Bannock County | minutes | meeting 2025-08-26 | August 26, 2025, Commissioner Meetings source: https://www.bannockcounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/20250826-Minutes-Final.pdf August 26, 2025, BOCC Minutes Meeting Details Date of Meeting: Tuesday, August 26, 2025 Commissioners present: Ernie Moser, Jeff Hough, and Ken Bullock Clerk of the Board: Jason C. Dixon Absent Board Members: Staff present: Deputy Clerk Nancy Allen, Comptroller Kristi Klauser, and HR Director Matthew Phillips Agenda Details AGENDA Regular Business Meeting (action items) Agenda: 1 • Indigent Business may require an Executive Session pursuant to Idaho Code §74-206(1)(d) to consider records exempt from public disclosure (action item) 2 • Charity Staggs, SICOG, seeking to discuss updating and renewing the grant writing contract with SICOG (requested 10 minutes) (action item) 3 • Todd Mauger, Juvenile Justice, seeking (1) approval to submit grant request to the Idaho Juvenile Justice Commission’s Youth Committee for the RISE UP INITIATIVE to fund the GIRL’S CIRCLES curriculum and a facilitator’s guide, and (2) approval to submit grant request to the Idaho Juvenile Justice Commission’s Youth Committee for the RISE UP INITIATIVE supporting Truancy Education and Prevention (requested 5 minutes) (action items) 4 • Buddy Romriell, Public Works, regarding a discussion pertaining to replacing the Coroner’s vehicle (requested 5 minutes) (potential action item) 5 RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES (action items): • Resolution No. 2025-54 Approving Claims Through Contingency for Planning and Development and IT Claims • Resolution No. 2025-55 Authorization to Dispose Surplus Assets/Property 6 SIGNATURE ONLY (action items): • Flock Safety Order Form • Management Letter for Fiscal Year 2025 Audit 7 CONSENT AGENDA (action items): • Manual Checks • Alcohol Licenses and Catering Permits • Certificate of Residency Approval • Salary Rate Approval Forms/Notice of Separation with Potential Executive Session under Idaho Code §74-206(1)(a)&(b) regarding personnel with potential action following adjournment of Executive Session • Technology Forms • Minutes: Approval of Meeting Minutes from August 19 and 21, 2025, and Certification of Said Minutes 8 Public Hearing for Rezone (action item) 9 Public Hearing for Fiscal Year 2026 Budget (action item) 10 Public Hearing for Proposed and Increased Fees (action items) MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF BANNOCK COUNTY COMMISSIONERS M August 26, 2025, BOCC Minutes Meeting Notes 1 9:00 AM Hough called the meeting to order. 2 9:01 AM Danae Zepeda and Layne Bouregous also appeared. Staggs reviewed the general grant writing contract is coming to an end and questioned if a new contract would be desired. Two grants were written under the current contract for the Idaho Department of Lands and, if awarded, would be a return on investment of $48 per $1 spent. The previous OEM grants gave $10 per $1 and SICOG’s average is $7 per $1 over the several years. Staggs reviewed challenges with engagement for planning, takes a year to plan a project for the grant. The attitude seems to be to find a grant and the department will make a project. The project needs developed first and then find the grant. There is also a federal administration change that has caused some uncertainty. Discussion ensued on funds and internal issues with engagement. A meeting with leadership will be scheduled. 3 9:10 AM Mauger explained that an opportunity arose last week from the Idaho Juvenile Justice Committee for some unique grants. The Committee would purchase curriculum and send links for both programs. There is no match or reporting. Hough moved to approve the application for both grants and authorize Mauger to electronically sign the online applications. The motion passed. 4 9:18 AM Coroner Torey Danner also appeared. Romriell reviewed vehicle mileage for the Coroner’s vehicles. The Durango has an electrical ghost issue the department has been chasing and it is almost to the vehicle policy’s replacement mileage. It was questioned whether to attempt to repair the vehicle or replace it early. Discussion ensued on the previous van, vehicle diversity, justification for three vehicles, response time, vehicle use policy, and that 51% of the call volume is after hours. Klauser reviewed a funding option is the capital that was budgeted for the new building that would be rolled over. Romriell will research options to sell/auction the Durango or put some money into repairs, and prices to purchase to bring back Thursday. 5 9:34 AM Moser moved to approve Resolutions 2025-54 and 55. The motion passed. 6 9:35 AM Klauser reviewed funding options for the license plate readers from County Operations or Contingency. The Board selected County Operations. Bullock moved to approve the Flock Safety Order and invoice as it comes in. The motion passed. 