Board of Commissioners
Downloadable reports, legal documents, meeting minutes, and public records
Commissioners — Minutes — 2022-06-20
This document is a brief notice from the Jerome County Commissioners stating that no meeting was held on Monday, June 20, 2022, in observance of Juneteenth. The document serves as an official record of the cancelled meeting date.
Decisions Made
- Decision to cancel the scheduled meeting in observance of Juneteenth
Key Points
- Meeting cancellation due to Juneteenth observance
Commissioners — Minutes — 2021-06-21 Concern Open Meeting Violation
This is the June 21, 2021 Jerome County Commissioners meeting minutes documenting regular commissioner reports, budget discussions, various board appointments, and administrative matters. The meeting covered topics including public health updates, emergency management grants, park management, sheriff department budget requests, and salary increases for commissioners.
Open Meeting Law Concerns
- Document shows meeting reconvened at 1:15 A.M. which appears to be a typographical error that should likely read 1:15 P.M., potentially indicating incomplete or inaccurate minute-taking
Decisions Made
- Approved both Arlen Morgan (Jerome County) and Duane Turner (Twin Falls County) for Middle Snake Regional Water Resource Commission
- Approved $2,552 budget allocation for Middle Snake Regional Water Resource Commission
- Appointed Commissioner Howell to Third Crossing Joint Powers Board
- Approved employee time records for Christine McGuire, Brent Culbertson, Deserae Jones, and Mario Umana
- Approved claims totaling $1,090.42 for Indigent Fund, $41,306.97 for Justice Fund, and $47,839.44 for General/District Court II/Justice/Planning & Zoning funds
- Hired Jeremy Osborne as detention deputy sheriff
- Accepted EMPG-S grant of $8,260 with CARES fund match
- Approved $27,000 contract with Integrated Solutions Consulting for All Hazard Plan update
- Approved $28,828 yearly contract with M2 Automation for jail security system maintenance beginning October 1, 2021
- Removed 2021 taxes for mobile home at 1005 North Buchanan, Space 24 due to demolition
- Requested $12,000 yearly salary increases for each Commissioner in FY 2021-22
Constitutional & Social Concerns
- Discussion of shooting restrictions in Snake River Canyons Park and potential dusk-to-dawn ordinance for Yingst Grade usage
- Code enforcement consolidation under sheriff's office raising questions about separation of enforcement functions
Guests, Speakers & Presentations
- Tanya Stitt - Emergency Management Director presenting grant acceptance and budget requests
- Mike Tylka - Snake River Canyons Park Managing Board Chairman providing park updates
- Josh Jensen and Linda Montgomery - South Central Public Health District representatives giving coronavirus updates
- Dale Layne - Jerome schools superintendent participating in health discussion
- Toni Carver - Heritage Academy representative in health discussion
- Sheriff George Oppedyk - presenting FY 2021-22 budget requests
- Marisela Ibarra - Jail Administrator presenting detention budget and security contract
- Jackie Howell - requesting casualty/loss application for demolished mobile home
- Mark Swenson - County Assessor
- Sabrina Henderson - County Appraiser
- Tevian-Ekren Kober - County Treasurer
Upcoming Dates & Activities
- August 6 - Friday After Five event sponsored by Jerome 20/20 and North Side Journal
- August 9-14 - Jerome County Fair dates
- October 1, 2021 - M2 Automation jail security contract start date
- January 1, 2022 - deadline for mobile home demolitions to be removed from tax rolls
- FY 2021-22 - various budget implementations
Key Points
- Commissioner weekly activity reports
- South Central Public Health District budget
- Jerome Airport Master Plan and runway resurfacing
- SIRCOMM emergency communications staffing and budget
- True West Beef emergency response agreement
- Wilson Lake well replacement funding
- Jerome County Fair Board withdrawal from Chamber of Commerce
- Middle Snake Regional Water Resource Commission appointments and budget
- Third Crossing Joint Powers Board for Snake River bridge
- Employee time records and claims approval
- Emergency Management EMPG-S grant acceptance
- All Hazard Mitigation Plan update contract
- Snake River Canyons Park improvements and management
- Coronavirus/COVID-19 case updates and vaccination rates
- Sheriff department FY 2021-22 budget requests
- Jail security system maintenance contract
- Board of Equalization casualty loss application
- Commissioner salary increase requests
Commissioners — Minutes — 2022-06-27 Concern Energy/Data Center Open Meeting Violation
Jerome County Commissioners meeting minutes from June 27, 2022, covering routine administrative matters, budget discussions, and a significant public meeting about citizen concerns regarding a newly established halfway house in the county. The meeting included approval of various expenditures, personnel matters, and extensive public input on the halfway house issue.
