This report is adapted from the official minutes recorded and graciously provided by Deputy Clerk Shanci Dorius.  This report presents highlights of the report, and is not itself official.

Department Updates and Highlights 

Probation 

Probation Officer Gabe Jimenez expressed satisfaction with the department’s operations, noting that they’ve had low numbers (a positive trend) for some time. He highlighted a few examples to support this, such as moving an individual from juvenile detention in St. Anthony to a facility where they may receive medication and treatment while also accessing services that help with housing and employment. Mr. Jimenez reported having only one juvenile in detention currently and mentioned that the adults he works with are doing well. When asked about previous tutoring offerings, he shared that he has been helping students himself rather than hiring a tutor.

Sheriff – Purchase of Trailer

The sheriff’s office plans to sell a trailer and purchase one more suited to their needs. To fund this, they have proposed splitting the $8,000 cost between grants, a topic discussed in commissioner meeting last December. Due to recent changes in government policy, a letter was sent to the Idaho Office of Emergency Management outlining an additional review process that must be completed before State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) funds can be released for grants.

The Commissioners understand that, under the new guidelines, they can still approve the trailer purchase. However, the release of funds by the Idaho Office of Emergency Management (IOEM) will be contingent upon the completion of this additional review.

If the funds are denied or not released before the quote from Bear Lake Trailer Sales expires, the board will need to re-approve the purchase. Should the previously approved EAN for the trailer be denied after the review, the SHSP funds could be used for alternative purposes, and the trailer could still be purchased.

A motion to approve the purchase contingent upon review passed.

Sheriff – Opioid Funds Request

The Oneida County Opioid Committee (OCOC) reviewed an opioid fund request, which was determined to align with the approved opioid abatement strategies.  The application was subsequently presented to the commissioners for approval.  

The request proposes offering scholarships to individuals who meet several criteria: they must be a 2025 Malad High School graduate, be accepted to a nationally accredited college or university with a verified major in mental health counseling or nursing, and complete the scholarship application by the April 17, 2025 deadline, which includes a 500-word essay. The scholarship applications will be reviewed by the OCOC, with first place receiving $1,000, second place receiving $750, and third place receiving $500.

The motion was approved.

Sheriff – Vertiv Service Renewal

The Vertiv battery backup service for the courthouse was included with the original purchase of the battery, but has now expired and needs to be renewed. The contract includes one preventive maintenance service per year with an annual agreement. Sergeant Dallas Jones will serve as the county’s point of contact for scheduling the annual maintenance.

There were questions raised regarding the contract, prompting Sergeant Jones to leave the meeting to make inquiries. Upon returning, he reported that the price has increased to $3,000 per year and confirmed that the coverage is currently expired.

While reviewing the contract, Attorney Lyle Fuller raised concerns about the indemnification clauses and will contact Vertiv to discuss the possibility of amending them. The renewal contract topic will be revisited at a future meeting.

Emergency Preparedness Fair

Brian & Karen Kerr have reserved the Event Center for the upcoming Emergency Preparedness Fair on June 7, 2025. The Kerrs reported they are in the process of gathering individuals with diverse expertise to assist in areas such as health, gardening, farming, first responders, and more. It was also noted that the Malad LDS Stake has committed $500 to be used toward the fair’s expenses.

The fair will feature four presentations in the conference room throughout the day, and informational tables will be set up in the main area of the Event Center, covering a variety of topics such as emergency plans, reverse 911, health, and more. Advertising for the event will include social media, the county website, and newspaper ads.

Extension – NRA Grant Acceptance

County Extension Agent Sawyer Fonnesbeck provided an update on the National Rifle Association (NRA) Grant that the extension office applied for last October in its effort to form a 4-H rifle club for county youth ages 12-18. The grant award amount is up to $2,370 and requires an acceptance signature from the board of commissioners. 

Policy and guidelines for safety were discussed. Mr. Fonnesbeck assured commissioners that no club meetings will be held until an instructor is identified and certified through the 4-H and that no child will participate until they are properly enrolled. Mr. Fonnesbeck made emphasized that gun safety is a core focus of the club and clarified that the program is not intended to replace hunter safety classes. 
Approved.

Extension – Screen and Projector for the Event Center

A large screen and projector were acquired for the Event Center when the county was invited to walk through the old elementary school (prior to demolition) and select items that would be useful.  County Extension Agent Sawyer Fonnesbeck is working with Building Maintenance Manager Tory Richardson on the logistics for mounting the screen and projector in the main room of the event center. A bid from Gwen’s Electric will be submitted for the electrical portion of the project.

Hospital Board Member

Cindy Boyer offered her resignation from the hospital board. Ms. Boyer has given excellent service during her tenure. Commissioner Lewis nominated Lance Bird as her replacement.

Airport Board

The airport board has been operating with six members instead of the typical five, which made it difficult to achieve a quorum or majority for decision-making. Terry Davis has resigned, reducing the board to five members, which will remain the permanent board size. A thank-you note for Mr. Davis was signed by commissioners.

