The Official Web Site of Bear Lake County IDAHO

 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING MINUTES & PUBLIC NOTICES


Note: These notices and minutes are uploaded as a convenience to the viewing public. The official notices and minutes are available at the county offices or displayed as legally required.

Return to the Bear Lake County Web Site - Minutes & Public Notices


3/30/11 Meeting Cancelled - Bear Lake Regional Commission:

The March 30th meeting of the Bear Lake Regional Commission will be canceled. A staff retreat will be held on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at 6:00 pm at the Oregon Trail Center, 320 North 4th Street, Montpelier, Idaho. No agenda items will be discussed and no motions will be made.

Top of Page

3/16/11 Bear Lake County Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Agenda:

The Bear Lake County Planning & Zoning Commission will hold its regular scheduled meeting on Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at 7:00 pm at the Paris Elementary Board Room located at 39 S. Fielding St., Paris, Id..

Listed below is the Agenda:

Discussion Items
1. Recognition of outgoing boardmembers
2. Review of Meadow Row Farms Preliminary Plat-Glade Hymas
3. Lot splits
a. Robert Schmidt
b. Jeff Forsberg
4. Old Business
Zoning map
5. Approval of the minutes
6. Adjournment
Top of Page

3/14/11 Commissioners Meeting Minutes:

The Board of Bear Lake County Commissioners met in regular session on March 14, 2011, beginning at 9:00 A.M. in the School District #33 Board Room in Paris Idaho. Members present were Vaughn N. Rasmussen, Chairman, Montain D. Kunz, DeMar Romrell and Kerry Haddock, Clerk of the Board.

Lynn Lewis, Assessor, Brent Bunn, Sheriff, Tricia Poulsen, Treasurer, Rosa Moosman and Bill Stock also attended the meeting.

AGENDA
Solid Waste Ordinance discussion, Courthouse remodel update, Hay Bids and a conference call with Senator Risch's office were added to the agenda. Commissioner Romrell made a motion seconded by Commissioner Kunz to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried.

ELECTED OFFICIALS
Treasurer presented a tax cancellation for personal property tax on lottery equipment which is exempt by state statute. Commissioner Kunz made a motion seconded by Commissioner Romrell to approve the cancellation. Motion carried. She also asked the Commissioners to raise the fee for returned checks. This will require a public hearing which will be advertised for the May meeting. Assessor Lynn Lewis informed the Commissioners that he was about half done processing circuit breaker applications. He noted that the use of the Senior Citizens Center was a great help in gathering and processing the applications. Sheriff Bunn presented his monthly report. Average jail population for February was 5.3 prisoners per day.

MINUTES APPROVED
Commissioner Kunz made a motion seconded by Commissioner Romrell to approve the minutes of the February 14, 2011 regular meeting and the February 18, 2011 special meeting. Motion carried.

COMMITTEE ASSIGMENTS
Commissioner Kunz reported that at the last meeting of the RC & D, there were reports of Federal funding cuts. The Commissioners also discussed the status of the Envision project.

PARIS HILLS MINE
Jim Geyer and James Napier updated the Commissioners on the exploration activity at the Paris Hills Mine. They had shut down operations for 6 to 8 weeks for the muddy season. Plans were to resume operations when it dries up and work for two months this summer and then wait for BLM approval to drill on their land in the fall. They wanted to keep the Commissioners informed of their activity and asked for feedback from the Commissioners if they receive comments from the community.

LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS
JoAnn Taylor and Lisa Transtrum reported on the progress of the Skinner Canyon and South Liberty Irrigation Districts. The projects were nearing completion and the next step will be a public hearing on the assessment rolls. They hoped to be ready for the public hearings by mid to late April.

LTAC GRANT
Jeanie Meacham, Keller and Associates, updated the Commissioners on the status of an LTAC grant application for pavement work on the Dingle to Hot Springs Road. She also suggested ways to improve our applications for grant projects in the future. Lori Haddock, Bear Lake Blueprint, noted that a bike path on that same route was a priority of many of the participants in the Blueprint process. Commissioner Romrell made a motion seconded by Commissioner Kunz to sign an agreement with Keller to help upgrade Road and Bridge programs not to exceed $2,820. Motion carried.

REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Kathy Ray presented an annual report of the activities of the Regional Economic Development Office. She also requested funding in next year's budget for the Office. The office is funded by Southeast Counties and the State.

SENIOR CITIZENS AND JAIL
Griff Lloyd expressed appreciation to the Commissioners for their support of the Senior Citizens Center and asked them to continue the support. He also asked the Commissioners to continue considering a jail in the County. Commissioners indicated that this was not likely under current financial conditions.

SOUTH HILL COMMUNICATION TOWER
Alan Eborn asked the Commissioners to sign an agreement with Whisper Mountain to upgrade our street overlay for the enhanced 911 project. The cost would be reimbursed with grant money. Commissioner Kunz made a motion seconded by Commissioner Romrell to approve the agreement. Motion carried. He also discussed the South Hill Communication Tower. He will contact the land owner and explore the option of leasing ground for a tower next to the Verizon tower.

LOT SPLIT
The Commissioners discussed an illegal lot split near Bloomington. The split was done several years ago and the owners now wanted to build on the property. The property was split so there was no access. The Commissioners will ask the property owners to approach Planning and Zoning to see if there can be a resolution.

JUDGE BROWER
Judge Brower met with the Commissioners to discuss his move to Bannock County due to some family matters. He planned to commute to Paris several days per week to continue providing the Magistrate Judge duties for the County until the Supreme Court decided to fill the Magistrate position. This may be several years due to the economic conditions. The Supreme Court had approved the move and the Commissioners were receptive to the change.

