Commissioner's Minutes 03-13-06

COMMISSIONERS MINUTES MARCH 13, 2006

The Elmore County Commissioners met in regular session on the above date in the basement of the Elmore County Courthouse, 150 South 4^th East, Mountain Home, Idaho.

Present at the meeting were Chairperson Mary Egusquiza and Commissioners Larry Rose and Connie Cruser. Also present at the meeting were Clerk Gail Best and her Chief Deputy Merrilee Hiler.

Greg Mauer, 895 North 6^th East, and Cindy Terriberry Kencke, 675 North 8^th East, representing Elmore Medical Center appeared before the Board to discuss their future bond issue planning activities. Mr. Mauer stated they are involved in a facility master planning process, and have been working with the news media. Mr. Mauer stated they have now held seven Community Focus Group meetings, which have involved approximately ninety-four people in all the area communities. Mr. Mauer stated that the input at the meetings was very encouraging, some very positive remarks, and some very interested in the Long Term Care. Mr. Mauer stated that Ms. Kencke will Chair a committee on Elder Care to see how to address changes in long term care which are occurring all over the country and address future community needs. Mr. Mauer stated the message at the meetings was that people want to remain at home as long as possible. The Elder Care Task Force will bring together all the resources in the area such as home health agencies, assisted living facilities, representatives from area communities, the medical center, the medical staff, economic development, and the Western Elmore County Recreation District to work on a plan. Mr. Mauer stated the new model for care is a retirement community setting that has several options, such as independent living apartments, assisted living areas and acute care settings. Chairperson Egusquiza stated that her Mother had lived in that kind of setting over in Boise.

Ms. Kencke stated the Elder Care Task Force will meet for two days, May 5^th and May 6^th, and has already been selected from people expressing interest in serving during their Focus Group meetings. The first day will be an education day and then they will focus on what to report back to the community. Chairperson Egusquiza asked Ms. Kencke who will be serving on the Task Force and Ms. Kencke asked if she would like to see a list. Mr. Mauer then stated that it probably was not a good idea.

Bud Adams, 460 East 2^nd North, asked who would be responsible for the nursing home patients? Mr. Adams asked if it would be the County who would be morally responsible? Chairperson Egusquiza stated that the local hospital is it’s own taxing district and therefore they are their own jurisdiction, with their own governing board, not the County’s responsibility. Mr. Adams asked, if that was the case, aren’t they receiving tax dollars and shouldn’t they be morally responsible to take care of people in need of skilled nursing services in a nursing home setting? Mr. Mauer stated that nursing homes will soon be a thing of the past, because they do not fit the new role model of care that people want. Mr. Mauer also stated that the nursing home is running at a financial loss and all across the country they are closing, being replaced by assisted living. Mr. Adams stated that people get past the option of being able to live in an assisted living setting, and then must be transferred to the nursing home environment. Mr. Mauer stated studies have shown that people prefer the assisted living setting and nursing homes will soon be a thing of the past because they are no longer viable options and are extremely expensive to run. Mr. Mauer added that the current facility is in need of over three million dollars in repair, mostly to mechanical equipment.

Clerk Best stated that, from personal experience with her Mother sometimes a person can no longer stay in an assisted living setting and there is no choice but to transfer to a nursing home. Clerk Best asked if the Task Force finds that a three phase community setting including all three options are needed, will such a facility come in? Mr Mauer stated that the Hospital has no plans for that. Clerk Best stated that she feels there has been some misleading statements made about how successful the Focus Group meetings were, because she had attended the first one, and virtually everyone present was against the nursing home coming out of the plan. Mr. Mauer stated that a higher percentage of participants accepted the plan at the first meeting, and Clerk Best stated she did not feel that was a true statement. Clerk Best concluded by stating that, in her opinion, the bond would never pass without a provision for care of nursing home patients.

Commissioner Rose stated that, in the County’s experience with the jail bond, the hospital better be prepared to answer the public’s questions to the public’s satisfaction, or the bond will not pass. Mr. Mauer said they realize that, and they would be prepared.

Gina Stamper, 805 West Franklin, Boise, representing Veteran’s Services in charge of Community Services for this area appeared before the Board. Ms. Stamper stated she was one of two service officers for the area, the other being Jacques Chunghee who handles Mountain Home Air Force Base and the Tapp program. Ms. Stamper stated that, according to the 2002 census there is a population of 6,800 veterans in Elmore County. Ms. Stamper stated that the money coming in to the County from the Veteran’s Administration is on the increase - in 2004 $217,000 per month was brought into the County and in 2005 $250,000 per month was brought in. All agreed this is very important thing for the County.

Motion by Egusquiza, second by Cruser, to go into Executive Session pursuant to I.C. 67-2345(b).

Expenses submitted for approval were reviewed. Motion by Rose, second by Cruser to approve the expenses, as submitted in the amount of $227,227.43, except for the red dot file.

Motion by Rose, second by Cruser, to approve the February payroll in the amount of $300,399.86.

