, establishing new areas of impact for the cities of St. Anthony, Ashton, Teton, Newdale, Parker, and Island Park; adopting boundaries for said areas of impact; repealing any previous area of city impact agreements and ordinances; amending the Fremont County zoning map; amending the Fremont County development code; providing for re-evaluation of areas of impact; and, providing for the effective date, thereof. Commissioner Chandler seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Miscellaneous Commissioner Chandler made a motion to approve the claims for December 29, 2025 as presented. Commissioner Hill seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Commissioner Hill made a motion to approve the minutes from 15, 2025 as amended. Commissioner Chandler seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Commissioner Hill made a motion to approve the Junior College Application for the College of Eastern Idaho Spring 2026 academic year for Pressly Mace and Aspyn Harris. Commissioner Chandler seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Commissioner Hill made a motion to approve the 2025-2026 Retail Alcoholic Beverage License for: #45 Soul Fly Pizza Commissioner Chandler seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Clerk Mattingly presented Resolution 2026-04 appointing Chad Quayle as the County’s Representative for the DIGB6 Board. Commissioner Chandler made a motion to adopt Resolution 2026-04 appointing Chad Quayle as Fremont County’s representative for DIGB6. Commissioner Hill seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Commissioner Dance discussed the need to ratify his signing of the ARPA additional Funding Agreement for the Last Chance Waste Water Treatment Plant. The documents came to him between meetings and he worried that the deadline would pass before we would have another meeting, so he went ahead and signed them. This action just needs to be ratified and approved. Commissioner Hill made a motion to ratify Chairman Dance’s signing of the ARPA additional Funding Agreement for the Last Chance Waste Water Treatment Plant. Commissioner Chandler seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Commissioner Hill made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 11:30 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. 611269 Public Hearing 12-29-2025 on 1/5/2026
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