9:38 AM Klauser reviewed the audit engagement letter, the letter requesting cooperation to send to Wipfli and contract termination. Bullock moved to approve the documents. The motion passed. 7 9:39 AM Hough moved to approve the consent agenda. The motion passed. 8 10:15 AM Planning and Development Director Hal Jensen and Assistant Director Tristan Bourquin appeared. Moser moved to open the public hearing. The motion passed. 10:17 AM Susan Cook questioned her owning livestock if the zoning changed to residential. Bullock moved to close the public hearing. The motion passed. 10:18 AM Bourquin reviewed the Planning Council heard the rezone application in July and recommended approval. The application does meet the intent of the comprehensive plan and future land use map. The ordinance does not have restrictions for animals other than there must be at least an acre. Bullock moved to approve the rezone request by Bryan Moon. The motion passed. 9 11:00 AM Hough reviewed the public hearing for the FY2026 budget will be interrupted for the public hearing for the fee schedule at 11:15 a.m. Historically, these have been scheduled tight due to light attendance. The rules and process for the hearing were reviewed. Hough relayed that email comments have been received and are in the record and that action regarding the budget will be taken at a later date. 11:04 AM Moser moved to open the public hearing. The motion passed. 11:04 AM Jolene Barnett-Stephens questioned what the justification was to give themselves a huge raise. Angie Hernandez relayed she watched the meetings a few times, and Lava was $17,000, but the Senior Center budget was cut by half. The center provides more than food, such as games. Comparing to other counties is not fair. August 26, 2025, BOCC Minutes 11:06 AM Wayne Shipman expressed disappointment in the budget and cutting off non-profit organizations in the County. The budget is a moral statement. The Board is stating these organizations do not deserve funding. They make up for lack of government support. There is need in any community. It was decided to defund groups that do vital work. The Board needs to address the needs of the community. Shipman has empathy for the Board’s work as he was an elected official previously. It’s a hard job to go through a budget and make hard decisions. But it is a moral document as much as a financial document. 11:08 AM Retired Associate Tribal Judge Dave Archuleta is a veteran pointed out that the veterans are being cut, along with Aid for Friends to give yourself a raise. The Sheriff’s staff are getting a 5% raise, but you ask for 14%. Getting into public office is not about getting rich. No one gets a 14% raise. Archuleta spoke to lady that works on the freeway and she makes $15 per hour and would have to work 800 hours to make that raise. A guy that makes transformers makes $20 per hour and would have to work 500 hours. He questioned what the Board thought, as public servants, would entitle them to a $12,000 raise. Quit defunding Aid for Friends, the Seniors, and Veterans. 11:10 AM Ryan Cameron worked at On Semiconductors for 27 years. He doesn’t envy the Commissioners’ positions and working on the budget. In his new roll as an ecclesiastical worker, he works closely with Aid for Friends and they provide an important service to people that are in our community and experience a rough patch. When he worked on budgets and looked for leverage of money, he also looked for a needle mover. The $30,000 from Aid for Friends is not a needle mover in the budget. That money is leveraged heavily by a very efficient organization to benefit this community. Cutting it out is a drastic mistake. He urged to consider the ramifications of Aid for Friends not providing the services they do. It will increase crime and desperation will increase. Bannock County is the kind of community that takes care of one another and a very small line item in the budget goes a long way in the efficient hands of Aid for Friends. He urged to fund consistent as in past. 11:12 AM Sondra Frasure moved back five years ago and taxes had really gone up. Since the Commissioners are getting a raise, the Seniors should get a raise by lowering taxes. Seniors value the meals and participating in activities. The center allows Seniors to get out and socialize. She opposes cutting the Senior Center budget by 50%. They are barely making ends meet. 11:14 AM The fee schedule had no comments. 