Bannock County commissioners decline to validate historic extension of North Beehive Road

Bannock County commissioners voted to deny a request to validate a historic extension of North Beehive Road in Pocatello, concluding the claim concerns only private parcels and that validating the road would require the county to assume development and maintenance responsibilities.

The decision followed a staff report from Kyle Burmester, the county Public Works director, and public testimony both for and against validation. Burmester told the commissioners that the county found no record of maintenance or use as a county road, and that the subject route does not appear on the county-maintained right-of-way map or in assessor records for recorded easements.

The application was filed on behalf of property owners who say historical maps and surveys show an extension of North Beehive Road providing access to two southern parcels. Eric Olsen, legal counsel for the applicants,…