Blaine County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Blaine County to adopt FY 2027 budget, consider stream permit on Aug. 25

Blaine County commissioners are set to adopt the FY 2027 budget on Aug. 25, a decision that will set county and ambulance district spending for the next fiscal year. The meeting also includes a public hearing on a stream alteration permit and resolutions on fund balances. In the past two weeks, the board has taken up a K-9 transfer, a fire district annexation, a bridge replacement, and a $120,000 request for a river flow program.

Recent meetings

Aug. 11 – Board of County Commissioners

The agenda included Resolution 2026-20 to transfer a K-9 unit to the City of Ketchum, a petition to annex territory into the South Fire Protection District, and a bridge replacement on Hi 5 Canyon Road. The board also discussed ambulance contracts and a text amendment to Title 9, Chapter 3, Section 16 on wireless communication facilities. Minutes have not yet been published, so no decisions are recorded.

Aug. 12 – Board of County Commissioners (special session)

The special session included public comment and an executive session under Idaho Code Section 74-206(1)(b) to discuss evaluation, dismissal, or discipline of employees or public officers. No other substantive business was on the agenda.

Aug. 18 – Board of County Commissioners

The board was scheduled to set FY 2027 budgets for both Blaine County and the ambulance district, and to hold public hearings on a land-use matter. The agenda also included consent items such as a Forest Service operating plan, catering permits for Canyon Crest Event Center and O'Michaels Pub, and approval of a School Resource Officer job description. An executive session was scheduled for employee evaluation or discipline.

Aug. 19 – Levy Advisory Board

The appointed advisory board considered a request from the South Valley Ground Water District for $120,000 (50% of a $240,000 project) to fund a land-fallowing program. The program aims to maintain a minimum flow of 32 cubic feet per second in the Little Wood River at IDWR Station 10, and would involve purchasing storage water and negotiating non-diversion agreements with senior water rights holders. The board's action is advisory to the county commissioners.

Upcoming meeting

Aug. 25 – Board of County Commissioners

The regular meeting will consider Resolution 2026-22 to set the FY 2027 budget, Resolution 2026-23 to operate on a cash basis and carry over fund balances, and Resolution 2026-24 to establish fund balance reserve requirements. A public hearing will be held on the Democrat Gulch Stream Alteration Permit reconsideration (Wood River Land Trust). The board will also consider a Professional Services Agreement with Systems Design West for the ambulance district. The meeting is open to the public in person or virtually.

Coming up

The only meeting scheduled in the next two weeks is the Aug. 25 Board of County Commissioners meeting. No other public meetings are listed.

Blaine County commissioners to set FY 2027 budgets, weigh water program request

Blaine County commissioners will meet Aug. 18 to adopt the county's FY 2027 budget and the ambulance district budget, and the county's land, water and wildlife levy advisory board will consider a $120,000 request for a river flow program on Aug. 19. No decisions from the board's meetings earlier this month have been published yet; minutes are pending.

Recent meetings (Aug. 3, 11, 12)

The Board of County Commissioners held three meetings in the past two weeks, but agendas were published without minutes, so outcomes are not yet known.

• **Aug. 3:** The board considered a catering permit for the Iron Horse Saloon to serve beer, wine, and liquor at the Carey Fairgrounds for Aug. 6-8, 2026.
• **Aug. 11:** The board had on its agenda a resolution to transfer a K-9 unit to the City of Ketchum (Resolution 2026-20), a petition for the Blaine County South Fire Protection District to annex territory within Hailey, and a bridge replacement on Hi 5 Canyon Road over the Little Wood River, including stream alteration, wetlands conditional use, and floodplain categorical exclusion permits. The board also discussed an agreement for co-location with the South Central Public Health District and a text amendment to Title 9, Chapter 3, Section 16 regarding wireless communication facilities.
• **Aug. 12:** A special session was held for public comment followed by an executive session under Idaho Code Section 74-206(1)(b) to discuss evaluation, dismissal, or discipline of employees or public officers. No other substantive business was on the agenda.

