These are selected and adapted reports of the county commission meeting held December 8 and December 22.  The official minutes were recorded by Deputy Clerk Shanci Dorius. 

From December 8 –
Powerstation Report

Malad recently experienced a major power outage lasting at least l4 hours. During the event, the emergency deportment focused on providing food, shelter, and heat.

The Event Center was open for those needing shelter, though most who arrived primarily needed power to charge cell phones.

Generators, water, and sewage disposal were addressed as part of the emergency response. A portable generator could not initially be token to the school because someone had removed the valve stems from its tires. The generator was repaired at the shop and checked to ensure proper operation; the school is wired to run on the three-phase generator.

Rocky Mountain Power (RMP) reported that it will be of least six months before the substation is fully repaired. ln the interim, the county will rely on the portable station. To minimize risk in the event of damage to a power pole, Rocky Mountain Power plans a six-week project to repair the bus line.

The outage highlighted both strengths and areas for improvement in emergency preparedness. Citizens can access the Event Center or the high school, both equipped with generators, and the hospital con provide short-term meals. The Red Cross could provide additional shelter with tents, heat, and cots. Planning for future contingencies, generators ore being checked regularly, and citizens ore encouraged to maintain emergency supplies.

The emergency communications system was reported to be 85-90% effective, helping identify residents needing resources such as heat or oxygen. Certain generators may require manual activation and rood canditions may complicate operations in future emergency situations.

The County plans to gather the Local Advisory Planning Committee (LAPC) and all relevant entities in late January after the bus line repair to debrief on the outage and identify improvements, particularly for potential winter emergencies. No decisions were made.

December 22

Rocky Mountain Power -
Substation Update

Steve Leichty with Rocky Mountain Power and Oneida County Emergency Services Manager Dan Williams reported on the recent failure of the substation in Malad. The protective devices intended to safeguard the transformer did not operate as expected. The transformer must be replaced, and all three breakers, along with the bus work, were damaged. The upstream device protecting the transformer was also damaged. Testing and review of the protective devices will be canducted to determine why they did not perform as designed.

Currently, only one of the three breakers is feeding the entire area, which could make power restoration more challenging if another event occurs downstream. There is concern regarding the ground grid, which consists of ground rods spaced every 6–8 feet. The three distribution breakers will need to be replaced and rebuilt. The estimated repair timeline is six months, although this may change once the ground grid assessment is complete. The plan is to rebuild while the substation remains in operation.

Mr. Leichty noted that events such as this reveal system weaknesses and opportunities for improvement. Rocky Mountain Power appreciates the support of the community. No decisions were made.

Oneida County Vessel
Fund Report

The statute governing Vessel Funds allows expenditures that support public boating access, safety, and facilities. Approved expenditures may include training personnel, providing public boating safety education, constructing or repairing boating access sites, and canducting boating inspections. Sheriff Doug Williams suggested the county use the available Vessel Funds to purchase a search and rescue drone, noting how useful such equipment would have been in 2024 when a vehicle entered the Weston Reservoir and needed to be located.

Sheriff Williams stated that he priced a drone and estimated that the combined cost of registration, operator training, and miscellaneous expenses would be close to the $26,291 in Vessel Funds currently available.

Probation Policy
Suggested Updates

County Probation Officer Gabe Jimenez brought suggested updates to the Probation Policy before the Board of Commissioners, stating that the largest changes would be under the “use of force” section. The proposed updates would specifically add the use of OC spray (similar to pepper spray) and include training on its use for de-escalation of force. 

Prior to proposing the changes, Mr. Jimenez stated that the current policy was reviewed by several law enforcement peers from various locations throughout Idaho. Following this review, Mr. Jimenez contacted ICRMP, which provided sample policies from three Idaho organizations. If the Board approves the proposed changes, the document will be submitted to ICRMP for review before returning to the Board of Commissioners for final approval. Mr. Jimenez stated he foresees the document being reviewed with the commissioners on an annual basis. 

Proposed Commissioner
Meeting Schedule - 2026

An error was identified on the December 2026 meeting schedule, which listed the first meeting on the first Manday of the month rather than the secand Manday, as required by Idaho Code. To remain compliant, the commissioners changed the meeting date to December 14.

129K Overweight Vehicle
Permits - Hess Pumice

Six 129,000-pound overweight vehicle permits for 2026 were submitted by Hess Pumice for commissioner approval, listing them as permit numbers 1 thru 6.  Approved.

Engage Wellness Update

County Clerk Lon Colton reported on discussions with Engage Wellness and Computer Arts regarding incorporation of the program. Computer Arts will set up a beta test. The program is not expected to affect the budget, though a few budget lines will need to be added to allow for proper tracking. Estimated implementation is in January.

