Boy Scouts, city of Idaho Falls quarrel over ownership of fmr. Boy Scout building

The Idaho Falls City Council will decide Thursday if the Grand Teton Council of the Boy Scouts of America will be able to sublet a portion of a city-owned building.

During a work session meeting Monday, the council was presented with a request for the Grand Teton Council to sublease a room in the building 4th Street to another non-profit.

Under the sublease agreement, the non-profit would pay the Boy Scouts $910 a month for rent. The Grand Teton Council currently has a 25-year lease with the city for the building paying $1 in rent per month. The agreement was written under the assumption the city owns the building and land; however, Clark Farrer, with the Grand Teton Council, says the Boy Scouts built the building in 1960 and believe they are the legal owner of the building.

“We believe the city should compensate the Boy Scouts for the capital improvements, which would include the building,” Farrer said.

The Boy Scouts currently resides in a building on Yellowstone Highway south of Idaho Falls. The Grand Teton Council has told the city it uses a portion of the 4th Street building for storage. The non-profit also pay utilities and insurance on the building, according to the city.

During the work session, council members expressed concerns about the lease being a “bad business decision” and raised questions about the Boy Scouts making money off of city property.

Farrer told KIFI/KIDK that the $910 charged would be used to pay for overhead expenses the Boy Scouts incur.

The City Council will vote one whether to consent to the sublease agreement at its regular meeting on Thursday.