County Commission Report
Road and Bridge—Kevin McClain
Kevin McClain from the Road and Bridge department spoke to the commissioners about a number of issues. The snowplow that had been repaired is back in service in Bancroft. Parts for a truck in Grace have also been located. Fuel has been draining out of one of the road graders. The nature of a potential leak is being investigated. The truck has been reported to be leaking fuel, and probably has a hole in the tank.
A location in Idaho Falls has been contacted about providing signs for the city, rather than their current company in Salt Lake. One of the new Kenworth vehicles has been inoperable due to problems with the electrical system. It is being evaluated with regard to the best way forward.
New “Entering Caribou County” signs are needed, as well as signage about county building requirements.
Money from the Forest Service projects has been received and placed in the account to a total of around $100K. A new sweeper is needed, and McClain estimated a range of $50K to $80K for a replacement.
The need for county right of way signage was discussed. The right of way is 25’ from the center of the road. Issues with vehicles parked in the right of way and interfering with snow removal vehicles have been occurring.
Road striping in Bancroft was discussed, with other roads in the county also being discussed for upcoming attention.
Sheriff—J Adam Mabey
The Sheriff reported that the front gate at the sheriff’s office has been repaired.
The new radio console at the office has been installed. The sheriff reported that the loss of cell phone connection had affected dispatch, but that the new radio setup would be able to account for such issues in the future.
The office is working at finding additional employees for the dispatch office.
The sheriff has discussed parking issues during the snow removal season with members of the community and his deputies. The sheriff’s Facebook page has information about pushing snow into county roads, and the regulations regarding snow on properties.
Building Maintenance—Rowdy Larkins
Rowdy Larkins spoke to the commissioners about the roof bid for the EMS building, which needed to be signed.
Alsco was contacted about rug services for the county courthouse. A contract for rug services was discussed. The rugs are used to prevent wear and tear on the building’s carpet. A yearly contract will be about $1080. A motion to enter into a contract with Alsco for up to $2000/year for rug services was approved.
The five year inspection for the elevator took place. A valve is in need of replacement, and the oil needs to be changed. A proposal for that work will be forthcoming. The elevator is obsolete, which makes parts more difficult to locate.
Progress on the Event Center is delayed as the result of a backlog of projects on the part of the contractor. Funds for the Center need to be expended by November 6 in order to be secured. A remodel of the Fair building is also under discussion. It may not be possible to have the project completed before this year’s fair.
Larkins is waiting on updated plans for a shop in order to complete a building permit for the mines.
Vicki Yost—Solar Farm
Vicki Yost spoke to the commission about solar energy issues. Yost owns property in the county. A representative from the Samsung company presented information on behalf of the solar farm project. The company is expanding its area to include Idaho, Washington, and Oregon.
A 150 megawatt project is being proposed by Samsung for an area outside of Bancroft. 1,000 acres of land will be required for the project. Samsung was interested in obtaining a conditional use permit to allow for the construction of the project. Samsung claimed that a tax injection of about 1 million dollars a year, plus additional benefits such as job creation, made compelling arguments for the project.
The commissioners raised the issues of fire fighting and environmental concerns. The company representative explained that the company would provide funding to local firefighting. The project will potentially total $150 million dollars.
Commissioner Bryce Somsen asked why Samsung was considering the land in question, as opposed to non-productive land. The Samsung representative explained some of the factors that had led to the area designation. It was also clarified that there would be a chainlink fence around the area.
Commissioner Somsen asked what the difference between a solar farm and an industrial zone would be. He also inquired about the kinds of jobs that would be created as a result of the project.
The project would last roughly
35 years.
Commissioner McCullough asked about the disposal of materials at the end of the project. The landfill in the county will not receive solar panels as a result of the hazardous material.
Commissioner Somsen asked about the other kinds of pollution that are associated with the solar farm. Samsung’s representative stated that most of the pollution would be the result of construction, and not the operation of the farm.
Solar farms are not supported by the county’s development plan. Allowing the solar farm would require a change in the county’s currently adopted comprehensive plan. Chairman Mathews suggested that he did not expect the county to change its comprehensive plan in the near future.
Samsung’s representative explained that the company did not expect anything to happen right away, but wanted to present the idea to the county for future consideration.
Further details about the projected tax revenue were desired.
Commissioner Somsen suggested that it would take potentially years to create a situation in which most of the county’s residents would support changing the comprehensive plan to allow for an industrial project on this scale. He explained that the comprehensive plan had just been reviewed, and found conclusively that residents of the county were opposed to changes on that order. Spot zoning, which would be the result under the current plan, was also something that the county would like to avoid.
The position of county residents with regard to the comprehensive plan was gained through a series of surveys, public meetings, and promotional materials.
Wade Yost spoke to the county about the location, which he called “high voltage lane”. He explained that the county prohibited the drilling of ag wells under a current moratorium. He felt that the potential for employment and apprentice training resulting from the project made it a good idea to pursue.
