Open Meeting Minutes
February 13, 2025
Blue Lakes Country Club, Jerome, Idaho
Attending Board Members: Greg Moore, Steve Haag, John Weston, Becky Dean, Bill Bridges via phone, Brenda Weeks, Jeff Pierson, Mark Reyes
Guests: Larry Hall, Mark Barnes, David Freiberg, Aaron Utz, Hugo Sanchez, Matt Courtney BLM, Birk Roseman, BLM, Lisa Crosswell, Shoshone BLM, Mary Ellis, BLM, Art Watkins, County Commissioner
Greg Moore, Vice Chair, called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m. with a quorum present and introduction.
Approval of Minutes of January 9, 2025 Board Meeting: Reviewed without corrections. Motion to approve from Steve Haag , second fromJohn Weston. Motion carries.
Additions to Agenda – action item with Motion and Order to Amend Agenda: none requested
Member and Guest introductions:
Project Reports:
- Volunteer Program: Cache Peak Chapter of the Back Country Horsemen was presented with the 2024 SRCP Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award by Brenda Weeks and Becky Dean at their meeting in Burley. The presentation was well received with much enthusiasm about the future development of trails in the park. A photo of the presentation will be published in the club’s newsletter.
- Treasurers Report: First Federal account $53,123.69, 501C3 $12,677.36
- RV Park: Park use is very slow with 1-3 campers per night
- Webpage for SRCP: Park is receiving regular updates and seems to be operating well
- Yingst Grade ROW– We discussed effort to replace earlier right of way from 2000. Per Brenda Weeks we have submitted all the paperwork for the request for a new ROW. Mary Ellis with BLM had additional questions about the use of logs for erosion control.Brenda commented that we don’t need to use the smaller culvert. The logs will be used instead. BLM advised that should we wish to use log erosion control; it needs to be submitted in the plan.
- Shooting Range – John Weston: he visited Malad and Murtaugh gun ranges. He compared each with maintenance and preparation and they were at each end of the spectrum. Birk with BLM is getting clearance from specialists. They will clear our project for a variety of resources to be able to develop late summer or fall. Jerome County will have access to heavy equipment.
- Shoshone Falls Overlook – Larry Hall. At the last meeting to discuss this, the Board was not ready to approve until they could review the visual aspect and layout. Larry Hall presented a draft of the Project Development Request for the Shoshone Falls Overlook Project. Part of the request included Exhibits showing the location of the project, a design of the Overlook parking area and the Overlook platform area and IDL right-of-way easement. Specific focus was directed to a photo image that emulated a naked eye view of the Overlook area with images shown to see the type of views that there would be including cars, RVs, Gift Shop, Portable Toilets and rock formations. Boulders will camouflage the site, wood wrapping on surfaces. The visual overlays of the project components show that most aspects of the project will be hidden from view except for taller RV’s. David Frieberg said he was ok with the visuals. The updated cost is now complete. The cost of the project is now firm at $621,000 with $67,000 having been paid for surveys, etc. Idaho Power to contribute $250,000. We will need approximately $300,000 to completely fund the project. Larry said he is optimistic about raising the necessary funds through grants and donations. The board voted unanimously to approve the project. It will go to the County Commissioners for approval before being submitted to BLM.
Meeting was adjourned at 11:30 am due to the inclement weather.
Next meeting March 13, 2025 11 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Blue Lakes Country Club (location may change if inclement weather is expected.)
Executive Sessions may be held pursuant to the Idaho Code 74-206(1) as needed during time such sessions are called.
Note: Any person needing special accommodations to participate in the meeting should contact the committee chairman at 208-293-2426 48 hours prior to the meeting.