8/4/08 Commissioners Meeting Minutes:

The Board of Bear Lake County Commissioners met in regular session on August 4, 2008, beginning at 9:00 A.M. in the School District #33 Board Room in Paris, Idaho. Members present were Vaughn Rasmussen, Chairman, Montain Kunz, DeMar Romrell and Kerry Haddock, Clerk of the Board.

Brent Bunn, Sheriff, Greg Skinner, Road and Bridge Supervisor, Rosa Moosman, Editor of the News-Examiner, Craig Bunn and Bill Stock also joined the meeting.

MINUTES APPROVED
Commissioner Kunz made a motion seconded by Commissioner Romrell to approve minutes of the July 7, 2008 regular meeting and the July 25, 2008 special meeting. Motion carried.

ELECTED OFFICIALS MEETING
Sheriff Bunn presented his monthly report. He presented pictures showing the impact that out of County visitors have on the Lake and surrounding areas. A new vehicle had been ordered to replace the one destroyed in an accident. The insurance company will pay for the vehicle. Sherriff Bunn reported that the dispatch center would move to Paris tomorrow. He noted that the Swanson Foundation had donated Security Cameras for the Dispatch Center. He also presented information on Power County's plan to build a large jail facility.

KENNEL PERMIT
Deputy Sheriff Craig Bunn, presented information on the Frosty Sage Kennel. The Kennel had not made much progress in complying with the Commissioners directive to reduce the number of dogs. Commissioner Romrell will visit the kennel owner to discuss the problem.

911 FEES - RESOLUTION 2008-06
The Commissioners discussed legislation passed this spring to set up a statewide grant program to assist rural Counties in upgrading to enhanced 911. In order to participate in the Grant program the County will have to raise the Emergency Communication Fee to $1.00 and add the $.25 Grant fee. Commissioner Kunz made a motion seconded by Commissioner Romrell to adopt Resolution 2008-06 raising the fees. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION NO. 2008-06

RESOLUTION TO SET THE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION FEE AT ONE DOLLAR ($1.00) AND ENACT THE IDAHO ENHANCED EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS GRANT FEE

At a meeting of the Board of Bear Lake County Commissioners, State of Idaho, on the 4th day of August, 2008, the following Resolution was adopted, to-wit:

WHEREAS, the Legislature in 1988 enacted the Emergency Communications Act ("Act") as Title 31, Chapter 48 of the Idaho Code; and

WHEREAS, the Act establishes a method for financing the initiation, maintenance, and enhancement of consolidated emergency communications systems which allows for 9-1-1 service within the several counties; and

WHEREAS, on November 3, 1992, at a general election the voters of Bear Lake County approved a telephone line user fee, also known as an emergency communications or 9-1-1 fee, of up to one dollar ($1.00) per line per month to fund and finance the maintenance and operation of a 9-1-1 emergency communications system as provided in the Act; and

WHEREAS the Board of Bear Lake County Commissioners ("Board") set the emergency communications fee to be assessed in one half dollar ($0.50) per line per month; and

WHEREAS, the current emergency communications fee collected by Idaho counties and 9-1-1 service areas for use in 9-1-1 centers do not adequately fund the needed improvements in the centers and many centers in rural Idaho do not have Enhanced 9-1-1 service where the dispatchers can tell the number a caller is calling from and the location of the caller; and

WHEREAS, Idaho counties recognize the importance of providing seamless Enhanced 9-1-1 service across Idaho and has determined a need to establish a statewide fund to assist consolidated emergency communications centers make the necessary upgrades to protect all citizens and visitors to Idaho; and

WHEREAS, the Office of Performance Evaluations recommended increased funding for Enhanced 9-1-1 service by the Idaho Legislature in its report to Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on March 20, 2008; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature in 2008 enacted amendments to the Emergency Communications Act and adopted Idaho Code section 31-4819 that creates the Enhanced Emergency Communications Grant Fee in an effort to fund the increasing costs of technology needed for the operation of a 9-1-1 system and to enhance public safety throughout the State of Idaho; and

WHEREAS, the Enhanced Emergency Communications Grant Fee shall be in an amount of twenty-five cents ($.25) per month per access or interconnected VoIP service line; and

WHEREAS, such fee shall be dedicated for and shall be authorized for disbursement as grants to eligible entities that are operating consolidated emergency communications systems for use to achieve the purposes of Idaho Code section 31-4819; and

WHEREAS, in order to be eligible for an award of moneys under this chapter a county or 911 service area must be the collecting emergency communications fee in accordance with Idaho Code section 31-4804 in the full amount authorized and must also be collecting the enhanced emergency communications grant fee in the full amount authorized; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that pursuant to the authority granted to this Board pursuant to Idaho Code section 31-4804 and 31-4819, the Board of Bear Lake County Commissioners hereby raises the emergency communications fee to one dollar ($1.00) per line and enacts the Enhanced Emergency Communications Grant Fee in an amount of twenty-five cents ($.25) per month per access or interconnected VoIP service line; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the emergency communications fee increase is effective as of July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2014, or in the event the Idaho Legislature extends the effectiveness date, until that date without further action by this Board; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Enhanced Emergency Communications Grant Fee shall be collected by all telecommunications providers as provided in and pursuant to Idaho Code section 31-4819; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that fee shall be remitted to the Idaho emergency communications fund provided in Idaho Code section 31-4819 on a quarterly basis by Bear Lake County for dedication for disbursement as grants to eligible entities that are operating consolidated emergency communications systems pursuant to Title 31, Chapter 48, Idaho Code.

APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 4th day of August, 2008.

Board of Bear Lake County Commissioners

By:
Vaughn N. Rasmussen, Chairman

By:
Montain D. Kunz, Commissioner

By:
DeMar Romrell, Commissioner

ATTEST:
Kerry Haddock, County Clerk

SURPLUS AMBULANCE
The Commissioners discussed a surplus ambulance and decided to bid the ambulance. All bids could be rejected if not high enough and the ambulance could be donated.

EXECUTIVE SESSION
Commissioner Romrell made a motion seconded by Commissioner Kunz to convene in executive session per Idaho Code 67-2345(1) to discuss Medical Assistance cases. All Commissioners voted yes.

Following the executive session Commissioner Kunz made a motion seconded by Commissioner Romrell to approve and deny the following Medical Assistance Claims: Approve #2008-11 - Medically Indigent, Emergency, Obligated County, Last Resource and Medically Necessary; and to Deny claims #2008-12 - Not the Last Resource, and #2008-14 - Not the Last Resource. Motion carried.

BIRD REFUGE AGREEMENT
After a short discussion Commissioner Romrell made a motion seconded by Commissioner Kunz to not extend an expired agreement to supply gravel to the Bird Refuge. Motion carried.

ROAD AND BRIDGE ISSUES
Greg Skinner discussed some areas in the County where people were letting sprinklers water the road. This causes deterioration and can be dangerous at night. He explained that some of the neighboring Counties have an ordinance controlling this practice. He will attempt to resolve the problem by talking to the offenders. If this doesn't solve the problem, an ordinance will be considered. Skinner had been approached by the School to supply gravel for the new bus shop. The Commissioners felt that the School should seek private sources for the gravel. The high cost of dust suppressant and paving material was discussed. Mr. Skinner updated the Commissioners on garbage and the landfill scales.

SYMBIOTICS NORTH EDEN PROJECT
Garth Barker presented an overview of the Symbiotics project at North Eden. They proposed building two reservoirs and pumping water to the upper reservoir when power demand is low and generating power by releasing water to the lower reservoir when power demand is high. He stated that the project would be located in Utah and would not affect Bear Lake. The effect in Bear Lake County would be a power line to move power to and from the project.

Commissioner Rasmussen excused himself for a short time from the meeting. Commissioner Kunz acted as Chairman.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Kathy Wray, Four County Economic Development Specialist, discussed her activities and gave an update of the organization to the Commissioners. Her office is funded in a large part by the State with contributions from Bear Lake, Caribou, Franklin and Oneida Counties. She was very involved in the locating of Triad Resorts in Montpelier and obtaining several grants for area municipalities. She informed the Commissioners of an upcoming Economic Development meeting in Soda Springs for all Counties, Cities and other interested entities.

MONTPELIER BUILDING PERMITS
Montpelier Mayor Reed Peterson met with the Commissioners regarding building permits. The City had adopted the International Building Code and wished to contract with the County for the services of the County Building Inspector. The City Attorney will draft an agreement. He also updated the Commissioners on the progress of Triad Resorts and discussed the possibility of a joint gravel pit.

BILLS APPROVED
Commissioner Romrell made a motion seconded by Commissioner Kunz to approve the current bills. Commissioners Romrell and Kunz voted yes. Commissioner Rasmussen abstained as the bills included some from the company he works for.

REPORT GRAND TOTAL . . . . .754,627.04 336
TOTAL VOID/CANCEL . . . . . 15,792.65 * * TOTAL VOIDED/CANCEL FOR THE PERIOD SELECTED * *
738,834.39

Meeting adjourned subject to recall by the Chairman or his order.

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8/4/08 Commissioners Meeting Notice (to be held in the school administration office in Paris, Idaho):

9:00 A.M. ELECTED OFFICIALS MEETING/APPROVAL OF MINUTES

9:15 A.M. COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

9:30 A.M. DEE JOHNSON & LESLIE TALBOT - SEDH Quarterly Report

9:45 A.M. GREG SKINNER - Watering/Pivots Sprinkling County Roads

10:00 A.M.

10:15 A.M.

10:30 A.M. GARTH BARKER - North Eden Project

10:45 A.M.

11:00 A.M. KATHY RAY - Economic Development

11:15 A.M. MAYOR REED PETERSON - Building Inspections

11:30 A.M. Preliminary Budget

11:45 A.M.

LUNCH - EXECUTIVE SESSION - Medical Assistance Claims/Personnel

1:00 P.M.

1:15 P.M.

1:30 P.M.

1:45 P.M.

2:00 P.M.

2:15 P.M.

2:30 P.M.

2:45 P.M.

3:00 P.M.

3:15 P.M.

3:30 P.M.

3:45 P.M.

4:00 P.M.

4:15 P.M.

4:30 P.M.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Road & Bridge/Solid Waste Issues

Refuge Gravel Agreement

Old Ambulance Distribution

911 Fee Increase

NEW BUSINESS
Approve July's Bills/Minutes

Road & Bridge/Solid Waste Issues

Executive Session - Medical Assistance Claims

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