County Secures $18.6M Budget; Welcomes New SRO; Plans for Opioid Settlement Funds
The Commissioner meeting held on Monday, August 25, began with Building Inspector Kody Williams addressing lawn and grounds maintenance responsibilities. Other updates included HVAC installation progress. Williams reported that one unit would be installed by late September or early October. Updates on Mountain Origins, contractor for Brundage Mountain, projects, revealed three open foundation permits and an additional multi-family permit under state review. A large crane is currently being used to serve multiple building sites. Williams closed by describing the development as “quite a project” and admitted it is “pretty cool” watching progress be made.
The board then considered the allocation of $37,000 in opioid settlement funds. Discussion centered on distributing funds between the Recovery Oriented Community (ROC), a local recovery support group, and therapy services at the county clinic. The idea of splitting funds to ensure long-term sustainability was raised. After consideration, a consensus was reached to allocate $10,000 annually for ROC over two years, with the remainder supporting clinic-based therapy services. Mendy Stanford, CEO at Adams County Health Center, had expressed enthusiasm when consulted. According to Commissioner Viki Purdy, Stanford was pleased with the application of the funds, saying it could really help the community. The board agreed to seek guidance from Prosecuting Attorney Peter Donovan on drafting a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to formalize the arrangement and ensure compliance with opioid funding requirements.
Steve Shelton, head of Waste Management, discussed costs related to pump repairs and water testing equipment. The pump estimate came back at a reasonable rate. However, equipment for independent testing was significantly more costly. Shelton explained the cost of purchasing equipment that would enable in-house testing was approximately $8,000, but rental equipment totaled in the $650 range per test. The board agreed to proceed with renting for the first test.
Conversation shifted to solid waste tipping fees. Concern that current charges may be outdated was expressed. Comparisons were made to Clay Peak’s rates, which were described as “way up there.” The board acknowledged that low rates had required infusing Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funds into Solid Waste this year. With no “phase two” coming for landfill expansion, members stressed the importance of adjusting fees and saving future revenue. Commissioner Ward suggested, “I’d like to see us take the money that we’re going to get from Valley County and stock it away for this upgrade.” Additionally, the need for long-term contracts with outside users was discussed. Board members also noted the limitations of expansion options. Had expansion occurred sooner, “we’d have been good for a long time.” Commissioner Ward noted. The east side was considered more viable for future use than the west.
Road and Bridge head Adam Balderson told Commissioners that work on the culvert replacement project taking place on Fruitvale-Glendale Road had begun, with completion expected by the end of the week. Paving will be completed by September 9th, with additional paving up West Fork to coincide with the paving company’s visit.
Commissioners moved on to discuss pending coordination with city engineers and surveyors, noting delays in approvals and follow-ups. Clerk Sherry Ward observed that the city doesn’t meet again until next month, and according to City Clerk, Ashley Scott, progress would not be made until after the City Council meeting in October. Concerns were raised about project delays, with a consensus that action should be taken sooner. More to potential land trades and property use: Commissioners considered a trade involving a property near the road and bridge shop. They also reviewed challenges with the vacant building currently owned by the city, emphasizing mold remediation. Clerk Sherry Ward stated firmly, “I’m not willing to go forward with this unless we can 100% say that mold is eradicated.” Insurance complications with Idaho Counties Risk Management Program (ICRMP) were mentioned, as their policy excluded mold coverage due to vacancy. Additionally, cleanup needs, including asphalt maintenance and vegetation management, were proposed. The importance of timely infrastructure repairs, clear communication with city officials, careful handling of property mold issues, and improvements to signage for safety and clarity were agreed to hold priority moving forward. Action items included contacting Building Inspector Kody Williams about mold inspections, preparing sign orders, and coordinating additional paving projects.
Deputy Clerk Katie Vanderlinden joined Sheriff Ryan Zollman in clarifying and reinforcing procedures on processing catering permits within the county. Vanderlinden began with concerns about timeliness: “On our website, we do have policy set up so that people are putting in their applications for permits five days before the next scheduled commissioner’s meeting. This allows us to review everything, and officers can get familiar with what’s going on” Vanderlinden went on to reference a prior issue during fair season, when a vendor made a request for a permit minutes into the events of the rodeo after never obtaining one. Vanderlinden underlined the need for support in upholding deadlines, stating, “If somebody comes in late and we say no, then that is the final answer.” Commissioners agreed but also noted the importance of flexibility in a small county. Commissioner Iveson remarked, “I do like the ability to make something happen in a small community.” This prompted defining responsibilities between state licensing and county-issued catering permits. Sheriff Zollman clarified: “We do not issue a license. That is issued by the Idaho State Police. All we’re doing is just extending and saying you can serve somewhere other than your farm”. Vanderlinden added, “The catering permit, according to the statute, is issued by the county.” Commissioners debated how strictly to enforce the five-day rule, while also advocating flexibility in special circumstances. Vanderlinden stated, “If somebody calls me at 5 o’clock on a Friday, it’s not going to happen … but if it happens at noon on a Friday, and then we get notified … it doesn’t really bother me” and went on to caution against undermining established policy: “It just kind of bothers me that we make these protocols and policies and then they’re just going to be discarded, like, oh, who cares? Ryan will sign it anyway.”
