The following is adapted from the official minutes recorded by Clerk Shanci Dorius, and has been edited for length and context.  Full information can be found on the County website.

Department Updates & Highlights 

Road and Bridge

Road & Bridge Supervisor Dianna Dredge reported a successful year for her department and cited the completion of 28.7 miles of chip seal and 1.5 miles of scrub coat on Old Highway 191 this year as well as 87.8 miles of dust guard put down this spring. Asphalt was put down on Depot Road in preparation for the Bannock Street Project next year. A small portion of 2-Mile going to 300 East was also asphalted. A lift of gravel was placed across Whelp’s Ridge and the department has also worked on patching and blading roads throughout the county and repairing a few roads after heavy rainstorms.

The Woodruff Bridge project is nearing completion. The blocks have been set down and the Road & Bridge department is waiting to set the Supersills and the bridge, which is scheduled to be here on October 15. The Supersills must be set for about two weeks before the bridge can be placed.

The department is still working to complete the Transportation Plan by March 2026 and preparing for the winter season by stocking salt in the shed, blading as many roads as possible, mowing roadsides, and preparing to purchase a new snow plow truck. Road Scholar certification courses for two employees will be scheduled soon. Additionally, Ms. Dredge hopes to repave a 1-mile section of road in Arbon and continue the process as much as possible until the grant funding for the Arbon Road Project comes through sometime in the next few years. 

The department is still hoping to hire a qualified and trained person to fill the open position  in the department and has set aside funds in the budget for when someone fills that role.

Emergency Services 

Emergency Services Manager Dan Williams attended the recent Southeastern Idaho Public Health Community Partners meeting on Infectious Diseases.  Commissioners previously approved up to $100 for refreshments for the upcoming Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) meeting.

The Shield 616 Project members will be doing a fundraising ride from Idaho to Utah in an effort to raise funds to purchase equipment for Law Enforcement. Commissioners recently approved allowing the group to use the Event Center and the Emergency Services department is providing cots for the group, as they will spend the night in Malad.

Emergency Services Manager Dan Williams has been putting together a local Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Command Staff and is looking to fill 3 positions, such as Operations & Finance &  Planning Coordinators. The roles would center around management, operations, planning, logistics, or finance. Whoever fills those roles will need the ICS 402 training for elected officials – a 4-hour training. Emergency Operations Center Director (Area Field Officer) Daren Letzring is available in October. November timeframe for any training the county may wish to schedule. Mailers providing information to sign up for alerts will be sent to each county household. The mailers have been ordered but with the price of printing (even with a discount) and postage, the total is $100 above the previously approved amount. It was confirmed that the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) funds are available and the commissioners need only to approve the additional $100.

Commissioner Jeppsen motioned to amend the spending limit from $750 to $850 for the project of sending out mailers to the county with regards to emergency communications and emergency preparedness. Seconded by Commissioner Eliason. Motion carried.

Building Inspector 

In 2025, Oneida County issued 73 building permits: 6 commercial buildings, 27 outbuildings, 18 single-family dwellings, 2 multi-residential buildings, and 20 miscellaneous permits. This reflects a decrease from the 112 permits issued in 2024.

Single-family dwelling permits may increase in 2026 due to approved subdivisions and lower interest rates.

The courtroom remodel is complete, and a jury trial was recently held in the updated space. The courthouse remodel is still in progress. Carpet installation on the main and upper floors is scheduled for the end of September. Parking lot lines have been repainted, though handicap spaces are still awaiting final striping. Appreciation was extended to the committee for their work on the courthouse remodel. The next phase will focus on renovating the basement bathrooms and installing new blinds in the Treasurer’s Office.

At the swimming pool, lighting installation is pending and the sprinkler system requires repairs.

Weeds

Oneida County Weed Supervisor Cody Clyde has been busy monitoring summer projects, treating new fall weed growth, doing roadside spraying, and certifying weed-free hay and forage. The renewal of the county’s 5-year contract with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) ensures long-term support for invasive weed control, protecting farmland, rangeland, and natural habitats across the county. The 2026 contract allocates $536,000 over 5-years. This year’s contract includes a clause that would allow the Weed Supervisor to hire out some of the spraying work.

Earlier this year, the county was contacted by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regarding alleged unauthorized spraying on BLM land and the letter included a bill for compensation. After the county responded with letters explaining its understanding of the situation and that permission was implied, no further action was taken. Instead, the BLM reduced next year’s contracted amount from $536,000 down to $523,000 and waived the bill to the county for the unauthorized spraying. Additionally, the BLM will provide Oneida County with $30,000 for the remainder of this year and Mr. Clyde will assess what work is needed in the hills.

