Bannock County commissioners appoint Hough as chair and approve auction of abandoned firearms, radio-tower agreement and other routine items

The Bannock County Board of Commissioners on an unstated date in a regular session appointed Commissioner Hough as the board chair and approved a package of routine items that included authorizing the sale of abandoned firearms, signing the quarterly jail inspection, formalizing a five-year access agreement for county radio towers with DayWireless, approving an Idaho Power easement relocation for the proposed YDC building site, and authorizing destruction of archived prosecuting-attorney records.

The actions give the county a path to clear evidence-room space and formalize management of county communications infrastructure while keeping sales proceeds and contractual responsibilities defined.

Commissioner Hough was appointed chair by motion, which was seconded and adopted by voice vote.

Sheriff Tony Monning asked the board to approve sending a collection of abandoned firearms to Prime Time Auction. Monning said the firearms “are either most of them are lost or found property,” and that the items were not associated with active criminal cases. Alex Hamilton, chief deputy, and Maggie Gutierrez, identified in the meeting as the county’s evidence technician, joined the discussion. Gutierrez said the firearms had been checked in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), that owners received certified-mail notices with an option to transfer ownership, and that few responded. She said some of the items date back many years and described the process the sheriff’s office follows before declaring items abandoned and offering them for sale.

Commissioners and staff discussed legal notice and buyer screening. County counsel advised that the items could be sold through Prime Time Auction provided the county posts appropriate public notice (the attorney recommended at least three days’ notice). County staff and the sheriff’s office said the auctioneer operates as a federal firearms license (FFL) holder and conducts the background checks required for firearm transfers, which shifts post-sale purchaser vetting and related liabilities to the dealer once a sale is completed. The board approved the motion to send the abandoned firearms to Prime Time Auction by voice vote.

The commission also signed and approved the quarterly jail inspection report after brief praise for the facility improvements, including newly renovated showers and wet cells in the women’s building. Commissioners credited the contractor (referred to during the meeting as one of two possible contractors, Streamline or Barlow) for accelerating the project.

Adam McKinney, the county’s chief technical officer and 9-1-1 emergency communications director, presented a proposed formal agreement with DayWireless that would replace a prior verbal arrangement allowing DayWireless to maintain equipment at county-owned radio sites. McKinney said the draft sets liability and access terms, includes a nominal fee of $1 per year for an initial five-year term (a change requested by county counsel), and prevents automatic renewal so the county can revisit terms at expiration. McKinney said Bannock County has seven radio sites in its system, five of which the county owns; two sites are on leased ground. The board voted to approve the agreement.

Dan Kendall, facilities director, said Idaho Power has requested an easement relocation for the proposed YDC building so power for a Verizon tower would be moved from the west side of the building to the east side; Kendall said the relocation would improve future access for county projects. Kendall told commissioners that Idaho Power will design the relocation and bill the county for the work; the county budgeted for the expense but the exact charge was not specified in the meeting. The board approved the easement adjustment.

Christie Davenport, management assistant, requested a signature to authorize destruction of prosecuting-attorney documents that had been archived and scanned by a vendor (identified in the meeting as the company formerly called Integra). Davenport said the vendor will shred boxes once the county signs a destruction authorization and otherwise will begin charging for storage. The board authorized the chairman to sign the destruction approval.

The board adopted two resolutions listed in the meeting as Resolution 2025-4 (designating county roads for state reimbursement) and Resolution 2025-5 (authorizing disposal of surplus assets); staff discussion on the specifics of one road (Eagle View Drive) focused on its location and that public-works staff had recommended acceptance as a county road. The board approved the resolutions and a consent agenda that included payroll approval forms and minutes for Jan. 7.

Other routine administrative items approved included: authorization for county staff (Ken Bullock) to be assigned accounts-payable authority and to sign a cardholder agreement; authorization to shred specified sheriff’s-office records under the department retention policy; and acceptance of a separate archival-destruction signature for previously scanned prosecuting-attorney boxes. All actions recorded in the meeting were approved by voice vote with commissioners saying “aye.”

Votes at a glance - Appointment of Commissioner Hough as board chair — motion adopted by voice vote (all in favor). - Authorize Prime Time Auction to sell abandoned firearms — motion adopted by voice vote (all in favor). - Sign quarterly jail inspection — motion adopted by voice vote (all in favor). - Approve DayWireless five-year tower access agreement (nominal fee $1/yr; no auto-renewal) — motion adopted by voice vote (all in favor). - Approve Idaho Power easement relocation for proposed YDC building — motion adopted by voice vote (all in favor). - Authorize destruction of archived prosecuting-attorney boxes (vendor formerly Integra) — motion adopted by voice vote (all in favor). - Adopt Resolution 2025-4 (designating county roads for state reimbursement) and Resolution 2025-5 (authorize disposal of surplus assets) — motions adopted by voice vote (all in favor). - Authorize shredding per Bannock County Sheriff’s Office retention schedule; authorize Ken Bullock as accounts-payable signatory and cardholder agreement; accept consent agenda — all adopted by voice vote (all in favor).

The meeting record shows routine approval language and oral “ayes” rather than roll-call tallies. When commissioners asked for further detail on any item, staff provided clarifying points (see provenance and clarifying details).