Snake River Canyons Park Board
Open Meeting Minutes
Thursday, November 13, 2025
Blue Lakes Country Club, Jerome, Idaho
Attending Board Members: Chairman Bill Bridges, Mark Reyes, Brenda Weekes, Jim Williams, and Jeff Pierson via phone. Not present: Steve Paulson, John Weston, and Greg Moore.
Guests: Commissioner Art Watkins, Larry Hall for the Overlook project, Camille Barigar with Jerome 20/20, and Rebecca Wildman taking minutes.
Bill called the meeting to order at 11:03 a.m. with a quorum present.
Minutes: Jim motioned to approve the Minutes from the October 9, 2025, meeting, Mark seconded, motion carried.
Introductions were made.
Treasurers Report: $8,100 in bank left from last year’s budget. Spent $2,181 so far this year on toilet maintenance and security. The new container is in place and Bill believes its expense will be on the budget. The security provider has billed six months for last year.
Bricks: Brenda is keeping a spreadsheet of date, donation, how it was paid (if by credit card then the transaction fee will be deducted), and if a thank you card was sent. She is keeping a second spreadsheet for direct donations. Currently Bricks R Us has $600 in checks and $1,350 in credit cards, totaling $1,850. Direct payments total $255,000 including Idaho Power. Brenda’s tracking will help follow funding from the county to the park’s 501c. Discussion on Republic, Dr. Irwin, and other recognition. Cost of bricks $19 for small and $27.50 for larger. Encouraged distributing the Buy a Brick flyers.
Shoshone Falls Overlook: Larry shared a printed overlook update and photo of the location noting it will be challenging to prepare the land and may require blast and fill. Larry discussed the timeline for bids, process with the county and constraints with timing to avoid bird nesting restrictions. Currently only one week would be open for starting construction. Discussed alternate plans if unable to begin in the one-week period. Further discussion on contracts, timing, legal considerations, staking where the space is located, blasting and alternatives to blasting. Bill previously asked Civil Science to mark road boundaries. Bill reported that Lisa Cresswell with BLM will let us know dates for migratory closures with the belief that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife sets dates and that the BLM wildlife biologist is the point person.
Park leadership pursing larger grants from local companies. Larry researching Idaho Department of Commerce grants.
Tractor and Container: Storage container is placed at the disc golf course and needs more work to level. Tractor will be stored there, and a custom designed sign will mark the side of the container. Mark handed out two design ideas for sign with the board providing feedback. Mark will share feedback with designer. Bid for custom wrap is $6k.
Webpage: Cheryl Viola is updating the SRCP website and requested more photos. Several people were at the park last night taking photos of the northern lights. Discussed having status of projects on the website like “completed,” “in progress,” or “in planning.”
RV Park: Bill informed the RV park may start charging for use, estimating in six-months out. Added that any money raised must go back into the same project per BLM rules.
Shooting Range – Archery: Bill shared John’s report that several areas were assessed for an archery range and John suggested placing it at the top of Blue Lakes Grade, through a fence and adjacent to the Allen property near the small building. Access would likely need a cattle guard. Agreed for Bill to bring this to BLM for approval. John also suggested a trail from the area across IDL property heading towards the bridge. Mentioned past illegal artifact digging in that area and on the Allen property.
Bill suggested to others to carry a fire extinguisher and first aid kit in your vehicle while in the park. Rebecca asked about retrieving and properly disposing of an illegally dumped mattress/box springs she saw west of overlook area.
Grants & Volunteers: Brenda introduced a national volunteer organization www.JustServe.org and shared if projects need volunteers that the park can post as a resource. Jeff Williams suggested set two clean-up dates per year – spring and fall – and to bring awareness to the park. Discussed collaboration with United Way, schools, off roaders, climbers, etc. Jeff will gather dates and present next meeting. Brenda to post a December 6 from 9-1pm to pick up trash on 700 East Road, volunteers to contact Bill.
Rock Crawling Park: Jeff said OHV group is unable to do anything before December 15, so they are looking forward to next year and want the SRCP arbor and picnic table. Bill advised Jeff to go with through the Jerome P&Z and Milk Tilka to help set the arbor’s foundation. Plan to install at a high point in the rock crawling park. Jeff asked about future RV park location.
Equestrian Trailhead on 700 E: Mark doesn’t know Sue’s progress on this.
Signs: Bill reported that he has three signs to still place.
Toilets: Bill reported they were pumped this past week.
New Business: Mark said motorcycle group is interested in installing a single-track park west of the disc golf course. Brenda emphasized the park has a process to go through to set use and trails. Bill believes use is already approved by the BLM and Mark has invited them to attend a future meeting. Park has a packet of information and BLM and park processes for new use developments.
New Board Member: Becky Dean has resigned. Brenda will enquire with Sue if there is a horse person. Larry also mentioned someone he knows.
Other: Bill mentioned IdaGo, a service that advertises free for non-profits. Bill met an Idaho hiking guidebook author and noted our area does not have a guidebook. He mentioned interest in OHV trail guidebook. The Vineyard overpass road may be completed now.
The next meeting scheduled for Thursday, December 11, 2025, 11am – 1pm at Blue Lakes Country Club.
With no further business the meeting was adjourned at 12:40 p.m.