EXECUTIVE SESSION
Commissioner Romrell made a motion seconded by Commissioner Kunz to convene in executive session per Idaho Code 67-2345 (f, d, and e) to discuss indigent claims, legal issues and Personnel issues. All Commissioners voted yes in a roll call vote.

Following the executive session Commissioner Kunz made a motion seconded by Commissioner Romrell to act on indigent cases as follows:

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE CLAIMS
Case No. 2010-19 - Final Denial - Provider withdrew appeal; not last resource
Case No. 2009-32 & 2010-20 - Approved - Medically indigent; Medically necessary; Obligated County; Last resource; Emergency.
Case No. 2009-14 - Approved - Medically indigent, Medically necessary; Obligated County; Last resource, Emergency.
Case No. 2010-04 & 2010-11 - Approved - Medically indigent; Medically necessary; Last resource; Obligated County; Emergency.
Case No. 2011-05 - Suspended - Pending SSD/Medicaid.
Case No. 2011-03 - Final Denial - Provider withdrew application; Not last resource - Approved for SSD/Medicaid.

LIQUOR LICENSE
Louis Pope asked the Commissioners to approve a liquor license for the Clover Creek Saloon in Montpelier. He had a State license and inspection. Commissioner Romrell made a motion seconded by Commissioner Kunz to approve the license. Motion carried.

SUNDAY LIQUOR SALES
Tony Crowson, Coopers Bar/Restaurant, and Louis Pope, Clover Creek Saloon, asked the Commissioners to consider allowing Sunday sale of liquor by the drink. The State allowed Counties to approve Sunday sales in the mid 1980's and many Idaho Counties had done so. They also noted that Utah had approved liquor by the drink on Sundays about 10 years ago. Mr. Crowson felt that having Idaho's laws more restrictive than Utah's along the Lake had some effect on his Sunday business. The Commissioners wanted to check with neighboring Counties and will consider the request at their next meeting.

MARCH 8th ELECTION CANVASS
Clerk Haddock presented the election results for the School Districts #33 and #150 supplemental levies and #150 plant facilities levy. All had passed by the required majority. Acting as a Board of Canvassers, Commissioner Romrell made a motion seconded by Commissioner Kunz to accept the abstract of votes as presented by the Clerk. Motion carried.

AIRPORT NAME CHANGE
The Commissioners discussed changing the name of the Bear Lake County Airport to the Bear Lake Regional Airport. This would require a formal Resolution of the Board and a letter requesting the change being sent to the FAA in Seattle. The Commissioners decided to table the matter for now and do further investigation into the benefits.

CORTHOUSE UPDATE
Wayne Davidson gave an update on a potential Courthouse remodel. He asked the Commissioners for approval of a proposal to provide a concept plan from an architect who was doing some nearby work in the County. The fee would be $1,700. Commissioner Kunz made a motion seconded by Commissioner Romrell to accept the proposal. Motion carried.

FINANCIAL AUDIT
Gary Teuscher presented the 2010 fiscal year audit. He went through the audit in detail with the Commissioners. The Commissioners wanted to study the audit in detail and will wait until next meeting to approve the audit.

SENATOR RISCH'S OFFICE CONFERENCE CALL
The Commissioner had a short conference call with Jeremy in Senator Risch's office. The major concerns were potential funding cuts in PILT, Secure Rural Schools and R C & D.

BILLS APPROVED
Commissioners Kunz made a motion seconded by Commissioner Romrell to approve the current bills. Motion carried.

REPORT GRAND TOTAL . . . . TOTAL WARRANTS . . . . . 181,707.13 165
TOTAL VOID/CANCEL . . . . . 210.26 * * TOTAL VOIDED/CANCEL FOR THE PERIOD SELECTED * *
NET WARRANTS . . . . . 181,496.87

ACTION ITEMS
Solid Waste Ordinance
Forest access - Surnge Canyon and Fossil Canyon
ATV use in Fish Haven Canyon
Regional Airport Name

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

Top of Page

3/14/11 Commissioners Meeting Notice (Pending):

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

9:15 A.M. COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

9:30 A.M. JIM GEYER & BILL NAPIER - AGRICOM INC. - Update on Paris Hills Exploration Drilling

9:45 A.M. JOANN TAYLOR & LISA TRANSTRUM - Bear Lake Soil & Water - L.I.D.

10:00 A.M. KELLER & ASSOC. & LTAC GRANT - Dingle East Shore Road & Future Work

10:15 A.M. KATHY RAY - REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - Annual Report & Request for Funding

10:30 A.M. GRIFF LLOYD - Senior Citizens & Jail

10:45 A.M. ALAN EBORN - South Hill Communication Tower

11:00 A.M. REESE LOT SPLIT

11:15 A.M. JUDGE LYNN BROWER - Judicial Position

11:30 A.M. PUBLIC COMMENTS

11:45 A.M. EXECUTIVE SESSION - Medical Assistance Claims, Legal Issues, Personnel Issues

LUNCH

1:00 P.M. SUNDAY LIQUOR SALES/CLOVER CREEK INN LIQUOR LICENSE

1:15 P.M. CANVASS OF MARCH 8, 2011 SUPPLEMENTAL LEVY ELECTION

1:30 P.M. AIRPORT NAME CHANGE

1:45 P.M. 2010 FINANCIAL AUDIT

2:00 P.M.

2:15 P.M.

2:30 P.M.

2:45 P.M.

3:00 P.M.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Road & Bridge Issues/Solid Waste Issues

NEW BUSINESS
Approve February's Bills/Minutes

Road & Bridge/Solid Waste Issues

Executive Session - Medical Assistance Claims

Tax Cancellation

New Liquor License
Top of Page

Return to the Bear Lake County Web Site - Minutes & Public Notices