Commissioners refine letter to Board of Natural Resources asking consideration of fiduciary obligations in timber sales

County staff and commissioners discussed edits to a draft letter addressed to the state Board of Natural Resources about the cost and scope of timber sales and the potential impacts on county revenues and trust obligations. Staff presented a draft and relayed suggested edits from County Commissioner Connie Bovee and a constituent; commissioners discussed adding language asking the Board to recognize fiduciary obligations to county residents and beneficiaries and to coordinate with affected counties before allowing sales that could materially affect local revenues.

Among the suggested edits: change wording to thank the Board for allowing "most" rather than "some" timber sales to proceed; add "fiduciary obligations" to the list of DNR responsibilities alongside carbon sequestration, habitat protection, recreation and fire management; and request greater coordination with counties and taxing districts before making timber-sale decisions. One commissioner said the county should ask the Board to stay in contact with "Conk County and all of Denver County" (as referenced in the transcript) before making decisions that could impact junior taxing districts and county budgets.

Why it matters: commissioners said timber-sale decisions can materially affect county revenue streams relied on by junior taxing districts and trust beneficiaries. The staff member said she would incorporate the edits and place the revised letter on the regular meeting agenda for consideration after public comment.

No formal action on the letter was taken at the work session; staff said the revised letter will be presented for approval at the regular meeting.