11:16 AM Donald Allen is a retired state and federal employee, and he expressed empathy to wanting to get salaries at a comparable level; however, cutting Aid for Friends is a terrible way to do it. The indigent budget probably gets saved, along with a lot of lives. It would be short sided to cut that funding, along with other agencies like the free clinic. He does not expect the cheapest budget, but to see spending wisely and efficiently. The charitable organizations do a tremendous job with the funds they receive. The symbolism of support is as important as the money itself. If there were organizations that were thought to not be deserving of County support, then ramp the reduction down slowly to give them an opportunity to seek other funding. Currently, there is a lot of competition for funding because of uncertainty in federal levels of funding. Let them down easy and slowly. 11:18 AM Rich Smith been resident for 60 years and he’s aware of the political environment nationally. It seems it is the time in our society to take advantage of the less advantaged and profit ourselves. A 15% pay increase for the Board is out of line this year with cutting the other services. That is, by far, the largest pay increase of any employee. There are good employees. Cutting Aid for Friends, the less advantaged of all of us; they need some assistance. Cutting the Veterans building and publicly abusing them is not leadership. That is bullying and it is not okay. The Event Center has been a money pit since taking it, but still throwing money at it. Either stop or make it profitable. He is a proud veteran. Taking care of veterans and the less advantaged in our community is important. Reconsider Aid for Friends and the Veterans building in the budget. 11:20 AM Kaye Turner has always been proud of how Bannock County supports everyone in the County. She quoted the newspaper regarding charitable cuts to non-profits serving the elderly, children or underserved areas in southern Bannock County, and cuts to the mother-infant care program due to potential service overlap with the Pocatello free clinic who also was cut. She is happy to pay taxes to support the free clinic, Aid for Friends, Meals on Wheels, and the other non-profits that were slashed. She is happy that employees are getting a cost of living raise. She is not happy that four elected officials are getting a raise of $12,000. Where she sits, as a former educator, $82,934 is already a fine salary. Put that $48,000 pay raise back where it belongs, supporting the non-profits of the County. 11:22 AM Bud Smalley is a member of the Marine Corps League and was recently appointed to the veterans memorial building advisory board. He thanked the Board for their continued, generous support of the building. But there are things that may have been overlooked, such as the historic building was given to the veterans in 1926 and continues to serve veterans and other community members as well. August 26, 2025, BOCC Minutes They try to responsibly manage the building for the benefit of everyone. Yes, they rent the ballroom for bargain prices, but it gives opportunities for some who may not otherwise be able to afford a nice venue to make lifelong memories in a beautiful setting. It may have been missed that the Board’s support is appreciated by many users other than veterans. The recent damage to the 100-year-old building was a fluke of plumbing. They were taken advantage of by people that were trusted to help to get it restored. With legal help, that abuse will be corrected. While the Board wrestles with budgets and tough decisions on how best to spend tax dollars, know that the people have been very generous with outpouring financial support in fundraising efforts. Those people would not hold the Board in contempt if it continued to do the same. Statute requires a levy to support a veterans memorial. Please reconsider the support to the veterans memorial building. He submitted the remainder of his comments for review. 11:25 AM Russell Gates learned of the proposed 14.5% raise for the Board’s salary at the same time of cutting programs for veterans, seniors, homeless, and mothers with small children. The Board should be ashamed. He is a senior citizen and a disabled veteran. As a voting resident, he is concerned to give huge raises while cutting essential programs. The Board is supposed to be public servants; not supposed to be getting rich. There was a time when elected officials would ensure they supported those that elected them. That doesn’t seem to be the case here. He cannot vote for anyone that votes for this. He demanded the job be done correctly and serve the voters; not the pocketbooks. There is no reason with this part time job to make more than $8,000 per year more than the average household in the County. The people in the County need to put a resolution on the ballot to cap the commission’s salary at 75% of average household income in the County. 