Bannock County opens and closes hearing on Inkom area of city impact; no public testimony

The Bannock County Commission opened and then closed a public hearing on the City of Inkom’s area of city impact, and no members of the public testified, county officials said.

Hal Jensen, planning director of Bannock County, told the commission the hearings are a procedural step tied to state land-use rules and to negotiation over growth patterns around municipalities. “A county is a subdivision of state government,” Jensen said. “The legislature met this last legislative session. They rewrote the area of city impact, giving all power and authority exclusively to the county and the county commission.”

The county’s explanation emphasized that the area-of-city-impact (ACI) designation is meant to facilitate planning and negotiation between the county and incorporated cities. Jensen said the designation does not change residents’ taxes or zoning and that residents remain under county jurisdiction. “It’s a formality. It doesn't change your taxes. It doesn't change your zoning. It guarantees that you still live in the county and that the county is your jurisdictional authority,” he said.

Jensen told the commission that, statewide, many ACIs were reduced under the recent legislative changes; some areas were removed while others were retained or adjusted. He cited Pocatello and Chubbuck as examples of cities that received area-of-city-impact designations in places where others did not. The comments came during the county’s presentation portion of the hearing.

A commissioner moved to open the public hearing for the City of Inkom’s ACI; the motion carried on a voice vote. With no testimony offered, a commissioner then moved to close the hearing; that motion also carried on a voice vote. County staff recorded no public comments on the Inkom ACI during the proceeding.

After closing the Inkom hearing, the commission recessed briefly to set up for a separate public hearing concerning the City of Lava Hot Springs.