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Recreation board trims community grants, seeks state help to maintain Heritage Trail and campground
Summary
The Fremont County Recreation Board cut $132,000 in community grant requests from its operating budget and is pursuing a memorandum of understanding with state trail managers and U.S. Forest Service to transfer maintenance responsibilities for the Heritage Trail and other assets.
The Fremont County Recreation Board told the commissioners it reduced community grant requests by about $132,000 for the coming year and has encumbered roughly $66,000 in previously approved grants that will be paid out when the groups request funds.
The board’s presenter said the prior-year budget included about $312,000 in total, of which community grants accounted for a large share; this year the board removed or reduced community requests to shrink the proposed budget. The presenter said the recreation board already has the cash on hand to honor most previously approved encumbrances and has contacted grant recipients.
Board members also asked the commission to consider a partnership with state trails managers and the U.S. Forest Service to take over maintenance on the Heritage Trail. They said state trails has specialized trail equipment and trained crews that could perform regular maintenance and heavy work—such as bridge repairs—more efficiently than contracting locally. The board expects that a maintenance MOU could free county funds for bridge and trail upgrades.
The presenter noted Green Mountain Campground operations will incur summer-season maintenance costs once the facility opens; the board plans to track those revenues and a small on-site cash box historically collected at the campground.
Commissioners and recreation board members agreed to continue the conversation at an upcoming recreation board meeting where Forest Service and state trails representatives are scheduled to attend and to return to the commission with any agreement or specific requests for county funding.