Upcoming: County budget and land-use hearing (Aug. 18)

The commissioners will set the FY 2027 budgets for both Blaine County and the Blaine County Ambulance District. They will also hold a public hearing on a land-use matter: Resolution 2026-18 to determine 117 Roberts St. in Picabo as an "odd lot" (0.08 acres, approximately 25' x 140').

Consent items include approval of a Forest Service operating plan, catering permits for Canyon Crest Event Center (NRA Annual Banquet, 20 Prairie Sun Rd., Bellevue) and O'Michaels Pub (private party, 11 Gimlet Rd., Ketchum), and approval of a School Resource Officer job description. An executive session is scheduled for employee evaluation or discipline.

Upcoming: Little Wood River flow program request (Aug. 19)

The Levy Advisory Board will consider a funding request from the South Valley Ground Water District for $120,000, or 50% of a $240,000 total project cost. The program would fallow agricultural lands to maintain a minimum flow of 32 cubic feet per second in the Little Wood River at IDWR Station 10, in compliance with the Big Wood Ground Water Management Plan. The project would also involve purchasing storage water from Little Wood Reservoir and negotiating non-diversion agreements with Silver Creek and Little Wood senior water rights holders.

The Levy Advisory Board is an appointed recommending body, so its action is advisory to the county commissioners.

Coming up

• **Aug. 18, 2026** – Board of County Commissioners: FY 2027 budget adoption, odd lot determination, catering permits, and executive session.
• **Aug. 19, 2026** – Levy Advisory Board: $120,000 request for Little Wood River flow program.

Blaine County roundup: Bond resolution, land-use hearings on recent agendas; K-9 transfer and bridge replacement up next

Blaine County's Board of County Commissioners and Hearing Examiner met over the past two weeks on items including a revenue bond resolution, a tentative budget, land-use permits, and a catering permit. Minutes have not yet been published for any of these meetings, so outcomes are pending. Upcoming meetings will consider a K-9 transfer, a fire district annexation, and a bridge replacement.

Recent meetings

Board of County Commissioners – July 28

The board's agenda included a resolution to approve public finance authority revenue bonds for River Bend Properties ID, LLC (Resolution 2026-16), a public hearing on Steve Barnard's stream alteration permit for Rio Creek to replace an irrigation weir, and setting the county's tentative FY2027 budget. Also on the agenda were a security agreement with Joseph Grimaldi for 233 Eagle Creek Loop (Riparian and Mitigation Plan) and Resolution 2026-17 along with a grant agreement (SUN-NMG-3-16-0016-066-2026).

Hearing Examiner – July 30

The Hearing Examiner held a special public meeting to consider three land-use applications. A variance request by A31, LLC (Scott Sanders) sought to reduce side and rear yard setbacks from 25 feet to 9'1-9/16" and 4'2-1/8" for a shed rebuild at 105 Eagle Creek Loop in the Eagle Creek Meadows Subdivision. Two conditional use permit applications were also on the agenda: one by Alan and Heidi Jackson for a non-compliant accessory dwelling unit at 146 Canyon Drive (Aspen Hollow Sub #2, Lot 3), and one by Taggart & Kacie Spenst to convert an existing garage into an accessory dwelling unit at 142 Stoney Rd.

Board of County Commissioners – August 3

The board considered a catering permit for the Iron Horse Saloon to serve beer, wine, and liquor at the Carey Fairgrounds for August 6–8, 2026.

Coming up

Board of County Commissioners – August 11

The board will vote on Resolution 2026-20 to transfer a K-9 unit to the City of Ketchum, a petition for the Blaine County South Fire Protection District to annex territory within Hailey, and a bridge replacement on Hi 5 Canyon Road over the Little Wood River, which involves stream alteration, wetlands conditional use, and floodplain categorical exclusion permits. Also on the agenda are an agreement for co-location between Blaine County and the South Central Public Health District, and initiating a text amendment to Title 9, Chapter 3, Section 16 regarding wireless communication facilities.