Earlier this year, Mr. Clyde identified Mediterranean Sage growing in Oneida County although it has never been known to be in Idaho before. The spray initially killed the weed, but brand-new rosettes are starting to grow. The soil residual effect Mr. Clyde was hoping for was ineffective. He plans to request additional funds from the state (the original spraying cost $6000; the state provided $5,000).

Bio Control is relatively new to Oneida County, though Montana has been utilizing it for some time. Mr. Clyde obtained microscopic mites for morning glory control and released them in an area he was able to monitor. The mites appear to have been effective, as the morning glory in that area was significantly reduced. Mr. Clyde is hoping to obtain biological control agents for thistle and Mediterranean Sage.

A TORT claim may be forthcoming due to damage sustained to the county weed department’s truck and a resident’s automatic watering trough (the Wittman’s) while the truck was being driven by a county employee.

Weeds - Hylio Drone 

The County’s Hylio drone has experienced ongoing issues, including crashes early this summer and again in September. In both incidents, the drone flew into a programmed no-fly zone and crashed. After the first crash, Weed Supervisor Cody Clyde received a $500 replacement part from Hylio that did not fit. When contacted, the company suggested modifying the part using a Dremel tool.  On September 10, while spraying weeds at the fairgrounds, the drone operated for about two hours before flying off course and crashing into the stands. Damage is estimated at a minimum of $5,000, with a more accurate figure pending.

Since purchase, the drone has been difficult to operate, often requiring extensive setup and frequent resets due to recurring issues with flight control. Attempts to get support from the company have been met with unhelpful responses and time-consuming software updates. The one-year warranty expired in April, and the County is no longer eligible for coverage under it.  A claim has been filed with the county’s insurance provider, ICRMP. The drone is insured for $30,000 with a $1,500 deductible.

P&Z - Rezoning for Hess Pumice and Highland Harvest 

Hess Pumice Company originally owned a parcel of land, from which 14 acres (Parcel RP0333602) were sold to Highland Harvest. Hess Pumice retained the remaining 37 acres (Parcel RP0333601). Both parties have submitted a rezoning application to the Planning & Zoning Commission, requesting that the land be designated as Industrial.

Because no specific use has been identified for the 37-acre parcel retained by Hess Pumice, the Planning & Zoning Commission presented the Board of Commissioners with proposed Development Agreements (DA) for both parcels. The agreements are intended to require that all future uses — even those normally permitted under the Industrial Zoning Code — must first obtain a Conditional Use Permit (CUP). This approach aims to ensure that any future development is subject to public review and compatible with surrounding uses.

Highland Harvest has identified its intended use for the 14-acre parcel as a grain storage facility. The company’s CUP application received a favorable recommendation from the Planning &Zoning Commission. The property is adjacent to an existing industrial park, making it contiguous with other industrial zoning. However, to the east of Highland Harvest’s parcel is a residentially zoned area, and buffering will be required to minimize potential impacts. A Development Agreement would also help protect nearby residential properties.

During the public hearing, it was determined that the 37-acre Hess parcel should also be subject to a Development Agreement requiring a Conditional Use Permit for any future use. Planning & Zoning Administrator Rhonda Neal noted that a traffic impact study would likely be necessary before development and that the Development Agreements are not meant to restrict the owners, but to protect adjacent properties. 

Hess Pumice’s legal counsel expressed concern about the requirement for a Development Agreement, requesting that the rezone be approved with only a CUP process in place. Hess currently has no development plans but would like to keep the option open for future economic development. The rezoning process began in March/April, and both Hess Pumice and Highland Harvest are seeking resolution to move forward.  Highland Harvest’s legal counsel also raised concerns about the Development Agreement being overly detailed, noting that some conditions appear to overlap or conflict with the CUP process. Their recommendation was to simplify the Development Agreement so that it clearly states a CUP is required, and then allow the CUP process to outline any specific development conditions.

Commissioners and legal counsel discussed possible solutions, including amending the zoning table to treat all permitted uses in the Industrial zone as conditional uses, though that would require a public hearing and procedural time. Both property owners expressed willingness to accept a rezone with a Development Agreement that simply requires a CUP for any proposed use, with the CUP containing the specific terms and conditions. County Attorney Lyle Fuller advised caution in approving a rezone without finalized Development Agreements in place. He recommended that the Development Agreements be completed and reviewed before any rezone is formally approved.  Highland Harvest expressed interest in moving forward with the rezone as soon as possible to begin development. Hess Pumice confirmed that they have no development plans for their 37-acre parcel within the next 12 months. Planning & Zoning will be reviewing potential code updates during that same timeframe.

A motion to rezone both parcels RP0333601 and RP0333602 as industrial keeping in place the Conditional Use Permit requirement and not require Development Agreements was approved.