Caribou County Commission Meeting 7/14
Kevin McLain—Road and Bridge
McLain explained that he was interested in a roller in Lincoln county that had been purpose-built. McLain thinks that something similar would be great for Caribou County and should be looked into a bit. The oil mix is also something they have had good luck with in Lincoln County. The shoulder work in Caribou County would be more efficient if they were able to target smaller areas in need of repair, which this system would allow for.
McLain reported that there are still problems with Stop signs being vandalized or pushed down along Government Dam road and other places in the county. The signs have been pulled out and laid down next to their original location. It was pointed out by legal counsel that the act could constitute manslaughter if a fatality resulted from an accident. The idea of cameras to surveille the locations was discussed.
Seals on the transmission of the hot mix sealer are being replaced. The hydraulic pump is also being looked at.
Eric Hobson
Hobson brought an MOU between Caribou, Bannock, Bear Lake, and Franklin. The public use repeater is being shifted to Bannock County. The funds which were previously paid to the state will now be paid to Bannock for maintenance. This is the Sedgewick Peak radio tower site.
Hobson presented quotes for turnout gear, which is at the end of its cycle. The cost for 5 sets is just over $12K.
5 jackets for firefighting, 5 GPS units were approved for just over $12K.
Curtis Tools for Heroes washing machine and detergent were approved for $8,500.
“We’re in the middle of five season and we keep getting drier.” The county is currently at stage 3 drought. There is a 60% chance of a drier than average season. The wind is aggravating dry, drought conditions throughout the county and surrounding areas. “We do still have a firework permit for the Caribou Highlands for the 24th “ for the golf course in Grace.
Rowdy Larkins—Building
A bid to paint the cinderblock building at the fairgrounds was received from the same individual who is painting the Event Center.
A generator for the courthouse building is potentially in need of replacement, as it his functional but has had some performance issues. What the best way to sell or auction the generator would be was discussed.
Dwight Lloyd—Weed Dept
Grace, Bancroft, Chesterfield are done. “Everything is going to seed right now, so people will have to be patient. We’re doing the best we can,” Lloyd said.
He reported on Austrian rocket, which is an escaped ornamental that has been seen in the county. It looks a bit like a dandelion. It has been reported near Highway 34, but Lloyd is note worried about it becoming invasive.
Northern Evening Primrose, on the other hand, he felt posed a bigger threat to the county’s ecosystem. This was found in the gravel pit at the state parking lot and the Wayan loop west. “It can be a perennial,” Lloyd said. “Those are both in Grays Lake right now.” He thinks it’s the second year in Grays Lake.
Lloyd asked for advice from the commissioners about posted “No Spray Zones” that are not county undertaken. It was determined that the No Spray Zone ordinance would need to be rewritten to clarify how the county would handle invasive weeds in the county’s right of way. Due to noncompliance with the county’s No Spray Zone ordinance, the commissioners are considering repealing it, and will go through the posting and hearing period on the issue. This will be worked on heading into Fall.
Sheriff Mabey
The sheriff spoke with the commissioners on a number of topics.
The budget for the upcoming year was discussed. One issue was an increase in the compensation for the Jail Supervisor and the Chief Deputy.
The STAR Teams require contribution to a fund in order to have services on call. Otherwise, the services are contracted on an incident basis, which is considerably more expensive. The yearly cost is $3500. Southeast Idaho Tactics and Response team.
The Search and Rescue storage shed is reported to be in need of repair/improvement. The sheriff does not feel that it could, for instance, withstand an earthquake. Rowdy Larkins suggested that it would be worth pursuing some insight on the potential for retrofitting before looking at a new building. “We’re doing all we can to keep it up and going,” Mabey said.
A one-time expense for a new K-9 was requested. The current K-9 is nearing retirement. Donations from the community to support the new dog were discussed. The new animal will be trained to detect fentanyl. $10K has been requested, though the total cost will be closer to $20K.