Open Meeting Law Concerns
- Document appears truncated mid-sentence during the halfway house discussion section, making it impossible to verify if proper procedures were followed for this contentious public meeting
Decisions Made
- Approved $700 airfare and expenses for Commissioner Howell to research gun range in Arizona
- Approved up to $7,000 expense for removing shavings and straw at Fairgrounds
- Renewed contract with Summerhill Group for US Marshall Service prisoner housing negotiations
- Approved indigent matters and dismissed cases 2122-021 and 2122-028
- Signed 10 retail alcoholic beverage licenses for various businesses
- Approved leave requests for Scott Denning, Deserae Jones, and Brent Culbertson
- Increased Assistant Planning and Zoning Administrator Kacie Buhler to 40 hours per week
- Approved prosecutor salary increases and new P&Z position using ARPA funds
- Approved $6,036 mega scanner purchase for recorder's office
- Approved refrigerator purchase for Judicial Annex Building
- Declared excess banker's boxes as having no value for disposal
- Assigned Commissioner Crozier to approve employee time records on July 5
- Approved claims totaling $709.48, $49,161.16, and $36,747.38 for various funds
Energy, Data Centers & Ordinances
- Discussion of Lava Ridge Wind Project manager requesting meeting with Commissioner Crouch, Mark Doerr, Tim Larson, and Airport Advisory Board Member John Toolson
Constitutional & Social Concerns
- Extensive citizen concerns about a halfway house establishment on Golf Course Road with large public attendance suggesting community controversy
- Discussion about veterans service officer carrying weapon in courthouse with enhanced concealed permit
- Planning and zoning issues related to halfway house placement and community impact
Guests, Speakers & Presentations
- Michelle Emerson, Clerk/Auditor/Recorder - fund allocations and equipment
- Tracee McKim, Chief Deputy Clerk - budgeting and salary discussions
- Nancy Marshall, Planning and Zoning Administrator - staffing needs
- Scott Denning, Veterans Service Officer - veterans and guardians reports
- Tim Larson, Airports Manager - airport operations report
- Pat Bruning, Eden/Hazelton Silver & Gold Senior Center Director - community center planning
- Jeff McCurdy, Region IV Economic Development - community center development
- Michele McFarlane, Region IV Economic Development - community center development
- Rob Grant, Valley Recreation District Director - community center planning
- Mike Tylka, Snake River Canyons Park Managing Board - disc golf course project completion
- Bill Bridges, Snake River Canyons Park Managing Board representative
- Over 50 named citizens attending halfway house concerns meeting
Upcoming Dates & Activities
- July 5 - Commissioner Crozier to approve employee time records
- August 8-13, 2022 - Jerome County Fair & Rodeo
- July - Full SIED board meeting to discuss tourism combination
- December - Ground lease bills to be sent to hangar owners for 2023 payment
- FY 2022-23 budget planning ongoing
Key Points
- Commissioner reports and activities
- BLM gun range research trip to Arizona
- Southern Idaho Economic Development board matters
- Fair shavings removal
- US Marshall Service contract renewal
- Indigent case dismissals
- Alcoholic beverage license approvals
- Employee matters and wage increases
- Planning and Zoning staffing and prosecutor salary increases
- Equipment purchases (mega scanner, refrigerator)
- Budget planning with inflation considerations
- Veterans services and Community Guardians program
- Airport management and fuel operations
- Eden/Hazelton Community Center development
- Disc/foot golf course project completion
- Citizen concerns about halfway house establishment