These are things I have found interesting along the way. I definitely don't document everything I learn, but I try to when I can. I apologize in advance for the diary like template, run on sentences and poor grammar. Enjoy!

 

 

April 22, 2024.        -On this date I was only able to check in and out on the commissioner's meeting. I was busy that day, and although I did attend, I didn't take any notes so I won't speak on the discussion. The agenda is posted on the county website and includes, liquor licenses, new hires, pay raises, mormon crickets and other items.

 

April 15, 2024.        -Attended the Commissioner's meeting via zoom. Things I found interesting: There was a big turn out for spray day. The county gave out well over $10,000 in free weed spray. Talked about the Western Idaho Community Crisis Center. There have been an influx of seniors that have moved into the valley without family. It's putting a dent on what the government can do, like deliver meals, etc. Kelly Aberasturi states, "things have changed a lot in the past 5-6 years." He went on to discuss how he feels the government isn't taking care of senior and veterans. Cindy talks about Mormon crickets again. Says that if the Idaho Department of Ag isn't going to help towards a resolution were going to have to get the governor involved. They talked about having BLM treat private land? and state land. Jerry Hoagland isn't going to be at the employee appreciation party, he's interviewing people for the Ag Culture Research Committee. Planning and Zoning was asked if they had any comment. "I do not" is all that was said. The county received a grant for a hazard mitigation plan update. The commissioners approved to hire a "community planner 2" for the planning and zoning department. Spent some time talking about a parking plan for Wilson Creek Coalition to accommodate horse trailers and bikers. A citizen gave comment that the coalition cannot work together, the moderator isn't doing a good job, they need education and road signs available. Mr. Aberasturi brings up that Twin Falls has done a good job separating recreationalists and tells BLM that they need a marketing plan and to do it on TV and on social. Until they do that they will be arguing for the next ten years. Cindy Bachman states "The equestrians give, and give and give." She said she found signs that said "bikers yield to hikers/horses" and that's what they need. BLM awkwardly said, yeah I think we have some of those signs. Heard a sales pitch from a company offering fleet management, the commissioners didn't seem too impressed, but told him to come back with numbers. When they were asked what the fleet budget was they stated "no clue out of my ballpark"

 

April 8, 2024          -Attended the Commissioner's meeting via zoom. Things I found interesting: Owyhee County has a fingerprint machine that is used to do background checks etc for employment, they are thinking about adding a fee for people to use this service, it sounds like sometimes we even get out of county people using this device. It is expensive and a fee would help offset the cost. "Not the same economy as in 2015" said Kelly Aberasturi while discussing the need to renegotiate some contracts with other governments. The Building Department gave their quarterly report. It was stated that "Marsing is built up" most of the permits that are active right now are solar. There aren't many building permits right now. Marsing has slowed because it's already built, the building department is starting to go further south for building permits. They stated that Bruneau and Grand View are starting to get "single lot subdivision" The commissioners said they are concerned with the damage that solar panels do to the ground. Owyhee County doesn't give addresses to anything without a home. The Assessors office needs the building department to remember to send over their certificate of occupancy certificates so we know what is built and when it has people in it for property tax purposes. Cindy Bachman stated, "we need to make sure we have all the tax revenue we can get" The Assessors department is going through some adjustments in employees and training. They are working on accuracy of property records. It was stated that MILLIONS of dollars of tax revenue has been missed over the years. They are almost done searching for discrepancies in the Marsing area and there have been lots of missed improvements. It doesn't add to the budget we are budget based, but it isn't fair. The assessors office has been working with the Sheriff to help their 911 dispatch map. There are homeowner exemption issues, "unfortunately there's been a lot of errors over the years." She also stated that "we have a whole lot where people never got building permits." The conversation was wrapped up expressing that it's problematic and not organized. I learned that our ARPA funding is not being used right now because it is being invested. "The rates are good right now." There was no Planning and Zoning update or quarterly report that I heard. The audio did get paused for awhile and there were video issues. I messaged the county asking if there will be any more quarterly reports and they stated that they were done. The RV ordinance was addressed by Cindy Bachman. She stated that she understands that the motion she made to deny was difficult and sincerely apologized. She stated she wants to move forward. She mentioned affordable housing and rv dwelling, private property and health and safety and to compassionately address is the goal. She asked Mr. Topmiller if they could amend the current code. He stated yes. She stated she wants to continue she wants to keep the public involved, and invited public to attend. She stated she does not intend on closing the door on this issue. Mr. Aberasturi stated that this is just rehashing the work that they have already done. He stated "this does fall on us because we are in charge of planning and zoning." He said "I will not do this anymore, I will not have Mary do this" He was adamant that this needs to go through law enforcement, he mentions that he has had guns pulled on him. Mary Huff asks for code enforcement, and stated that "we aren't paying for the planning department with fees." Mr. Aberasturi stated his confusion because RV's aren't allowed without a conditional use permit as it is currently, and Mary states it's because we don't enforce anything. Mary Huff states "nothing on the books is being enforced, not just planning and zoning" The conversation continues as Mrs. Huff tries to explain that it is in her current duties to have code enforcement in the planning department. She states "where we have failed is not enforcing our code." Then they all started discussing what they think should happen and mumbled things like planning and zoning will be the initial contact, then the sheriff, and passed that it would go to the prosecuting attorney. *What started out from the previous meeting as what seemed to be a leadership move from Cindy Bachman, quickly became derailed as she was spoke over and the commissioners, planning and zoning and the entire county are now back to square one.