An $11K increase in the vehicle expense line item of the budget are included in the budget request as well. Clerk Stoor noted that the expense was higher than in the past. Sheriff Mabey explained some of the particular vehicle repair needs that have occurred over the year and needed redress. Clerk Stoor asked about whether those additional expenses would be recurring, or would come back in line closer to prior years.
The Motorola body cam account was also noted to be larger than originally budgeted. This is apparently an issue related to identifying the funds from which the bill would be paid, or which line item it was attached to.
The jail was discussed next. Sawtooth corrections has requested an increase for this year for medical support. Kitchen supplies are from Summit, who may be requesting an increase this year, though the sheriff opted not to include a “buffer” request in case they decided to.
The sheriff noted that the sheriff’s office has remained static for personnel levels for decades. The sheriff would like to bring on one additional patrol officer to help with the increased housing and recreational traffic through the county, especially in the area toward Wayan and Freedom. “I believe if I had one more patrol officer, that would allow us to have one officer in the northern part of the county and closer to the schools there,” Mabey said.
He is also requesting one more officer for detention services at the jail.
The sheriff would like to pursue the IGNITE program, which gives prisoners the opportunity to pursue skill training while incarcerated.
Dispatch has been at the same level for a long time. He has found that many applicants do not pass the background or polygraph portions. “It is a very technical position, and requires a lot of skills to do correctly. We need another person so that they don’t get burnout in the position.”
The license bureau is also under strain as a result of staffing issues.
Other counties are potentially hiring officers away from Caribou County, and the sheriff believes that raising the pay in the county would help. “I hate the idea of Caribou County being a training ground for other counties. I can see how important it is to have those trained individuals available.”
The funds necessary for the increased staffing and other requests totals around $500K. A source for those funds is not immediately obvious, as the fees for bed space at the detention facility will not cover it, and may chase other counties off if they are raised too much.
Jill Stoor—Clerk’s Office
The Computer Arts contract for the upcoming fiscal year is up for signing. There will be additional fees to transition to new software, potentially. The costs are already built into the budget.
A motion to enter into the contract for 25-26 with Computer Arts/Harris for $62,079.17 passed. This is the software that is used to administrate a number of things throughout the county.
The Probation Office asked for approval to upgrade ipads. The funds are within the budget. The purchase of 3 ipads for $4,130.82 was approved.
Indigent burials has had a request for the burial of a decedent from Caribou County. Wilkes Funeral home has made the request. Funds were requested to cover another burial from 2024. The budget has a $10K line. The purpose of the fund was discussed. Is it for helping out the local funeral home, or people from the area who may have passed in other locations?
The idea of posting the agenda for the County Commission on Facebook was discussed. There have been comments from people who say that they have not been able to find it on the county’s website.
The county received a bill from the city for the connection to water and sewer. The exact nature of the bill will be clarified between the two entities, as the county was under the impression that they had already paid their portion of the connection fee.
Public Hearing—Planning and Zoning
Kade Hatch would like to acquire a piece of land to build on in Chesterfield. On North Hatch Loop, he is looking for five acres. The minimum for a household is 40 acres.
Helen Barker explained that a process could make it possible for the property to be on a 40 acre area, as long as the homeowner was named in the property, through a bank lien arrangement.
Barker explained that various other counties are working on modifications to the zoning rules to make it easier for younger generations to be able to purchase land from the larger acreages so that they can return to their home areas and begin work. Property splits are possible under a number of circumstances, though nothing permits the situation as laid out by Hatch exactly.
Commissioner McCullough expressed support for some process that would allow for younger generations to access the land and remain in the area.
Commissioner Somsen stated that since there was nothing in place at present, it would require a public notice, hearing, and ordinance process to make it possible. There is not a mechanism for providing a variance in cases like these.
There has been some confusion, as many people believe that as long as there are a total of 40 acres are adjacent to the property it could be built on, though it was clarified that the property has to be owned by the potential homeowner.
