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 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING MINUTES & PUBLIC NOTICES


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1/29/07 Special Commissioners Meeting Minutes:

The Board of Bear Lake County commissioners met in a special session on Monday, January 29, 2007 beginning at 9:00 A.M. in the Commissioners Room of the Courthouse Annex in Paris, Idaho. Members present were Vaughn Rasmussen, Chairman, Dwight L. Cochran, Montain Kunz and Kerry Haddock, Clerk of the Board.

Bill Stock, Mitch Poulsen and Colleen Freeman also attended the meeting.

BIKE PATH - PHASE II
Mitch Poulsen explained phase II of a proposed bike path. He had previously applied for a grant to build the path from the Utah border to Fish Haven Canyon. Phase II would go from Fish Haven Canyon to Loveland Lane. The Commissioners gave their permission to apply for a grant for phase II. These grants would require a small County match and construction would be several years away.

EXECUTIVE SESSION
Commissioner Kunz made a motion seconded by Commissioner Cochran to convene an executive session per Idaho Code 67-2345(1) (d) to discuss medical indigent cases. Motion was unanimous.

Following the executive session Commissioner Cochran made a motion seconded by Commissioner Kunz to approve and deny cases as follows:

#2006-42 - APPROVED - Indigent; Last Resource; Obligated County; Emergency Need; Medically Necessary.
#2006-49 - DENIED - Not the last resource.
#2006-52 - DENIED - Not indigent; Not the last resource; Didn't Cooperate with County.
#2007-01 - DENIED - Not Last Resource; Not Indigent.
#2007-02 - DENIED - Not indigent; Not last resource; Application incomplete; Didn't cooperate with County.

Motion was Unanimous.

Meeting adjourned.

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1/8/06 Commissioners MeetingMinutes:

The Board of Bear Lake County Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, January 8, 2007 beginning at 9:00 A.M. in the Commissioners Room of the Courthouse Annex in Paris, Idaho. Members of the Board Present were Vaughn Rasmussen, Chairman, Dwight L. Cochran, Montain D. Kunz and Kerry Haddock, Clerk of the Board.

Brent Bunn, Sheriff, Rodney Wallentine, Treasurer, Lynn Lewis, Assessor, Ardee Helm, Prosecuting Attorney, Greg Skinner, Road and Bridge Supervisor, Rosa Moosman, Editor of The News-Examiner, Bill Stock, Roy Bunderson, Al Harrison, and Mitch Poulsen also attended the meeting.

OATH OF OFFICE
The newly elected officials were administered the oath of office. Commissioner Montain D. Kunz was the only new official taking the place of retired Commissioner Conrad Michaelson. Commissioner elected Vaughn Rasmussen will be the Commission Chairman.

ELECTED OFFICIALS MEETING
Treasurer Wallentine presented information on tax collections. He reported that 65% of the total tax charge of $3,891,522 had been collected through December. The balance is due in June. The total tax charge is down significantly due to the legislature changing the school's M & O funding to other taxes. Sheriff Bunn presented monthly and annual reports. He reported that there were 9 prisoners in custody. He expressed concern regarding the high cost of transporting and keeping prisoners in the Caribou Jail. He had spent considerably more than ¼ of his annual Budget for prisoner expense in the first quarter.

COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
The Commissioners made committee assignments. Commissioner Rasmussen was assigned to Emergency Services, Economic Development, the Historical Society and the Hospital. Commissioner Cochran was assigned to the Bear Lake Regional Commission, the Airport Board and the Fair Board. Commissioner Kunz was assigned to the Planning and Zoning Board, the Idaho Transportation Department and R C & D.

ROAD AND BRIDGE REPORT
Greg Skinner, Road and Bridge Supervisor, presented his monthly report to the Commissioners. Mr. Skinner reported on a grant application he had been working on to upgrade the St. Charles Canyon Road. Commissioner Rasmussen pointed out that we could use the Four County Development Director to help write grants. Mr. Skinner also reported that his crews had spent considerable time on equipment repairs. Commissioner Rasmussen requested a list of summer projects.

HOLIDAY PAY
The Commissioners discussed Holiday pay. The current policy states that full-time employees will receive Holiday pay on 12 Holidays per year. Clerk Haddock pointed out that this gives employees working 4 ten hour shifts per week an additional 24 hours paid time off per year over employees working 5 eight hour shifts per week. Vacation and sick leave are administered in hours for all employees and most businesses and Counties administer their Holidays in hours also. The Commissioners decided to discuss this with other Counties before making any changes in Bear Lake County's policy.

CONSTRUCTON GARBAGE FEES
Assessor Lynn Lewis suggested several changes to the Solid Waste Fee. He suggested that the construction bin fee should be an annual fee rather than a one time fee to more closely match the cost of the service provided by the County. He also wanted to remove exemptions for modular homes, metal buildings and additions. The Commissioners agreed with the changes, but wanted to study the wording of the policy before making any changes.

PLANNING AND ZONING FEES
Mitch Poulsen presented a proposal to update the fee schedule for Planning and Zoning services. He stated that this fee structure was in line with Rich County and other counties in the surrounding area. Commissioner Rasmussen asked why the proposed fees were already on the web site. There was a discussion as to whether the proposed fees were high enough to recover the costs involved. Commissioner Rasmussen made a motion seconded by Commissioner Kunz to adopt the new fees as presented and to continue to review the fees to insure that they were adequate. Motion was unanimous.

