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COMMISSIONER MINUTES
#593
November 16, 2009
The Cassia County Board
of Commissioners met this day with Chairman Dennis Crane, Paul
Christensen and Clay D. Handy, Board Members; Alfred E. Barrus,
Prosecuting Attorney; Wendy L. Marr, Deputy Clerk of the Board, and
Kerry D. McMurray, County Administrator, present.
EMERGENCY AGENDA ADDITION
TOMEETING
At 9:06 am a motion was
made and seconded to add an emergency meeting to the agenda to
discuss Rock Creek Fire District matters. The matter was added to
the agenda and the issue discussed. Mr. Barrus will seek
information from the attorney advising Twin Falls County
Commissioners and the attorney advising the Rock Creek Fire
District, to determine what action, if any, that Cassia County can
take to assist in rectifying the matter. The matter will be taken
under advisement, pending further information from the prosecutor.
CSI
The Board reviewed and
signed CSI Residency Certificates.
PREVIOUS WEEK’S MINUTES
The Minutes for November
9, 2009 were discussed. A motion was made and seconded to approve
and proceed with publication of an appropriate synopsis. Roll call
vote was unanimous with Commissioner Handy, Commissioner Christensen
and Chairman Crane all voting yea.
CALENDAR
The Board reviewed the
calendar for November 2009.
CORRESPONDENCE
The Board reviewed the
following:
1.
A letter from Idaho Housing and Finance Association.
CHANGE OF STATUS
The Board reviewed two
change of status forms, one from the Cassia County Sheriff’s Office
and the other from the Mini-Cassia Criminal Justice Center. It was
moved and seconded to approve the changes of status and roll call
vote was unanimous with Commissioner Handy, Commissioner Christensen
and Chairman Crane all voting yea.
COUNTY EXPENDITURE
The Board reviewed the
County’s Payables Approval Report dated November 16, 2009. A motion
was made and seconded to approve the report and the roll call vote
was unanimous with Commissioner Handy, Commissioner Christensen and
Chairman Crane all voting yea.
|
CURRENT EXPENSES |
104 |
|
$10,639.15 |
|
INDIGENT FUND |
105 |
|
$707.06 |
|
DISTRICT COURT FUND |
106 |
|
$917.96 |
|
COUNTY ELECTION FUND |
116 |
|
$57.72 |
|
ASSESSOR TRUST FUND |
123 |
|
$117.30 |
|
JUSTICE FUND |
130 |
|
$5,622.94 |
|
PHYSICAL FACILITIES FUND |
144 |
|
$1,068.62 |
|
ADULT MISDEMEANOR PROBATION |
149 |
|
$145.82 |
|
|
|
TOTAL |
$19,276.57 |
MCDEC
The Board discussed the
status of the MCDEC and decided to hold for further discussion.
Based upon additional review of the matter by Commissioner
Christensen, it was determined to process the invoice for payment at
the next opportunity.
VETERAN SERVICE MATTERS
The Board met with
Curtis Russell, Dick Dalton and Ron Beedle of Veterans Service’s.
Mr. Russell presented the minutes from their last meeting. They are
in the new Veteran’s office, now located in Minidoka, and need to
make some improvements such as: allowing for handicap accessibility;
a lock on the office door to help protect the privacy of the
Veterans; and they would also like to install high-speed internet
access allowing for instant access to online services with the VA
for submission of applications and to shorten response times. Mr.
Dalton addressed the Board and requested to be reimbursed for travel
expenses siting that no pay increases were given this year to county
employees. Mr. Dalton expressed that he would like the office to be
relocated to Burley where they have been located since 1995, stating
that it is more convenient for the office to be located in Burley
because there is more for people to do in Burley while they wait.
They are still looking for ways to pay the monthly gas bills through
donations and other sources. Clay Handy stated that the county never
received a gas bill from the City of Burley, therefore the City shut
off the gas forcing the move. The Board will take the matter under
advisement and do more research into possible solutions.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
At 9:47 am it was
proposed by Commissioner Handy and seconded by Commissioner
Christensen that the Board convene in Executive Session under Idaho
Code Section 67-2345(1)(d) with Commissioner Christensen voting yea,
Commissioner Crane voting yea, and Commissioner Handy voting yea.
The purpose and general tenor of the meeting was to discuss medical
indigent matters. Following the discussion, the Board returned to
regular session at 10:04 am. Following Executive Session the Board
signed notice of lien for case # 2009118, 2009120 and 2009121,
denied case # 2009108, 2009107 and 2009117, heard case #2009079 and
signed release for case #98088, 98092, 98104, 98107, 98113, 98128,
99110, 99052, 99016, 99023, 99025, 99027, 99084, 99122, 200003,
200006, 200010, 200016 and 99077.
COUNTY ROAD & BRIDGE
The Board met with Sam
Adams to discuss County Road & Bridge Matters. Mr. Adams discussed a
meeting he attended in Boise. He discussed what all needs to be done
to the roads before it snows.
IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION
The Board met with Devin
Rigby, Mike Scott, Ron Robinson, Scott Malone and Scot Stacey of the
Idaho Department of Transportation. Mr. Rigby told the Commissioners
that they need to be aware that the current road map shows the miles
of road and the county is receiving compensation for that. He stated
that July 2010 is when they anticipate the changes are to go into
effect and Cassia should see a reduction in next years budget due to
the 15 mile drop of road that the county will no longer bear the
greater responsibility for because the responsibilities will shift
to the state and how those responsibilities will be divided. The
road map needs to be submitted in mid December which will dictate
monies Cassia receives next year. He explained how money is divided
with LHTAC. Mr. Adams will meet with the Idaho Department of
Transportation to go over the details and report back to the
Commissioners.
AMBULANCE AGREEMENT EXTENSION
The Board discussed and
Ambulance Agreement extension. Kerry McMurray will do some follow-up
with the
hospital.
GEOTHERMAL MATTERS
The Board discussed a
report they received from Geothermal Energy Weekly regarding the
recently passed legislation concerning the Department of Interior,
Environment, and Related Agencies appropriation Act of 2010 which
contained a provision repealing the 25% share that counties receive
from geothermal royalties as a part of the Energy Policy act of
2005. The new formula call for a 50/50 split between states and the
federal government eliminating the counties share. Upon review an
motion was made and seconded to sign and send the prepared letters
to three delegates in Washington requesting that Senators Crapo and
Risch consider co-sponsoring S.2607 and Representative Simpson
consider support of H.R. 4060 which would restore the counties 25%
of geothermal revenues.
GATEWAY WEST
The Board met with
members of the Cassia County Task force to discuss the Gateway West
Transmission Line Corridors. Currently Doug Balfour is the attorney
representing Power County. The Commissioners were asked if Cassia
County has an attorney for representation in this matter or if they
would like to utilize Mr. Balfour and split the bill with Power
County. Al Barrus stated that due to his offices current workload,
he does not think they would be able to handle the matter and
suggested that the commissioners speak with Power County and Mr.
Balfour before making a decision. At 11:26 am Commissioner
Christensen excused himself from the meeting to attend a SEIDO
meeting. The Board reviewed the Irrigated Farm Land
Operations/Estimated Losses/Damages worksheet, upon review a motion
was made and seconded to disburse the worksheet. At 11:32 am the
Board participated in a conference with representatives of the
Nevada PUC. They discussed Regulations from the Public Utilities
that were received as well as a possible alternative route that
would have to dip into Nevada for approximately 5 miles. Nevada
representatives requested that Al Barrus draw up a letter outlining
their conversation. Upon completion of the letter a motion was made
and seconded to sign and execute the letter. See attached.
ICRMP
The Board reviewed a
Ballot from ICRMP Joint Powers Agreement to participate in the ICRMP
Board of Trustee’s election. Upon review a motion was made and
seconded to cast their vote for Jerry Nance, Commissioner of Lincoln
County.
LUNCH
At 11:55 am the Board departed for lunch at the Burley Inn
with the Gateway West Transmission Line Task Force, where the
Commissioners continued review and discussion of Gateway
Transmission Line project matter during their working luncheon.
CURRENT COUNTY MATTERS
The Board met with
Denton Darrington, Idaho State Senator and Scott Bedke, of the Idaho
House of Representatives District 27 to discuss county matters and
the upcoming legislative session. They discussed the Elections
Consolidation and how it will impact Cassia County and stated that
there is some speculation of putting it off. They discussed the 2010
Census. Also discussed was the declining economy and its impact on
lower revenue from state sales tax, the rise in CAT claims, all of
which is putting a burden on the state as well as the counties
budgets. Welfare reform has been in place for 4 to 5 years and has
been very successful. They discussed the Federal Prison Siting
Project status and how having that in Idaho will bring in federal
dollars as well as providing good paying jobs and benefits.
CATASTROPHIC HEALTH CARE
The Board reviewed a
ballot from the Catastrophic Health Care Board. Upon review a motion
was made and seconded to cast their vote for Paul Christensen.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
At 2:28 pm it was
proposed by Commissioner Handy and seconded by Commissioner Crane
that the Board convene in Executive Session under Idaho Code Section
67-2345(1)(d) with Commissioner Handy voting yea and Commissioner
Crane voting yea. The purpose and general tenor of the meeting was
to discuss medical indigent matters. Following the discussion, the
Board returned to regular session at 2:32 pm..
EXECUTIVE SESSION
At 2:33 pm it was proposed by
Commissioner Christensen and seconded by Commissioner Handy that the
Board convene in Executive Session under Idaho Code Section
67-2345(1)(b) with Commissioner Crane voting yea, Commissioner
Christensen voting yea, and Commissioner Handy voting yea. The
purpose and general tenor of the meeting was to discuss employee
matters. Following the discussion, the Board returned to regular
session. The matter was taken under advisement by the Board
RECESS
Meeting was recessed
until 10:00 a.m., Friday, November 20, 2009.
OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE AT TODAY’S
MEETING
Margi Owens, Weekly News Journal;
Laurie Welch, Times News; See Attached. |