Ultimately, the board leaned toward maintaining existing policies while recognizing the need for discretion. The discussion ended with agreement on continuing to uphold the published policy while allowing flexibility in exceptional cases, provided staff are supported in their decisions.
Sheriff Zollman made a formal introduction of Chris Carlisle as the new School Resource Officer (SRO). Zollman highlighted Carlisle’s qualifications, noting that “we’re very fortunate to have Mr. Carlisle join our team. He’s got over 25 years of experience from everything that we hope to never see to everything we’ve already seen. So, he’s going to be a great asset.” Carlisle was then sworn in with the oath of office. Commissioners and staff welcomed him with some lighthearted remarks. Operational updates followed. Zollman then described a recent critical incident that had a significant emotional impact. He recounted, “Unfortunately, we had a very challenging, depressing call on Wednesday, and our chaplain was amazing. Stepped in, took care of the little kid, took care of the staff … it was one that you never unsee.” Commissioners expressed gratitude for the chaplain’s service, recognizing the importance of having immediate support for traumatic calls.
Next, Travis Packer, a benefits consultant with Gallagher, an insurance and risk management company, provided an overview of health plan cost-saving strategies, particularly through the implementation of an Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA). Packer explained his background, noting, “One of my current clients is Fremont County. And they have raised a little buzz around the state with what we did with their health plan last year.” He brought attention to other counties having expressed interest in these strategies due to their effectiveness.
An outline of Fremont County’s previous health plan costs was used as an example. Packer explained that for 136 employees, the county was facing a projected $4.3 million spend for 2025, just on medical expenses. By implementing an ICHRA, monthly employer costs were reduced from $325,000 to $240,000, saving the county approximately $1 million annually. Employee savings were also significant, as Packer highlighted, “We saved the employees over $420,000 that went back into their paychecks.” To clarify the mechanics, Packer explained that ICHRA was authorized by federal legislation in 2019 and implemented in 2020. He described it as a mechanism where employers contribute funds into a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) to cover employee-purchased individual insurance policies. According to Packer, “It used to be an employer would not want to offer benefits to their employees, so they would just gross up their pay…which…was illegal.” By contrast, ICHRA allows tax-advantaged reimbursement for premiums and, in some cases, medical expenses.
Packer presented a comparison of traditional group coverage and ICHRA, pointing out employee choice as a key benefit: “You may choose a Pacific Source plan. You may choose a Blue Cross plan. You may choose a Select Health plan…Everybody picks the plan that works best for them.” He noted that this flexibility helps employees align coverage with their healthcare needs and provider preferences, reducing dissatisfaction that often arises from one-size-fits-all group plans. The discussion also addressed the pros and cons of ICHRA. Among the benefits were potential cost savings, individualized coverage, and reduced exposure to large claims by shifting risk into the broader individual insurance market. Challenges included greater responsibility for employees to shop for coverage and the need for careful onboarding to avoid confusion. Packer acknowledged these issues but highlighted support systems, such as the Benefit Bay platform, which assists employees with plan selection and enrollment.
Commissioners raised concerns about affordability for dependents, employee satisfaction, and long-term sustainability. Commissioner Ward noted, “Our employees have great insurance, but they can’t afford to put their dependents on. It doesn’t matter what the out-of-pocket and deductible is if they can’t afford to put them on there.” In response, Packer cited positive employee feedback in Fremont County, where one employee described the change as a nearly $6,000 - $7,000 raise. Packer closed by emphasizing that ICHRA may not be the right fit for every organization, but could be modeled for the county to determine viability. He offered to coordinate with the county’s HR representative to collect the necessary census and benefits data for analysis.
County staff reconvened with Commissioners later on to review and adopt the county’s budget for fiscal year 2025–2026, including both the countywide budget and specific allocations for Meadows Valley Ambulance. Clerk Sherry Ward presented the budget figures, noting a total of $18.6 million. Major funds included Road & Bridge at $5.6 million, Justice Fund at $3.4 million, Capital Projects at $2.4 million, Grants at $2 million, General Fund at $2 million, Solid Waste at $1 million, and other funds totaling $2.3 million. Commissioners expressed surprise at the scale, with Commissioner Iveson remarking, “Isn’t that insane? We have an $18 million budget, and $3 million of it is actual tax revenue.” Payroll expenses were reported at $4.1 million, with overhead and insurance bringing total personnel costs to roughly $6 million. Levy rates were described as healthy, though commissioners acknowledged risks if market values slow while expenditures grow. To balance the budget, $632,000 from the PILT fund was applied.
While some anxiety was expressed over past budget cycles, this year was described as successful, Commissioner Iveson mentioning, “Everybody got what they asked for, basically, and we’re sitting really good.” A decline in state contributions to Road & Bridge was noted. Last year, the county received $1.4 million from the state general fund, compared to $791,000 this year. Commissioners warned that the trend is moving downward. Despite these challenges, revenue sharing for the Justice Fund was reported as stable. The board moved to formally adopt the budget. The motion was approved unanimously. The meeting closed on a positive note, with commissioners expressing satisfaction.
