The fate of forensic pathology center in Pocatello delayed until Thursday

POCATELLO — The Bannock County Commissioners have agreed to delay their decision until Thursday on whether to make the East Idaho Forensic Pathology Center a reality.

Before the commissioners meeting earlier this week, Commissioner Ernie Moser said he received some calls from members of the Idaho Legislature and a representative of the governor’s office regarding the center.

After some discussion, the county commissioners decided that more time was needed to make a final decision on the center’s fate.

Bannock County has received around $17 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act with those dollars potentially providing the funding source needed to build the planned forensic pathology center near the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office in south Pocatello.

Deliberations among the commissioners have gone on for weeks with many of the discussions focused on the center’s cost, tax burden and financial viability. While ideas like subscription models and state involvement to help offset potential costs have been raised, the commissioners appear to be somewhat divided on whether to move forward with the center.

The idea for the East Idaho Forensic Pathology Center came up because of the state’s need for a second facility to perform autopsies. All of the state’s autopsies are currently done at an Ada County facility in southwest Idaho.

Bannock County officials thought that a forensic pathology center in Pocatello would be able to more conveniently provide autopsy services for counties on this side of the state.

The commissioners are expected to make a final decision on the project at their 9 a.m. Thursday meeting in the commissioners chambers at the Bannock County Courthouse.