STATE OF IDAHO
County of Idaho
AUGUST SESSION August 24, 2010 FOURTH TERM DAY
The Board met at 9:00 a.m. with all members present.
Wolf Policy – Skip has been receiving calls and wants to move forward with this. Meeting will be scheduled August 30, 2010.
Kirk stated any plan should cover all states. County can join in with the law suit if they wish – move to intervene – we would have a voice – filing of an amicus brief is also a possibility if the commissioners wish to go this way.
Skip stated congress is doing nothing – county/state has to stand up and do our own thing to stop the listing of wolves. The commission sees the need to protect our livestock and economy. State legislators will be asked to help with this situation.
Justin stated there are things that ranchers can currently do – most of those are not effective – this is a problem Rancher must get in touch with their organization for help. Ranchers still suffer massive losses to the wolves.
Skip questioned at what point Fish & Game will be of help to the ranchers.
Justin stated he will visit the location and determine if it was a wolf kill – then give his findings to the Fish & Game – then they determine how many wolves will be taken due to the current situation. Rancher must have a confirmed kill. Sheep is a different situation – someone is with the sheep at all times – cattle are more difficult – they just disappear and may have lost several head and will not know until after a couple of months.
Kirk stated maybe the governor could declare an emergency on the wolf situation. County can make an assertion for the governor to take action, by declaring a local disaster.
Justin reported on the compensation to the ranchers for wolf kill. Defenders of Wild Life compensate the ranchers. If the wolf is delisted the rancher does not have to be compensated. When ranchers are compensated – it does not begin to cover the cost.
James stated the issue now is political boundaries. He would like to know what the commissioners’ legal power is – see if they can do something.
Commissioners stated they want county to join the law suit with the state of Idaho and other agencies. Kirk will do further research on this and then proceed forward.
James stated it would be good to subpoena Judge Malloy and the other individuals who are in favor of listing the wolves – have them come to our area, to see the adverse affects of wolf over population.
Skip asked where we are with the Riggins Gun Club – Jim said the application is the same, but the attachments have been changed. Jim explained the process to Justin. Jim is continuing to work on this. Tomorrow Jim will submit the application to Will Runnoe (BLM) $100 check is needed to submit the application.
Don Solberg re: medical insurance – presented quote from Blue Cross and Regence Blue Shield. Don will return this afternoon with new figures for medical insurance. Commissioners were interested in limiting premium increase while maintaining substantially the same coverage
RS2477 – Starbucky Decision – date of assertion was 12-26-2000 –
Ralph Rau, NNF, stated in order to keep RS2477 open – county will have to go through the federal government process –
Scott Gotfrey gave a presentation on Road #1894 (beyond the Buckhorn Mine) – timber sale has nothing to do with this road – work is completed. NEPA decision – Decommission of a portion of this road from approximately the Buckhorn Mine to the junction with the 1894 A & B Roads.
The Starbucky Road was appealed by Dorothy McGee and Margaret McVicker.
Residents of this area thought the road to be decommissioned was the new road put in for logging – not the old road – pond in this area was used by miners in the 1960’s.
Trail #854 – NEPA decision – construct and reconstruct portions of the existing trail. Decommission the existing junction piece that ties to road #212 and construct a new ridge top location. Convert the east portion of road #212 from road to trail #854.
Road #212 – NEPA decision – restricted access (close to motorized vehicles); segment from 1894 east to 78545 decommission – segment from 78545 to 492 – convert from road to trail.
212B = NEPA decision – decision did not change the existing status of this road – continues to be open to “foot. Pack stock, and snow vehicles”.
Current Status – the culvert installation and road stabilization work is complete. The timber sale contract is complete and the contract is currently closed.
Ralph Rau stated the ones who need access to their property/claim – forest service has to provide access with a truck etc. – different levels of NEPA has to be involved with different scenarios/case. Individuals will have to submit criteria to the forest service stating their plan – tell forest service what kind of access is needed. This will be taken in consideration according to Rau. Discussion followed.
