sellis@journalnet.com

It appears the controversy surrounding a group residence proposed by a church that moved to Fort Hall in July is over.

All but six members of the Church of the Firstborn and General Assembly of Heaven have moved out of the group's headquarters on Reservation Road.

In accordance with a written agreement the group reached with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, the group has also removed all but two trailers that were set up on the 3.68-acre property, as well as most of the 15 vehicles that were there.

About 30 church members were living at the single-family residence, but the agreement required all but 10 members to leave the residence by Thursday.

Officials from the tribes' Land Use Policy Commission conducted an on-site inspection of the property Thursday and confirmed the group had met the terms of the agreement, which was reached after the commission denied the group's request to construct a three-story, 18,000-square-foot dormitory that would have included at least 36 bedrooms and 15 bathrooms.

"They complied in every way," said tribal attorney Mark Echohawk.

Church leaders told the Journal Wednesday they stood by their previous statement that they came to serve tribal members, not argue with them, and would comply with the tribes' requests and move.

"To their credit, they have," Echohawk said.

Church leaders wouldn't comment further, and it's not known where the rest of the group moved to.

The land use commission stated it denied the church's request to build the structure because it would strain surrounding water resources, overburden the existing septic system and drastically disrupt the "quiet, peaceful, single-family lifestyle associated with agricultural use of the property in the area."

Tribal and non-tribal members who live in the area were unanimously opposed to the proposed living facility.

Echohawk said the six church members that remain at the residence are property owner Joseph Ahlstrom, his wife, their two biological children and two grandchildren.

A garage the land use commission allowed the group to build is mostly finished, but Echohawk pointed out it's just a garage and nothing more; no one will be living inside the structure.

Echohawk said the tribes consider the issue finished, but commission officials will "drop by periodically to make sure they remain in compliance."

The issue may have led to a serious effort by Bannock County and the tribe to work out their disagreement over who has jurisdiction over land use and building applications from non-tribal members in areas where tribal and county land overlap.

For example, while the area in which the church was located is zoned single-family by the tribe, county rules consider that area a multiple-use zone. The church's proposed plan to build the living structure recently brought the issue to a head.

Echohawk said county officials have taken some steps the past few days that indicate they want to work cooperatively to find a solution to the issue.

"They've indicated they're willing to sit down and keep talking with the tribes, and we're taking them up on it," he said. "It's time to work out how the county and tribes regulate land use in that overlap area."

Bannock County Commissioner Larry Ghan said he appreciates the fact that the door appears to be open on both sides on this issue.

"Certainly we're interested in establishing rules and regulations that work together, and that also respect each others' jurisdictional rights and responsibilities," Ghan said. "We need to work together for the benefit of the public, and I think we've got a real opportunity here."