11:27 AM Elva Worley added to the previous comments in that she does not agree with cuts to non- profits. They are still struggling to meet the needs of the community. We, the members of the community always help with their fundraisers. Regarding salaries, she got a graph off the County website showing pay increases for the past eight years. At the earliest years, it was 0-3.5% and in 2023, the Commissioners got 7%, but now 14.5%. In a newspaper article, Hough said the reason for the raise is to bring all employees closer to comparable counties. What people don’t know if the salaries are based on the population of the county. Bannock County is number six for population and should be making an average of $86,797. Nationwide, the average for a commissioner salary is $92,249. She does not see any justification for the high pay raise. Please reconsider the budget and do the right thing. 11:30 AM Elizabeth Dyer along with what has already been said, added that you cannot budget away homelessness nor disease. Government should be there for all the people, but please start with those that need it most. 11:31 AM Miguel Dominic is the building historian for the veterans memorial building and expressed that he found disappointment in listening to the meetings that the Board referred to veterans board as irresponsible and stating that they didn’t have a plan. The veterans board has done so much for this building. The statements in one meeting about not knowing anything, when there’s not been anyone come to sit and talk with the veterans board members. This building is a staple in the community. Commissioner Moser had stated he didn’t think this should be the war memorial for Bannock County, but this is the only building that veterans can go into and actually do something inside the building. It was disappointing to be called out in public knowing what they have done for the building and continue to do. 11:32 AM Carol Mahar, PhD, shared the current salary is between 25-35% higher than the average income nationally, Idaho and Bannock County. Further, the board all have personal, additional income. Regardless, the Board had the audacity to give themselves a 15% raise and cut $31,000 from people who need it. These cuts take food out of the mouths of people in this community; people who depend on Aid for Friends, the Senior Center, and others. Each of the Board members has three meals per day. Many people struggle to have one meal. People at the Senior Center go there for their one meal per day. She urges to recalculate the budget and determine what is doable without harming people who need it the most. Some employees need raises and we must support first responders. 11:35 AM Shannon Ansley is the chair on the Aid for Friends executive board. Homelessness is a County and city problem. The center helps address that problem. If not funded at the submitted request of $30,000, the consequences for the agency and the community would be a 24% reduction in the operating fund and fewer people would be accepted into the shelter. Fewer children will be accepted into the shlter. Services to the partner agencies would be reduced. There will be more homeless people on the streets and potentially, more homeless people would become incarcerated. This would be an increased cost to the County. Please reconsider the decision to defund Aid for Friends. 11:36 AM Joe Radeck explained he has a hard time justifying the raise when the Board is already the second highest paid council in the state. He cares about the veterans and the veterans building. He is a member of a coalition formed to get the paperwork to have the Board removed from office, but they will August 26, 2025, BOCC Minutes hold off for now since the election is not far off. If a drastic change is not made, another coalition will be formed after the election. The Board is the second highest paid in the state and cut funding to the veterans building and all non-profit organizations. It won’t fly. If changes aren’t made, some aren’t running, major changes or coalition. Let them do their job. 11:38 AM Tom Eisenhour reviewed that not categorizing these non-profits as employees is wrong and the insinuation that they are inefficient and out of control is insulting to anyone involved. Research would show, in most cases, they provide services on a bare bones basis and the services are performed at a cost that no government entity could match. We have non-profits because they are good at it and perform functions that are needed in communities. The budget level for the Historical Society has not increased since pre-pandemic levels. In the 7/28 meeting, it was stated to pull number out of hat. When did rolling the dice become part of a professional budgetary process? It was offensive. Looking at the business model of the museum, there will be a deficit. We have a gem, please protect what we have before it is lost. Institutions don’t just grow back. 11:41 AM Robin Wilson agreed with all things already said, but one other thing is she doesn’t understand why ask for pay raises in a year where it is proposed to decrease taxes collected. She is generally disappointed in the distribution of funds in this budget and it sends the wrong message to Idaho and the people in general. 