BIKE PATH
Mr. Poulsen presented a draft contract proposal for phase II of a bike path along the lake. Most of the funding would be from grant money with only about a 2% match from the County. The County's match might be covered by land donation. The Commissioners agreed to have Mr. Poulsen pursue the grant.

MINUTES APPROVED
Commissioner Rasmussen made a motion seconded by Commissioner Kunz to approve the Minutes of the December 11, 2006 regular meeting and the November 30, 2006 and December 20, 2006 special meetings. Motion was unanimous.

EASTERN IDAHO REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER CONTRACT
Clerk Haddock presented an updated service provider agreement with Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for housing involuntary mental health patients. The only change from the existing contract was a daily rate change. Following the discussion, Commissioner Rasmussen made a motion seconded by Commissioner Kunz to approve and sign the agreement. Motion was unanimous.

PROBATION REPORT
County Probation Officer Ron Harper presented his annual report to the Commissioners. He reported that 51 juveniles and 166 adults were on probation during the year. He reported a continual increase in the number of people on probation. He also presented some information on suicides in Idaho showing Bear Lake County had one of the highest suicide rates in the State.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Alan Eborn met with the Commissioners regarding Emergency Management issues. He presented the updated County Emergency Operation Plan. Commissioner Kunz made a motion seconded by Commissioner Cochran to adopt the plan. Motion was unanimous.

Mr. Eborn stated that the State was going to have more control of emergency management grants in the future. He expressed concern that ISU might get the majority of training funds in this area. He reported that attendance was down at the local Emergency Management meetings and that he would like attendance mandatory for certain County Employees. He stated that he needed a place to store emergency management equipment. Presently some of it is in the old Bern School. The Commissioners agreed to look at repairing the roof.

SNOWMOBILE COMMITTEE
Brad Wilks expressed concern to the Commissioners about wheeled vehicles driving on trails groomed for snowmobiles are creating a safety hazard. He presented an Ordinance that Franklin County had passed to control the problem. Enforcement would be by the Parks and Recreation and the Sheriff. The Commissioners will put this on the agenda for next meeting.

TAX DEEDED MINERAL RIGHTS
Assessor Lynn Lewis and Treasurer Rodney Wallentine asked the Commissioners to cancel tax deeded mineral rights. These cause a lot of paper work, but have no value to the County. After discussion, Commissioner Cochran made a motion seconded by Commissioner Kunz to cancel the tax deeded mineral rights and return them to the property owners. Motion was unanimous.

DRUG TASK FORCE
Prosecuting Attorney Ardee Helm approached the Commissioners concerning the drug task force. He wanted the Commissioners to reaffirm their support for the task force as it caused extra work and overtime for the Sheriff's Department. The Commissioners expressed their support for the task force.

BILLS APPROVED
Commissioner Cochran made a motion seconded by Commissioner Kunz to pay Bills. Motion was Unanimous.

(Grand Total - $1,930,765.65)

EXECUTIVE SESSION
Commissioner Kunz made a motion seconded by Commissioner Cochran to convene an executive session per Idaho code 67-2345(1) (d) to discuss medical indigent cases. Motion was unanimous.

Following the discussion, Commissioner Cochran made a Motion seconded by Commissioner Kunz to reconvene the regular session. Motion was unanimous.

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE CLAIMS
Following the executive session Commissioner Rasmussen made a motion seconded by Commissioner Kunz to deny medical claims as follows:

#2006-39 - Denial "upon reconsideration" - Appeal withdrawn by Provider; Approved for Medicaid.
#2006-41 - Denial "upon reconsideration" - Application withdrawn by provider; Approved for a $19,000 loan.
#2006-47 - Denied - Not last resource; Not indigent; Application not filed timely; application is incomplete; Didn't cooperate with the County.
#2006-48 - Denied - Not indigent; Not last resource.
#2006-50 Denied - Not last resource; Not indigent; Not an emergency.
#2006-51 - Denied - Not a resident; Not necessary medical services; Not last resource.

Motion was unanimous.

Meeting adjourned subject to recall by the Chairman or his order.
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1/8/06 Commissioners Meeting Notice:

9:00 A.M. OATH OF OFFICE FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS/ELECT CHAIRMAN

9:15 A.M. ELECTED OFFICIALS MEETING

9:30 A.M. COMMITTEE REPORTS AND ASSIGNMENTS

9:45 A.M. HOLIDAY PAY

10:00 A.M. CONSTRUCTION GARBAGE FEES

10:15 A.M. PLANNING & ZONING FEES

10:30 A.M. DRUG TESTING IN SHERIFF'S OFFICE

10:45 A.M. RON HARPER - Annual Report

11:00 A.M. ALAN EBORN - Annual Report & E.O.P

11:15 A.M. TAX DEEDED MINERAL RIGHTS

11:30 A.M. OVERTIME ON DRUG TASK FORCE

11:45 A.M.

LUNCH

1:00 P.M.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Road & Bridge/Solid Waste Issues

NEW BUSINESS
Road & Bridge/Solid Waste Issues

Approve December's bills/Minutes

Executive Session - Medical Assistance Claims

Cancellation of Taxes

EIRMC Contract

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