Public Hearing—Variance Request
This requirement is for a 40 foot setback for residential structures. He is requesting a variance to change the requirements to 30 feet. The PZ board met last week and voted to recommend the variance, as it would not negatively affect the neighbors, and the specifics of the location made it unfeasible for 40 feet.
There were no public comments offered on the subject.
A motion to approve the zoning variance passed.
Planning and Zoning
Barley Meadows’ subdivision extension for Phase 2 from last year has expired, so another extension is being sought until November 30th. The extension was granted through a resolution amendment.
Kids First Coalition
Tenille Call and Saide McMorris spoke to the commission on behalf of the Kids First Coalition. “Caribou County is a child care desert,” Call noted. The group works with a number of agencies and organizations to help facilitate child care in Idaho, and the overcome the obstacles to child care availability.
Quality is one issue, with a lack of investment in providers being noted. The wages are too low to attract high quality. Professional development is one of the strategies used by Kids First.
Affordability is another issue. Childcare costs an average of $10K a year for families. The federal subsidies require a level of poverty that leave many people out of the zone where it would be available to them.
The Department of Labor has found that the impact of childcare decline has resulted in massive numbers of parents taking unpaid time off work, leaving jobs, or experienced job loss as a result of childcare issues. In Bannock County, the affect has largely been on single parents.
Without adequate state level support, the coalition is proposing a “Tri-Share model” which divides the costs between the county, parents, and employers. The argument is that this will allow more people to stay in the workforce which would benefit the county.
“Where this is a pilot, we are asking counties to make a commitment,” Call said. They are requesting a $15K contribution to get the program off the ground in Caribou County. They have received commitments from Bannock and Bingham Counties, and are in discussions with other counties. It was noted by the commissioners that Bingham county has a population of 50K, so scaling for population might be desirable.
The $15K would essentially cover 7 seats in the program at the current cost estimate. The program is still in its early stages of being designed and implemented.
If the money is not used due to a lack of participating employers, it would be returned to the county. Employers in Bannock County have expressed interest in the program, and the coalition will be speaking to Itafos and Bayer.
The commissioners expressed interest in the program, but would like to see what the level of interest from the local businesses was before committing. Chairman Mathews suggested that the coalition also communicate with the School District. Angie Mendenhall suggested contacting the car dealerships.
“It’s a big thing you’re trying to get rolling, and we appreciate it,” Commissioner Somsen said.
Ryan Hogan
Hogan spoke to the commissioners about a planned housing project in Soda Springs. He wanted to provide a formal introduction to the commissioners, and explain that his group was hoping to help with the housing issues in the county. There are 330 units that are planned for the development.
The property is on Hooper Avenue. The master plan is being finalized at present. The development is entirely within the city, rather than the impact zone. With that being the case, the county is not in a position to contribute any direct support for the project.
Hogan wanted to make sure that the county considered the development when it came to any economic development grants for which they might be suitable.
Elizabeth and Ellis Call
The Calls spoke to the county commissioners about economic hardship. They are requesting whatever help the county can give them with regard to taxes and landfill fees.
Angie Mendenhall from the Assessor’s office spoke to the tax status. All of 2023 and 2024 remain. 2025 taxes should be significantly lower. $1,358.16 are due in total, with $288.78 from 2023 and the rest from 2024.
Jayson Lower from the landfill was also in attendance. “We’ll work them however we need to.”
The county commission agreed to waive the taxes owed, but was not able to make any decisions on behalf of the landfill.
Lower stated that he was not able to make any decisions himself, but that the issue should be taken to the IDAWY board.
“We’re sorry for your loss,” the commissioners said.
Angie Mendenhall
She would like to discuss the idea of some kind of music in the hallway to create more privacy for conversations in offices. Mendenhall is willing to hook speakers and a sound device up, she just needs permission to do so. The commissioners were fine with the idea, and gave her permission to go forward with it.