Airport – Farm Lease Renewal Agreement

When the airport received the grant for runway reconstruction a few years ago, the process of tearing out and rebuilding the runway reduced the acreage of farm land leased to Paul Hubbard. The updated farm lease agreement addresses the corresponding reduction in the lease price, which decreased from $1,750 per year to $1,300 per year.

Airport – Runway Lighting Support

The Oneida County Airport Manager reported that the runway lighting is outdated and unrepairable. It was also noted that the county road at the north end of the airport is too high, risking aircraft clipping semi-trucks during takeoff or landing. Possible solutions include relocating the lighting or lowering the road. The airport board consulted with an engineer from JUB in Twin Falls, who recommended applying for a state grant in the next few years to rework the airport lighting.

The airport is requesting support from the Board of Commissioners for a matching grant and a statement of the county’s commitment to proceed with the grant application. The average state grant amount is $314,000, and a 50% match would require approximately $150,000-$157,000. It was suggested that the county set aside $50,000-$75,000 annually over the next two years for the matching funds.

IDAWY Building Permit

Several years ago, IDAWY was hired to manage the county landfill. It has become necessary to install a transfer station and eventually a scale, which needs to go through the permit process, the cost of which might be up to $2,500 for the administration, conditional use permit and engineering fees.

Commissioner Lewis motioned to authorize having all fees associated with the permit process, including those from the building and from planning & zoning.

IDAWY Progress of Landfill Transfer Station 

A landfill transfer station will be constructed at the current Oneida County landfill site. The station will be a covered building with a small employee area on one side. Trucks will be parked in a designated space where solid waste can be loaded for transfer. The waste will then be transported to a landfill equipped with a proper liner to prevent ground contamination. In the future, a scale will be installed at the transfer station for weighing the waste.

IDAWY is responsible for managing the county landfill. While IDAWY serves multiple counties, Oneida County is only responsible for costs associated with activities within our county, such as the construction of the new transfer station building. Expenses for shared resources with the other counties are distributed accordingly.

Codification for County Codes

The cost for codifying all county codes could exceed $10,000. Commissioners are exploring ways to make this process as cost-effective as possible. Codification of the documents will provide easier access to the county codes, including the
development code.

Commissioner Lewis reviewed all known ordinances on file, estimating the total page count to be between 375 and 425 pages. Further examination of the documents may reduce the page count if any ordinances have been repealed. Additional review and discussion will take place once more information has been gathered.

Request to Vacate a Road – Kendall’s

A letter was received from Bart and Julie Kendall requesting a petition to vacate or abandon the section of 6100 West, from the intersection of 2500 North to 3000 North. The Kendalls stated that all surrounding landowners can access their properties via 2500 North or 5600 West.

In their letter, the Kendalls requested that the road be returned to agricultural land and private property and that the road be marked as abandoned. The Kendalls also asked for the road to be removed from both Oneida County road maps and Google Maps.

A discussion between legal counsel Lyle Fuller and the commissioners highlighted the following points, concluding with a recommendation for the Kendalls to attend a commissioner meeting for further clarification and to finalize the details:

• The petitioners will cover any reasonable costs associated with the process.

• Commissioners will need to set a hearing date that allows compliance with Idaho Code, including mailing radius letters to neighboring property owners and considering any relevant underground utilities or irrigation interests.

• Determine whether the road was ever part of a platted subdivision or dedicated to the county by private landowners.

• The burden of proof will be on the petitioners (Kendalls).

• Commissioners are unwilling to landlock properties or cut off access to BLM land.

Cloud Seeders

Oneida County has twelve cloud seeders, which have been unused for a number of years.  Commissioner Swainston from Franklin County expressed interest in six of the cloud seeders and Attorney Lyle Fuller felt the best option may be to donate to Franklin County.

Courtroom Benches

When the courtroom remodel began, the courtroom benches were temporarily moved to the event center until a decision could be made regarding their future. A vendor will be using the event center for an upcoming large event, and the benches will be in the way.

Commissioner Eliason motioned to dispose of all courtroom benches except for the two currently on the west wall of the event center and designate the clerk’s office to be in charge of the disposal.  Seconded by Commissioner Jeppsen. All ayes. Motion carried.

Emergency Supplies

Commissioner Jeppsen reported that he and Dan Williams (Emergency Services) were ready to proceed with the previously authorized purchase of emergency supplies, but not in time to avoid the current freeze on government spending. Commissioner Jeppsen has also looked into purchasing non-perishable food items with the funds but no decision was made during the meeting.

HR Resources 

Commissioner Jeppsen is in communication with Molly Besaris from the Four County Alliance of Southeast Idaho (4CASI), who is checking on the availability of human resource (HR) services for the county. Commissioners discussed the scope of HR services, including hiring, onboarding, and related areas. The county previously contracted with Ameriben and is currently working with SMJ Consulting, which provides some HR services, such as handling complaints. Additionally, ICRMP can assist with certain HR aspects. It was suggested that department heads identify which HR services are necessary and which ones they would use before deciding to move forward.

Comprehensive Plan

Commissioner Jeppsen contacted the Southeast Idaho Council of Governments (SICOG) since the last commissioner meeting. SICOG confirmed that they review comprehensive plans for a fee, a service they offer to their in-house member communities. They are willing to provide Oneida County with a bid based on information the county provides.