Commissioners debate timber RFP after county explores community‑forest purchase

Commissioners discussed a recently posted request for proposals (RFP) to harvest timber on county property and whether soliciting bids is compatible with ongoing work to acquire and develop adjacent lands as a community forest. One commissioner warned that selling timber on land intended to become part of a public forest would damage donor confidence and the conservation project; another said the RFP was intended only to gauge market interest and value estimates and that any sale would require subsequent board approval.