Motion by Egusquiza, second by Rose, to approve, for the record only, the Recorder’s Office Report, Clerk’s Bail Bond Report and Treasurer’s Office Report for February as submitted.

Motion by Egusquiza, second by Rose, to approve the minutes for February 27, 2006. There was discussion and one word was deleted on page four.

A conference call was placed to Kari Vogt. A complaint received was discussed, Ms. Vogt told the Board she had a written response that she thought had been delivered to the Board by Irma Shenk. Ms. Vogt told the Board she would fax the response to Clerk Best to be given to the Board. Ms. Vogt also discussed with the Board her concern over an unqualified person doing standby at the White Knuckle races in Glenns Ferry.

Sheriff Rick Layher appeared before the Board to report on what the Transition Team was doing and some ideas that they were working on. The Team’s ideas were discussed. Clerk Best cautioned that revenues collected in the new facility were badly needed to balance the law enforcement budget so restraint needed to be exercised. Clerk Best pointed out if they wanted additional personnel on board six months early they had to begin thinking about where the money was coming from to pay for that expense.

A professional services contract for an Assistant Community Service Coordinator-Juvenile Probation with Amanda Stewart was reviewed by the Board. Motion by Egusquiza, second by Cruser to approve and sign the contract.

Linking the El-Wyhee Business Association to the County web site was discussed. The Board expressed concern that doing so might result in numerous other requests to do so and they were

not sure what those implications would be. Clerk Best will call Mr. Walters and explain the Board’s position at this time.

Sandy Mealer, Deputy Clerk and Jury Clerk appeared to request use of the Commissioner’s Room, as an alternative, for jurors on March 28^th. Ms. Mealer stated that there will be three judges and two juries that day if both trials go and so an additional room is necessary. All agreed that the Courthouse is finding limited space a problem when multiple judges/juries are present. The Board gave their permission for the Commissioner’s Room to be used on March 28^th and possibly March 29^th if it is necessary for jury purposes.

At 1:15 p.m. the Commissioners met in Executive Session pursuant to I.C. 67-2345(d) with Social Services Director Marianne Bate on a motion by Egusquiza, second by Cruser.

K-03-06-01 Motion by Rose, second by Egusquiza, to deny; as paid by the Prosecutor’s office through the court.

Correspondence received by mail was reviewed. A memo from Dale Flowers, Law Enforcement Training Coordinator for Idaho Department of Parks regarding a 2006 Marine Law Enforcement Academy was received. Clerk Best will forward the memo to Law Enforcement.

An invoice from Larry R. Knopp for architectural services for the Emergency Service Facility was presented by Chairperson Egusquiza. Clerk Best was told to submit the bill for payment from Craig-Wyden funds.

The proposed Ordinance for Roads in Subdivisions was reviewed as prepared by the Prosecutor. The Board set a Public Hearing on the matter for April 10, 2006 at 4:00 p.m. and asked the Clerk to publish the Notice of Hearing on March 22, 2006.

Motion by Egusquiza, second by Rose, to go into Executive Session pursuant to I.C. 67-2345(d).

A reconsideration hearing was held on K-10-05-05. Present at the hearing were the three Commissioners, Prosecutor Schindele, Social Services Director Marianne Bate, Clerk Gail Best, Chief Deputy Clerk Merrilee Hiler, Steven Pitt, attorney for Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, and Cynthia Watson of Saint Alphonsus. The applicant was also present.

Ms. Bate gave a brief overview of the case. The Prosecutor and Commissioners asked questions and brief statements were given by the representatives of the hospital.

K-10-05-05 Motion by Egusquiza, second by Rose to approve with a $100.00 per month pay back agreement because this was a medical emergency and the applicant is a County resident.

A workshop session on the proposed Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO’s) ordinance was held. There was discussion on several provisions of the ordinance but only one provision was actually changed. That provision appears on page 3 of the draft as of March 6, 2006 under DEFINITIONS: CAFO: Section (a) was changed to read: Animals have been, are, or will be stabled or confined and fed or maintained for a total of 180 consecutive days in a twelve-month period.

A public hearing on the proposed CAFO Ordinance was scheduled for Tuesday, April 11, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. in the upstairs courtroom at the Courthouse.

Tom Vallard, 9722 Old Highway 30, Hammett and Dale Pettibone, 4525 Lott Road, Mountain Home, appeared before the Board during the public portion of the meeting. Mr. Pettibone stated he had asked Bonnie Sharp at Growth and Development about the operation of gravel pits in the County. Mr. Pettibone stated that Ms. Sharp had given them a copy of Title 67, Chapter 65 regarding Local Land Use Planning. Mr. Pettibone was concerned what rules apply to grandfathered, nonused facilities, and if they would apply to everyone. Mr. Pettibone stated his concern was because Mr. Dodge was hauling truck after truck of fill to the Marathon Cheese site, and according to this statute, Mr. Pettibone wasn’t certain the proper procedures had been followed. The Board stated this was the first they had heard of it and took the matter under advisement.

Motion by Cruser, second by Egusquiza, to accept the Findings of Facts and Conclusions of Law as submitted on K-11-05-06.