11:42 AM Lydia Noble appreciates the opportunity to speak and knows it is not easy to determine budgets. The raises must be earned. At the INL, she was asked every year asked to give accomplishments and didn’t get a raise every year. Regarding accomplishments, there was an epic failure last year with the forensic center. That negates any raise and the Board owes the community an apology. She got phone calls from Boise; it’s an embarrassment. Take that raise and give it back to the non-profits and give an apology. 11:44 AM Margo Proksa watched the meeting where it was discussed that giving yourself a raise is the toughest thing in the world to do; and it should be if you’re cutting funds to non-profits. Anyone with benefits and sick pay and vacation should be humble. It’s a big responsibility because you work for your fellow citizens, the homeless, the hungry, and the physically/mentally ill. Cutting funds from charitable organizations is not necessary. She recommended taking those funds out of the capital items budgeted. Be proud that Bannock County gives to the community. These are essential services. The priority is that we all contribute and deserve peace. 11:47 AM Raina Patterson runs a program with the school district that helps children experiencing homelessness. Last year, there were 263 students without stable housing living in hotels, motels, trailers/campers, or doubled up with other family members. There were 17 students at Aid for Friends. There are more students that don’t update address information. There are currently four students living there today. Just this month alone, she has referred six families there. Sometimes that is only stable place for a roof and food. Sometimes she refers families there just due to their resources. She urged the Board to continue to support Aid for Friends. The investment helps ensure the community’s children have a safe bed, warm meal, and the stability they need to be successful in school. 11:49 AM Pam Milkowski moved here two months ago and was impressed with how the non-profits collaborate. The low homeless rate was impressive and it was because of the collaboration. Cutting those funds will result in a homeless rate that will be out of control. Keep funding the non-profits so they can work together to do what’s best for the community. Go visit the non-profits for a day and see how they collaborate. They don’t overlap services, but work together for the community. 11:50 AM Michael Sampson watched the video where the decision was made to cut non-profits and was offended by the discussion, the lack of knowledge of how the agencies work and how they work together. He is very involved with the non-profits and has been a volunteer for almost 25 years for Aid for Friends. He knows how hard the partner agencies have worked to get where they are now. City resident are also county residents. He requested the Board reconsider and find out what the agencies do. 11:55 AM Jennifer Quick is a retired psychiatric nurse practitioner and worked in the acute psychiatric unit. Discharge planning for patients was a huge struggle due to the pressure to discharge for funding and the availability of slots. There was pressure from the emergency room to get patients admitted. Aid for Friends and other non-profit services were a huge benefit. Between hospitalizations, there was backlash for the patients. When she moved here seven years ago, she was so proud of Aid for Friends and the community and still wants to be. 11:57 AM Jessica Buckley works at Aid for Friends. She knows that Valley Mission also applied for some funding. Not only were they not discussed publicly during budget meeting, they were not in the budget. She is concerned as Valley Mission does same thing as Aid for Friends, but for different populations. They are a big support agency for the shelter which is not always the right fit for everybody. M August 26, 2025, BOCC Minutes The shelter is not equipped for every individual. They are essential to helping the homeless population, especially those that cannot go to the shelter. She is also concerned for the cuts or stagnation of employees. The phases for employee pay is great, but there is inflation and other costs rising. There are employees on SNAP and those benefits are not stretching far enough and they cannot buy enough food. Before giving yourselves such an increase, ensure all employees are receiving a 3% cost of living adjustment. 11:59 PM Barry Marshall pointed out that veterans are 8% of the population and cutting funding for the building and the programs it supports impacts everything. It should be considered how many people would be impacted with these decisions. 12:01 PM Ray Taysom served in the military and worked at the railroad with an early retirement. He discussed his home value and the increase. 