The Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Idaho, does hereby meet this 28th day of April, 2025.

IN THE MATTER OF ROLL CALL)

Donna White, Clerk, called roll call: Gordon Wilkerson, present; Jim Harberd, present; and Nate Marvin, present.

Jim Harberd opened the meeting and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Nate Marvin gave the invocation.

IN THE MATTER OF CORRESPONDENCE/MEETINGS AND REPORTS)

Correspondence received by the Board was reviewed and disseminated as required.

Jim Harberd reported that he attended the Southwest District Health Board meeting last week.

The Board reviewed the following: a 2024 Performance Report from the Weiser River Soil Conservation District; an April 21, 2025, request for funding for the 2026 budget year from Rose Advocates; an April 18, 2025, request for funding for the 2026 budget year from Cambridge, Midvale, Goodrich Senior Citizens.

Jim Harberd reviewed the bids from B & W Heating and Cooling in the amount of

$6,650.00 and Comfort Zone in the amount of $9,820.00.

Nate Marvin moved to accept the bid from B & W Heating and Cooling, not to exceed

$6,650.00. Motion died for lack of a second.

The Board requested that a bid for a cooling system be obtained from B & W Heating and Cooling.

IN THE MATTER OF MINUTES)

The minutes of the Board not heretofore approved of April 21, 2025, were approved as written.

IN THE MATTER OF CLAIMS)

The Auditor was authorized to issue warrants totaling $795.00 for indigent expenses by a motion of Nate Marvin, seconded by Gordon Wilkerson. Motion carried unanimous.

The Auditor was authorized to issue warrants totaling $82,700.13 for general expenses by a motion of Jim Harberd, seconded by Gordon Wilkerson. Motion carried unanimous.

IN THE MATTER OF ROAD & BRIDGE/SOLID WASTE)

Jerod Odoms, Road and Bridge/Solid Waste Supervisor, met with the Board. Odoms presented Applications for Placement of Culverts/Approaches submitted by Troy Halberg to be placed near the intersection of Hansen and River Dock Roads.

Nate Marvin moved, seconded by Gordon Wilkerson, to approve the Applications for the Placement of Culverts/Approaches submitted by Troy Halberg to be placed near the intersection of Hansen and River Dock Roads. Motion carried.

Odoms provided a department update to the Board. IN THE MATTER OF OPEN MEETINGS)

Mary Beth Schwartz met with the Board. Schwartz read a statement on the record regarding the amount of time the Commissioners spent in executive session from January through April 2024 (320 minutes) versus January through April 2025 (926 minutes).

Nate Marvin discussed the type of items that are addressed in executive session.

Schwartz expressed concerns of the amount of time spent in executive session. Schwartz stated that executive session hurt the credibility of the Board.

Wilkerson stated that a lot of what has been discussed in executive session cannot be addressed on the record, such as lawsuits or personnel issues.

Schwartz stated that as the public, it is important that people know what is being discussed.

Wilkerson stated that no decisions have been made in executive session.

Schwartz read the following: “The Idaho Open Meeting Law was designed to ensure transparency of the legislative and administrative process within state and local governments. The Legislature articulated this policy in the Act’s first section: the people of the State of Idaho in creating the instruments of government that serve them. Do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies so created. Therefore, the legislature finds and declares that it is the policy of this state that the formation of public policy is public business and shall not be conducted in secret.

Open meetings offer the public a chance to observe the way their government operates and to influence their government in positive and important ways. Closed meetings often can lead to distrust of governmental decisions and acts.

Those who conduct meetings must remember that policy above all when deciding whether a meeting should be open. If a meeting is closed, there must be a compelling

reason, supported by the statute itself, or by subsequent court rulings. Remember, when in doubt, open the meeting.”

Schwartz stated that this should make anyone in the County stop and think whether executive session/closed meetings are building trust or destroying it. Schwartz asked the Commissioners to respect the law and the citizens of the county, be open and transparent and re-evaluate their current use of executive sessions.

IN   THE    MATTER    OF   SOUTHWEST    DISTRICT   HEALTH   2026    BUDGET REQUEST)

Nikki Zogg, District Director, and Aaron Howard, Finance Officer met with the Board. Zogg discussed the 2026 budget process/request with the Board.

Aaron Howard told the Board to expect a 2.25% increase for 2026 which includes a 3% wage increase for personnel. The Annual Contribution for Washington County will be a decrease of approximately $3,294.00 for the 2026 fiscal year.

IN THE MATTER OF COMMISSIONER EXEMPTIONS)

Debbie Moxley-Potter, Assessor, met with the Board. Moxley-Potter presented the Commissioner Exemptions to the Board for review.

A decision will be made at a later date.

IN THE MATTER OF CITY OF WEISER AIRPORT 2026 BUDGET REQUEST)

Mike Campbell with the City of Weiser met with the Board. Campbell reviewed the budget request for Weiser Airport with the Board. Campbell requested the same amount as was budgeted in 2025 for the 2026 budget year in the amount of $53,560.00.

Campbell discussed upcoming projects at the airport. Campbell reported that the airport does receive approximately $14,000.00 per year in hanger rentals.

IN THE MATTER OF AGRICULTURE PROTECTION AREA)

Tristan Winegar, with Washington County Farm Bureau, and Jace Roberts met with the Board. Roberts presented a copy of the draft Agriculture Protection Area (APA) Ordinance to the Board for review. Roberts discussed amendments that have been made to the draft ordinance.

Marvin questioned Section 4A and inquired who would be responsible for monitoring property uses in the protection areas.

Winegar discussed funding that may be available to support the APA. Winegar informed the Board that a meeting will be held May 12, 2025, in Homedale at the Fairgrounds regarding possible funding sources.

Winegar discussed rumors of a building permit allowed on 20-acre parcels. This is a concern to the APA Board and Winegar told the Board that if that were allowed, the APA would be a moot point.

Harberd stated that there have been no changes to the County Code. IN THE MATTER OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT)

Johnny Biddinger, Emergency Manager, met with the Board. Biddinger reported that more chairs will be needed for the conference room and training room in the Annex building. Biddinger stated that there will be funding through the State Homeland Security Program to cover the purchase.

Nate Marvin moved, seconded by Gordon Wilkerson, the purchase of chairs for the conference/training room in the Sheriff Administration Building from the SHSP funding not to exceed $5,000.00. Motion carried.

IN THE MATTER OF BOARD OF COMMUNITY GUARDIANS)

Layna Hafer and Jana Hill met with the Board.

Jim Harberd moved, seconded by Gordon Wilkerson, to approve the Amended Board of Community Guardians Bylaws as presented. Motion carried.

IN THE MATTER OF PROSECUTING ATTORNEY)

True Pearce, Prosecuting Attorney, met with the Board.

Nate Marvin moved, seconded by Jim Harberd, to go into executive session at 11:33 a.m. in accordance with I.C. 74-206(1) (f) to communicate with legal counsel for the public agency to discuss the legal ramifications of and legal options for pending litigation, or controversies not yet being litigated but imminently likely to be litigated. The mere presence of legal counsel at an executive session does not satisfy this requirement. Motion carried unanimous. Gordon Wilkerson, Aye; Jim Harberd, Aye; Nate Marvin, Aye.

Jim Harberd stated they were out of executive session at 1:49 p.m.

Motion by Jim Harberd, seconded by Gordon Wilkerson, and unanimously carried to recess at 1:51 p.m. until May 5, 2025, at 8:45 a.m.

Chairman, Board of County Commissioners

ATTEST:

Clerk

A full audio recording of the Commissioner Meeting is available at the Clerk’s Office upon request.