Board of County Commissioners – August 12

The board will hold a special session that includes public comment followed by an executive session under Idaho Code Section 74-206(1)(b) to discuss evaluation, dismissal, or disciplining of employees or public officers. No other substantive business is on the agenda.

Blaine County boards tackle FY 2027 budgets, feedlot permit, revenue bonds in busy two-week stretch

Blaine County's boards and commissions held a packed schedule of meetings over the past two weeks, with agendas covering the FY 2027 budget, a proposed 10,000-animal feedlot, revenue bonds for River Bend Properties, and several land-use applications. Minutes have not yet been published for any of these meetings, so the items below reflect what was on each agenda — not confirmed outcomes.

FY 2027 budget deliberations

The Board of County Commissioners discussed the FY 2027 budget across multiple meetings. On July 20, the Board and the Blaine County Ambulance District both presented budget deliberations. On July 23, the Board was scheduled to set tentative FY 2027 budgets for both the County Commissioners and the Ambulance District. The July 28 agenda again listed setting the Blaine County FY 2027 tentative budget. No dollar figures or vote tallies are available because minutes have not been published.

Kilpatrick Bridge construction agreement

The July 21 Board of County Commissioners agenda included a consent calendar with an Idaho Transportation Department Local Professional Services Agreement for Kilpatrick Bridge construction. Also on the consent calendar were a new beverage license for Rojas & Sons 34 Inc DBA Shorty's Diner, Junior College Certificate of Residency forms, and approval of May 12, 2026 regular meeting minutes along with May 14 and 18 special meeting minutes. The Board was also scheduled to hold an executive session on evaluation, dismissal, or disciplining of employees or public officers under Idaho Code §74-206(1)(b).

10,000-animal feedlot public hearing

The Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing on a conditional use permit application by Twin Stock LLC to operate a 10,000 animal unit feedlot at 23 Yale Road. The property is zoned Productive Agricultural District with Wellhead Protection and Wildlife Overlay Districts. The hearing appeared on both the July 22 and July 23 Planning and Zoning agendas. The July 22 agenda also included a findings-of-fact discussion for a separate site modification application (LU25-16) at 921 Parker Gulch, and set the next meeting for Thursday, July 23 at 402 Cherry Street in Minidoka.

Revenue bonds and stream alteration permit

The July 28 Board of County Commissioners agenda included Resolution 2026-16, which would authorize the issuance of public finance authority revenue bonds for River Bend Properties ID, LLC. The same meeting included a public hearing on Steve Barnard's stream alteration permit for Rio Creek to replace an irrigation weir, a security agreement with Joseph Grimaldi at 233 Eagle Creek Loop related to a Riparian and Mitigation Plan, and Resolution 2026-17 with a grant agreement listed as SUN-NMG-3-16-0016-066-2026.

Hearing Examiner considers three land-use applications

On July 30, the Blaine County Hearing Examiner was scheduled to hold a special public meeting on three applications, each with a public hearing:

• A variance request by A31, LLC (Scott Sanders) for a shed rebuild at 105 Eagle Creek Loop in the Eagle Creek Meadows Subdivision, proposing to reduce side and rear yard setbacks from 25 feet to 9'1-9/16" and 4'2-1/8".
• A conditional use permit application by Alan and Heidi Jackson for a non-compliant accessory dwelling unit at 146 Canyon Drive (Aspen Hollow Sub #2, Lot 3).
• A conditional use permit application by Taggart and Kacie Spenst to convert an existing garage into an accessory dwelling unit at 142 Stoney Rd.

All three were listed for decision at the meeting, though outcomes are not yet confirmed.

Coming up

Board of County Commissioners — Monday, Aug. 3: The Commissioners will consider a catering permit for Iron Horse Saloon to serve beer, wine, and liquor at the Carey Fairgrounds on August 6–8, 2026.