12:02 PM Lauren Georgeson worked with at-risk teenagers that didn’t have needs met and they often acted in desperation. When someone is trying to cope, they are not able to thrive. The funding decrease to agencies is concerning. If needs aren’t met, desperation causes worse coping. Homeless people should not be jailed, but sometimes happens due to choices and behaviour. It costs more money to jail someone than it does to support some of these non-profits. It is negligent to not support these non-profits. If health concerns are not taken care of, they get worse and more expensive. Supporting people before things get serious, is supporting Pocatello better. 12:05 PM Moser moved to close the public hearing. The motion passed. 10 11:14 AM Hough invited anyone that would like to speak on fees to which there were none. The fee schedule hearing was closed. Action Item Summary ACTION/DIRECTION ASSIGNED TO Schedule grants discussion with leadership, Grant Team, and SICOG. Commission Approved online applications and signature for Girls Circles and Step Forward Initiative from Idaho Juvenile Justice. Juvenile Bring back options for vehicle sale or repair, or purchase price. Public Works/Coroner Approved Resolutions 2025-54 Approving Claims Through Contingency for Planning and Development and IT Claims and 2025-55 Authorization to Dispose Surplus Assets/Property. Clerk Approved Flock Safety order, agreement and invoice. Sheriff Approved engagement letter for Deaton and Co. audit and cooperation letter to Wipfli. Auditing Approved consent agenda. Clerk Approved open/close public hearing and rezone application for Moon. Planning/Ordinance Approved to open/close public hearings for FY26 budget and fees. Clerk In the Matter of APPROVING CLAIMS THROUGH ) R.S. No. 2025-54 CONTINGENCY FOR PLANNING AND August 26, 2025 DEVELOPMENT AND IT CLAIMS RESOLUTION WHEREAS, Idaho Code §31-1605 allows the board of county commissioners, by unanimous vote, to make an appropriation from contingency to a department in the event any unforeseen contingency arises that requires the expenditure of money not provided for in the budget, and which could not reasonably have been provided for in the budget; and WHEREAS, the Planning and Development office needs to replace conference room equipment that was shared with Emergency Services who is relocating, the cost of which was not anticipated when the current budget was developed; and WHEREAS, the IT Department has helped with equipment purchases and installation for new buildings that was not anticipated, and will be overbudget; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that payment for the new conference room equipment be paid through contingency funds up to $8,500; and that IT claims up to $15,000 be paid through contingency funds. BOARD BANNOCK COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Jeff Houg airman Ernie oser, Member K Bullock, Member Jason C. Dixon, Clerk In The Matter of AUTHORIZATION TO ) R.S. No 2025-55 DISPOSE SURPLUS ASSETS/PROPERTY ) August 26, 2025 RESOLUTION WHEREAS, Idaho Code §§31-807 and 31-808 vest the power and authority to manage real and personal property for the benefit of the County with the Board of County Commissioners; and WHEREAS, Idaho Code §31-829 provides that whenever any elected official has any personal property belonging to the county under his/her jurisdiction or control which, in his/her judgment, is of no further use to the county, he/she may, with the consent of the Board of County Commissioners, dispose of the property through sale or other means; and WHEREAS, the following assets/property are of no further use to the County: Quantity Description County ID: Asset Number/VIN/Dept 5 Desk Event Center office 1 Table Event Center office 1 File cabinet Event Center office 2 Photocopy machine Fairgrounds — one with asset #15109 2 Pepsi coolers: 1 small; 1 large Fairgrounds 3 Water cooler Fairgrounds 1 Roping chute Fairgrounds Various Scrap metal Fairgrounds 37 Chairs — kids Fairgrounds 1 Troy Built mower Fairgrounds 04420007 1 Troy Build mower Fairgrounds 13CC26JDO11 1 Husqvama rototiller Fairgrounds 03151 1T004359 and WHEREAS, it was recommended to dispose of the above items. NOW THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that the above property is declared to be surplus and be disposed of properly. BOARD OF BANNOCK COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ATTEST: Jason C. Dixon, Clerk Jeff Houg -- --------- Ernie M ser, Member _.„..2---1/\.- K Bullock, Member BOARD OF BANNOCK COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MINUTES CERTIFICATION We, the Board of Bannock County Commissioners, hereby certify approval of the minutes of the Bannock County Commissioners' meetings inclusive of the date(s) of August 19 and 21, 2025, as approved during the meeting of August 26, 2025. OF BANNOCK COUNTY COMMISSIONERS rnie Moser, Member e Bulloc , Member ATTEST: Jason C. Dixon, Clerk