Valley County to draft MOU allowing Ignite Idaho to operate senior center and child care space in Cascade

Valley County commissioners on Aug. 20 agreed to instruct staff to draft a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that would allow Ignite Idaho Family Resource Center to occupy the county-owned building in Cascade and operate a child care center, youth assessment services and family resource functions while preserving senior-center programming.

County leaders said the senior center has been closed for about a year and that reopening a licensed child care program is urgent for Cascade’s workforce. Ignite Idaho representatives told commissioners they would take over the entire building, charge $1,000 a month in rent for the organization’s side, and coordinate a calendar so the senior center could continue lunches and programming on its portion once the church now using part of the site vacates in December.

"We are in full support of our senior community. Our seniors are very important to us," said Madam chairman during the discussion, which opened when staff explained the church occupying adjacent space had delayed an earlier move-out. Ignite Idaho said it has completed required building upgrades for fire inspection and is awaiting Central District Health for licensing of the child care operations.

Commissioners and staff discussed the allocation of maintenance, utilities and other operating costs. County staff said the county would remain responsible for major building systems and exterior structure repairs while tenant improvements (for example, interior painting) would fall to the tenant. Commissioners said that because Ignite Idaho would occupy the entire building for the proposed monthly rent, the organization should cover utilities, snow removal and routine interior maintenance. The county said it would have buildings and grounds inspect the facility and produce a written condition report.

County staff said the county’s grant writer will investigate whether the building’s changed use under a joint MOU might strengthen eligibility for Idaho Department of Commerce grants, including possible furnace replacement funds that had been discussed when the site was considered for senior-only use. Ignite Idaho said it would also seek private or donated short-term storage if seniors need to move belongings before the church vacates in December; county staff said no county storage is currently available.

Commissioners directed staff and county attorneys to begin drafting the MOU immediately so the agreements can be reviewed and signed as soon as practical. County staff said they would aim to have a draft ready within about a week, depending on attorney timelines, and that final signatures would follow review by the senior board and Ignite Idaho.

The discussion included requests for clear language about how annual funds that the county provides to the senior center would be handled if Ignite Idaho rents the building; commissioners said the MOU should specify that funds intended for the seniors would flow to the senior organization under the agreed arrangement. Buildings and grounds will inspect the heater and other systems; staff noted heating issues reported earlier and said the county would handle building-system repairs because the facility is county-owned.

No formal vote was recorded; commissioners agreed to proceed with drafting the MOU and to return the proposed document for review and signature.