Vicki Yost commented that she was in favor of the creation of the solar farm, and that the county ordinance was confusing, in that the goals of the ordinance to reduce the energy needs and create jobs were not well met by restrictions against solar farms, which would provide more jobs and create a much more impactful energy supply. She suggested that providing opportunities for younger generations was essential to keeping people from leaving the county. Yost’s family is the owner of roughly half of the property that would be involved in the creation of the farm.
The commission stated that the current comprehensive plan would not be revisited in full for almost ten years. In the meantime, the plan could be changed by the county, but only with the incursion of considerable costs for the redrafting of the plan.
Reed Crandall—Utilities, Internet
Reed Crandall spoke to the commission about granting his application for the placement of an antenna for broadcasting high speed internet. Crandall claims he would provide high-speed internet services for a low cost. A physical location would be established near Lund and Barfuss roads. Crandall had received permission for the project from both the previous and current Road and Bridge supervisor. A 17” antenna will be placed on a power pole in the area to broadcast wireless signals. Neighbors have agreed that the structure would not obstruct their view, according to Crandall. Other power poles in the area are taller than the one being proposed. Residents signed paperwork about having been spoken to on the matter.
Code 13.48.360 is the code in question. It covers tower structures being built in the right of way within
the county.
Michelle Martin spoke to the commission about the issue. She stated that the proposal leaves ambiguity about what else might be added to the plan. For instance, the potential for additional antennas would potentially affect the view, in violation of the comprehensive plan. She asked that the county not rush through the process, and make it as transparent as possible. She also suggested that any conditional use permit should stipulate that nothing else could be added to the project.
Chairman Mathews explained that the permit was not in compliance, as it had not gone through the proper planning and zoning procedure.
Commissioner Somsen clarified that limitations could be put on the application to limit the project to the one antenna.
The next step is that P and Z will meet on the subject, and provide the board of county commissioners with a recommendation for approval or rejection.
Aaron Cook—Property Software
Assessor Aaron Cook spoke with the commission about the county’s contract with its property software company, Computer Arts. There are other options for similar systems. Currently, the county pays $10K a year. Prices for the alternatives are significantly higher. The state will not offer any cheaper options for counties for at least several years. Other counties are also looking for an alternative. Treasurer Angie Mendenhall reported that it was clear a new system would be needed down the road, but that Caribou should wait to see what develops.
Eric Hobson and Nellie Askew—Natural Resource Plan
Hobson and Askew have been doing research on a Natural Resource Plan. The process will involve hosting a stakeholder meeting in March, then presenting a plan to the commission for adoption. The plan outlines the governance of state and federal land to make sure their actions also help the county and follow county ordinances. According to other counties who have put such a plan in place it can have a positive effect on limiting the actions of state and federal entities that affect the county.
One of the big elements of the plan is a report on the goals of the county and stakeholders. They are hoping for a plan and adoption by the end of May.
Ally Schwulst—GIS Updates
Schwulst reported on the progress of the GIS (Geographic Information System) program, which maintains a map of county residences as well as other information. This helps the 911 emergency service share information with the county, establish property boundaries, and provide a dynamic database of coordinated information throughout the county.
Some software issues with the GIS system have been creating problems, which Schwulst
Spoke to the commissioners about. She asked the commissioners what an acceptable price would be for contracting software support services about rectifying the software issues. Teton County reportedly stated that they had dropped the same software suite—Enterprise—for similar problems.
Chairman Mathews asked Schwulst for a proposal regarding a switch to another software program. Commissioner Somsen stated that she should move forward with whatever would be most likely to correct the issues.
Schwulst asked about when the appropriate time to discuss a job title change would be. The commissioners suggested that the budget time was best.
Justin Steele—Juvenile Correction
Justin Steele from Juvenile Corrections and Stace Gearhart from the State of Idaho District 6 Juvenile Corrections Department presented an annual report to the commission. Over the year, figures for juvenile probation in the county were in line with those of previous years, and generally lower than the averages for other Idaho counties.
Diversion was explained by Attorney Doug Wood. It is a contract between the prosecutor’s office, where certain terms being met allow the charges to be dismissed. Wood doesn’t offer a second diversion, but he has found the process to
be successful.
Clerk Jill Stoor
Stoor reported that District Judge Cody Brower had hired an applicant for the law clerk position with the District Judge’s office.
The pathology agreement between Caribou County and the new Eastern Idaho forensics Center was presented for review. The Commission approved a motion to enter into an agreement with the Center.
LaserFiche, a digital document management software suite, went down for several days. Costs for the program have increased. An upgrade to the system and its licensing have been undertaken. The contract was ratified for the update for $4,859.60.
April 3, a meeting with Board of Equalization training will be held at the Fire Station. Bear Lake, Bannock, Franklin, and Oneida will be attending.
On May 3, County Officials Institute will meet at the Bonneville County Elections Center.