*Note: All recent meetings listed above are marked "agenda only" — minutes have not yet been published. Items reflect what was scheduled for consideration, not confirmed decisions or vote tallies.*

Blaine County commissioners weigh FY2027 budgets, bridge contracts, and feedlot permit in busy stretch

Blaine County commissioners held a packed schedule of meetings from July 7 through July 16, with agendas covering the FY2027 budget, new county positions, bridge engineering contracts, and a stream alteration permit reconsideration. Minutes have not yet been published for any of these meetings, so outcomes of listed action items are not yet confirmed in the public record.

Budget and staffing actions scheduled

The July 9 special meeting listed action items on a reserve policy confirmation, a cost of living increase, and creation of four new positions: Election Clerk, Court Clerk, School Resource Officer, and Seasonal Noxious Weed Employee. Community service contracts and a comment letter on the proposed annexation of Flying Hat Ranch (Blaine Crossing) were also scheduled for action.

On July 13, commissioners were set to consider the FY2027 budget for the Blaine County Ambulance District and capital improvement plans for the Road and Bridge, IT, Facilities, and Sheriff's Office departments. A contract for the Snake River Juvenile Detention Center was also listed as an action item.

The July 16 meeting scheduled votes on the Coroner's Office budget, the Sheriff's Office budget, and the Ohio Gulch Sprinkler Replacement Project.

River Bend housing, bridge engineering, and federal grant comment

The July 7 meeting agenda included a vote on a regulatory agreement for River Bend Community Housing and a comment letter on the OMB's proposed overhaul of federal grant rules. Commissioners were also scheduled to approve a Local Professional Services Agreement with Keller Associates for Engineer of Record Services for Kilpatrick Bridge, plus Technical Service Agreements with the University of Idaho Integrated Design Lab, National Lab of the Rockies, WSP, and Idaho National Lab for HMGP Scoping Grants. Budget presentations from Mountain Rides and the Blaine County Fair Board were also on the agenda.

Stream alteration permit and license renewals

The July 14 meeting included a request to reconsider a Stream Alteration Permit for Wood River Land Trust on Democrat Gulch, Hot Spring Gulch, and Croy Creeks, involving irrigation water rights point of diversion and storage repair on multiple Class 3 streams. Consent items included a catering permit for Sawtooth Brewery to serve beer and wine at the Higher Ground Fundraiser Dinner on August 20, 2026, at 150 Glendale Rd, Bellevue, and beverage license renewals for over 30 establishments, including Idathai, Johnny G's Subshack, and Sawtooth Brewery. The agenda also listed Resolution 2026-15, a grant agreement (SUN-NMG-3-16-0016-065-2026), and discussions on Gem Plan Health Insurance and the FY 2027 insurance brokerage fee.

Coming up

• **July 20 — Board of County Commissioners:** FY2027 budget deliberations for both the Board and the Blaine County Ambulance District. No decisions listed beyond budget discussion.
• **July 21 — Board of County Commissioners:** Consent calendar includes an Idaho Transportation Department professional services agreement for Kilpatrick Bridge construction, a new beverage license for Rojas & Sons 34 Inc DBA Shorty's Diner, Junior College Certificate of Residency forms, and approval of May 2026 meeting minutes. An executive session is scheduled under Idaho Code §74-206(1)(b) on evaluation, dismissal, or disciplining of employees or public officers.
• **July 22 — Planning and Zoning Commission:** Public hearing on a conditional use permit application by Twin Stock LLC for a 10,000 animal unit feedlot at 23 Yale Road, zoned Productive Agricultural with Wellhead Protection and Wildlife Overlay districts. The commission will also discuss findings of fact for LU25-16 (921 Parker Gulch / MOD Site Alt).
• **July 23 — Planning and Zoning Commission:** Continued public hearing and consideration of the Twin Stock LLC conditional use permit for the 10,000 animal unit feedlot at 23 Yale Road. No other substantive items are listed.