The Valley County Board of County Commissioners held a working session on September 24, 2025, to discuss the county's woody biomass program with representatives from Forrester, a company specializing in waste management solutions. The meeting was led by Mara Halovichak, the county's director, and included key stakeholders such as Paul, the wildfire mitigation director, and Kent Holland, the CEO of Forrester.

The primary focus of the discussion was the management of woody biomass, particularly in light of the county's recent expiration of an innovation grant that previously funded biomass disposal. Halovichak emphasized the importance of finding new funding sources to continue supporting residents with free residential debris removal. The county has been collaborating with Ken Holton, who has applied for a large grant to explore potential solutions for managing woody biomass.

During the meeting, Holland outlined the need for a sustainable program to process woody biomass, which is critical given the county's designation as one of the top ten fire-prone areas in the region. He highlighted the importance of partnerships with the Forest Service and the Idaho Department of Lands to ensure a steady supply of biomass for processing facilities.

The session was designed to gather feedback from the commissioners on the proposed program and to facilitate a dialogue about the next steps. Holland indicated that further evaluation of potential processing sites would be necessary before presenting a formal plan for approval in a future session.

Overall, the meeting underscored the county's commitment to addressing wildfire risks through effective biomass management while seeking collaborative solutions to support the community.