County staff proposes fee increases for burn permits and sheriff services; public hearing to follow

County staff presented proposed fee changes that include raising private burn permits from $20 to $30 and several sheriff’s office fee adjustments. The Division of Natural Resources staff said private burn permits began at $20 (in 2008) and that staff estimate roughly 400 permits are issued annually; staff asked the board to consider raising the private burn permit to $30 to better reflect staff time and rising wages and insurance costs.
Sheriff’s office staff proposed increasing records search fees from $30 to $40 per hour, raising the civil mileage reimbursement from 58¢ to 70¢ per mile and increasing the price of no-trespassing signs from $25 to $30. Commissioners directed these proposed fee changes to be included in the scheduled public hearing on county rate changes; no final fee ordinance was adopted at the meeting.
Staff noted the county will present all proposed rate changes at the public hearing for formal consideration and public comment before any fee schedule adjustments take effect.