 

April 1, 2024          -RV Ordinance meeting via zoom. Things I found interesting: The Planning and Zoning department was not in attendance. Cindy Bachman stated that she inherited this ordinance and after looking at it with fresh eyes she would like to motion to deny the RV Ordinance. Commissioner Aberasturi had big reactions. Stating he has worked on this for years; he was obviously very upset. He talked about areas of concerns stating he's had to go to these locations and has been chased off and he won't do it again. He stated he is done. He has done this for a lot of years and after this term he is done. There was a lot that was said, and it was not on any side of positivity or resolution. Cindy Bachman stated she would like to amend the current RV code and work from what we already have instead of work from the RV ordinance that has been in the works for the past 4 years. Ultimately the motion passed. Bachman and Hoagland voted yes to deny the ordinance and Aberasturi was a no. *This was one of the most heated commissioner meetings I have heard. It lacked professionalism and integrity on all parts. Why wasn't the planning and zoning director, who has been pushing this agenda for so long, there at the meeting? This was another example of an effort that never reaches a resolution. The RV ordinance in my opinion was going in a terrible direction, but what real direction do we have now? What is actually being amended and drafted? What are the expectations and what will be the outcome? Or are we just wasting government money, time and resources? There are a lot of questions still on the table. One does wonder if the question from the public hearing and the answers given sparked this fire so soon after.

 

April 1, 2024          -Attended the Commissioner's meeting via zoom. Things I found interesting: Sheriff working on ethics training. Meeting was hard to hear, but a department stated they don't have anything for and update. Tax deed sales. Discussed the motorcycle riders on trails again. Concerned citizen sent in a video of motorcycles making their own trails, the issue being if they create a trail, it becomes a trail. "Their flipping disregard". Planning and Zoning was not in attendance, no department update. Discussed mormon crickets again. Discussed annual spray day. Fair funds were discussed. The county said they have their funds, no more. Grand View is out of compliance for not turning in their budget or audit. If not in compliance they won't receive their state funding. A 3% increase? Fair Board member resigning. Will help out with this year and transition. The prosecuting attorney asked what the RV ordinance meeting was for. Mary Huff, Planning and Zoning not present. Kelly Aberasturi was attending via zoom. Buy out of old sheriff trucks, 11 2018 f-150 trucks. Trucks were in a lease; we are purchasing all new trucks. Audit report was read to the commissioners. A lot of information was gone over, all commissioners had a report to look at and go over. At the end when the auditor was finished summarizing the report he asked if the commissioners had any questions, and it was dead silent. Cindy Bachman broke the silence with "well that was impressive". Not a single question was asked and then they motioned to approve the audit. 

 

April 1, 2024           -I was informed that the RV ordinance was placed on the Commissioner's agenda.

 

March 26, 2024        -Attended the Candidate Forum at the Marsing Legion Hall that was put on by the High Desert Republican women. Lots of great conversations were had. Everyone had a chance to introduce themselves. In attendance was: Trent McRae for Prosecutor, Myself and Cindy Bachman for Commissioner District 3, Lath Callaway for Commissioner District 1 and Walt Holton also for Commissioner District 1. Both Larry Kenderick and Tim Riha were there running for Sheriff. Things I found very interesting: Each commissioner in running were asked about their stance on the RV ordinance. Cindy Bachman stated that she wasn't for it and as far as she knew it was tabled. I stated that as far as the citizens know after the last public hearing on the matter of the RV ordinance the commissioners elected to have the prosecuting attorney draft the new ordinance up. I stated that doesn't seem as though it is off the table, that seems as though it was still in the works. I also stated that I wish the county would be more transparent. If they put out the survey, why can't they post the results for the public. Both Holton and Callaway stated they were not for the RV ordinance either.

 

March 25, 2024         -Attended the Commissioner meeting via zoom. Things I found interesting: When discussing a plan on removing trash and debris from a property one of the commissioners stated, "sit back like the county does on everything." More crickets hatching, and the Owyhee Field Office isn't returning peoples calls about reported crickets. There was a concerned citizen who was looking for help and reached out to the commissioners. The post office was trying to get their mailboxes moved. The commissioners chuckled about it and didn't extend the discussion towards help or guidance. More discussion of equestrians being driven out by motor sport activities. Donated $9000 to the Owyhee Conservation District. The OCD had a banquet and invited the commissioners and even a mayor (unsure which) and no one attended. No more tire disposal event. Buried irrigation pipes help not only with irrigation water loss prevention, but you don't have to use chemicals for moss control, which is expensive and not environmentally friendly.

 

March 19, 2024         - Read through the "Owyhee County Hazard Mitigation Plan" Hazard mitigation planning reduces loss of life and property by minimizing the impact of disasters. It begins with state, tribal and local governments identifying natural disaster risks and vulnerabilities that are common in their area. Owyhee County created their multi-jurisdictional plan in May of 2018. This plan expired in May of 2023. There has not been an updated plan submitted from the county according to the fema website.

 

March 18, 2024           - Attended the Commissioner meeting via zoom. Things I found interesting: Planning and Zoning had no departmental update. BLM coordination meeting. Commissioner Bachman discussed her experience with equestrians v bikers on trails. Briar Creek Rd. UTV's are destroying signs. Sheriffs can't issue citations without a sign, and it's BLM's responsibility to put signs up. A concerned citizen asked if they take a picture of violators can that photo be used to issue a ticket. Answer was no, but they could contact the violator after the fact. *I didn't notice any sort of resolution to the citizens concerns or sign issues, trail issues etc. BLM and county discussed mormon crickets. When hatching is witnessed it needs to be reported to BLM and the county. Talks of treatments. * A lot of time was spent discussing mormon crickets, and other than report hatchings and potential of spraying treatment in the future, there was no real success in the conversation.

 

March 15, 2024           - Declared Candidacy for Owyhee County Commissioner District 3

 

March 11, 2024          - Attended Commissioner meeting in Murphy in person.