Bannock County commissioners authorized staff to apply for a land-use permit bond related to the county’s recent effort to acquire the Kimport Tower, which sits on land administered by the Idaho Department of Lands.

Matthew Phillips, HR nurse management director, told commissioners the county needs to complete a land-use permit that requires a $5,000 bond as part of the Kimport Tower acquisition and asked the board to authorize the bond application and to allow staff to bind the premium up to a stated amount. “If the commissioners are here and are fine with us making that application and perhaps proving me to bind that bond up to a certain amount, I can’t imagine it being more than $500,” Phillips said, adding he expected the premium would likely be “much less.”

Commissioners clarified that the county has an agreement to acquire the tower structure while the land remains under Idaho Department of Lands control; county staff said the county is leasing the land and had executed a quitclaim for the building. The bond is intended to satisfy the land-use permit requirement. Phillips said the county is recouping some land costs from fees charged to lessees of the tower.

Phillips asked for authority to apply for the bond and to bind coverage for up to $500 annual premium; he said he expects the bond to be a three-year bond. “If it’s annual if it’s more than that, I’ll let you know,” he said. The board moved and passed a motion authorizing application for the bond and allowing staff to bind the premium up to $500 per year.

Why it matters: the bond and permit are procedural steps required to formalize county use of the tower and to meet land-use requirements while the land remains under state administration.

What’s next: staff will complete the bond application and report back if the annual premium will exceed the authorized amount.