Skip stated the issue is the condition of road 212B – use to be for vehicles – now that has changed.
Jack Marshall – stated this road has been in operation over 100 yrs. His question is are we saving the environment or limiting access?
McVickers stated that almost 10,000 acres are being closed off from public. According to McVickers is using this as a pilot project in order to close other portions of public lands.
Skip asked Rau for the study/analysis on this property that was done years ago.
Individuals asking what they can do to get this situation taken care.
Skip stated it is strictly up to the county to step up and validate this RS2477 through the federal government – was hoping this does not have to happen. One option is the head ranger has the call to not do anything to this road according to one of the gentlemen in the audience.
Skip requesting the county’s options for the Trail #854 – Starbucky Road.
Gate on this trail was also mentioned – gating can be delayed – according to Rau at least until after the discussion follows on this road.
Next meeting will be held September 21, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. for 1 ½ hrs.
Jim stated he would like to get this resolved without going through expenses and time.
Mike Cook re: airport report. Appraisal of property at airport discussed. Mike and Kirk are continuing to work on this and will be completed by this Thursday. AWOS – digging trenches for power to site currently going on.
ALP update – independent assessment – will negotiate a price – time frame has not been set.
Clearwater Basin Collaborative – consider supporting some of the airport expansion – infrastructure will be one of the things they may be able to help with. Snowmobile and parking will also be an issue.
ADA – Don Solberg wants to resign from this – new person will be recommended by the remaining ADA group.
Anderson Hanger also discussed – process keeps moving ahead. Will work with John Watson on this.
Interest in T-hangers may be a possibility. Security fencing may have some merit.
Discussion followed on the future of the airport – will the airport make money – caution was raised in use of PILT funding for airport – in the future airport should be able to function as it did in the past – right now money is needed to help improve the airport in order to help the economy of the county.
E911 Vendor/System – Jerry Zumalt – E911 committee’s recommendation is to give the award to Qwest Positron Discussion followed. Zetron Valence is another company taken in to consideration. Quest appears to be 40% higher than Zetron. Tabled until August 31, 2010 at 3:00 p.m.
Baldwin Springs Hearing Cont’d Jason Scwab stated the southern route is the alternative for a new access. – will this be a private easement or public.
Kirk stated private would be best – take county out of picture. Reasonable access should be allowed. County will abandon the older access through Schwab’s property –
Gene Meinen will place stakes for the new road – Schwab’s will have the easement drawn up. Hearing will continue on August 31, 2010 at 1:00 p.m.
Deanna Hall re: solid waste fee off Bernadine Bruegeman’s property in Cottonwood. Approved – building uninhabitabul. Canceled for 2010.
Don Solberg re: insurance for the employees. Commissioners approved keeping medical insurance same except for 80% Physician Only Coinsurance instead of 100%. There will be no office visit copayments. County will also renew dental insurance Option 1 which is the same except for major goes from 80% to 50%. Vision will remain the same.
Skip made motion to approve August 17, 2010 minutes as amended. Jim seconded. Motion carried.
Gene Meinen re: road report. Hired 3 part time employees for chip sealing – working on size of culverts in order to get Battle Ridge project started. Roads damaged by the flood discussed. McConnell agreement will have to be drafted, so county can have access across their property.
Rock for chip sealing discussed – not up to LHTAC standards. Discussion followed.
Gene will talk with Herco in trying to get a reduced cost – will return to commissioners with figures.
Commissioners approved purchase of new laptop computer for road department.
Skip made motion to amend agenda – indigent scheduled at 11:30 a.m. changed to 4:20 p.m. due to length of time needed for earlier appointments. Jim seconded. Motion carried with all in favor.
4:20 p.m. Skip made motion to enter into executive session according to I. C. 31-874. Jim seconded. Motion carried. Roll call taken.
4:38 p.m. Ended. Regular session resumed.
Two approved clerk’s finding One lien/N-1
Jim Rehder report – herd districts – new phone system – E911 meeting – county budget
The Board adjourned at 4:55 p.m.
Chairman:____________________________ Attest:_______________________________