The agreement sent by Engage Wellness has been reviewed by legal counsel. Attorney Lyle Fuller requested that Engage Wellness provide a representation or warranty ensuring compliance with all tax laws. He also noted that some indemnifications could be removed and that paragraph 6 on page 4 lists the wrong location. Attorney Fuller requested a redline version for review before a final copy is presented for commissioner approval. No decisions were made.

Ballot Security Measures Compliant with Idaho Code 34-901

County Clerk Lon Colton explained updates to ballot security measures being implemented to enhance election integrity. Several audit measures are in place to detect any fraudulent attempts, including an audit at the state level through the Secretary of State’s office.  

The County will be moving to a ballot-on-demand system rather than using pre-printed ballots. During the voting process, voters provide identification, are checked in, and the issuing clerk tears off the ballot and stamps it with an official stamp. With the ballot-on-demand system, the ballot is printed and stamped during the check-in process. The Idaho Statewide Voter Registration System (ISVRS) tracks all activity and provides immediate updates when voters are checked into the system. No decisions were made.

Credit Card Use

Discussion was held regarding the Credit Card Policy, specifically the prohibition on tips. Clarification was requested concerning holiday meals and the allowance of a $100 tip. It was noted that the Fairboard appears to maintain separate bank accounts and credit cards outside of the county, while expenditures associated with the county require commissioner authorization.

It was further noted that the policy should address tipping related to authorized group activities, such as annual dinners or events involving volunteer service (including the Fairboard, Planning and Zoning, and IAC meetings), and clearly distinguish those situations from employee per diem expenses. The need to specify “group activities authorized by the county” within the policy was identified.

Non-Medical Indigent

County Clerk Lon Colton provided examples of non-medical indigent policies from other counties. Currently, Oneida County donates $500 annually to the Interfaith Council. The Board discussed the option of drafting an official resolution to address non-medical expenses, but it was also noted that the county could continue with the annual donation, accompanied by a statement specifying what the county will and will not cover, which could be posted on the county website.

P&Z Office Staffing

During a budget meeting earlier this year, the Planning & Zoning Administrator Rhanda Neal indicated she would retire in July 2026 and recently stated she plans to honor that commitment unless the county finds a replacement before that time. The board agreed that all of the facets related to that role need to be identified after the first of the year. No decisions were made. 

Mutual Aid Agreement With Other Counties

At the last 4-county commissioner meeting, it was suggested that the county’s mutual aid policy be updated. County Clerk Lon Colton located two previous versions, updated in 2019 and 2021. The versions were very similar, with the main difference appearing on page 2 of the most recent version. No decisions were made.

Proposed Commissioner Assignments and Chairman for 2026 Chairman responsibilities and assignments for 2026 were discussed. It was unanimously decided to keep the chairman designation and commissioner assignments unchanged in 2026.

December 8 and 22

Area of Impact

Mayor Hawkins stated that she was surprised by concerns from residents, noting that the city has only pursued annexation twice since she began serving on the City Council in 2001. ln the future, a better explanation or a newspaper write-up was suggested to mitigate misconceptions. The mayor clarified again that the city has not been interested in annexing, and recent changes to annexation rules make it more difficult to do so.

Discussion included areas with existing city services. The north end of the map highlighted parcels in blue on the west, which have city water (three houses). An orange-highlighted area represents an approved subdivision with only one home currently. The potential for extending water and sewer, starting in the northwest corner, was discussed. The city engineer would need to be consulted for areas that are uphill or require a looped system. The reduced pressure zone on 4th and 1st was rebuilt last year and is the only area known to have pressure issues. Areas within the green line were considered feasible for sewer and water, though the northern port of town presents challenges.

Statements, including one prepared for Ada County, were reviewed. Public input at the hearing included several citizens in favor of reducing the impact zone and one in favor of keeping it the same. The map presented of the hearing was smaller than the 2023 version and is considered a suggested area.

Commissioners and city representatives discussed boundaries and agreed on the proposed changes. The Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Low (FFCL) will be presented of the next commissioner meeting for final approval, and Deputy Assessor Jaime Olsen will update the map to reflect the agreed-upon changes. It was also noted that property values do not change based on inclusion in the area of impact, and the city may annex property regardless of its location relative to the area of impact.

Adoption of Impact Area
Ordinance No. 2025-12-01
and Findings of Fact and
Conclusions of Law

A public hearing was held on December 2, 2025, with discussion occurring during the meeting that followed the hearing. The Ordinance and Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law (FFCL) were prepared by Attorney Lyle Fuller. Following the hearing, Exhibit A, including the legal description and map, was updated by Deputy Assessor Jaime Olsen using information provided during the hearing and meeting. The new impact area shrinks what was previously in place.

Commissioner Eliason motioned to accept Area of Impact Ordinance 2025-12-01 and the Area of Impact Factual Findings dated December 22, 2025. Secanded by Commissioner Jeppsen. All ayes. Motion carried.