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Garfield County seeks short-term fixes as seasonal staff leave and online firewood permitting remains pending
Summary
Commissioners and staff said an Escalante-area seasonal employee will leave Oct. 4, creating a gap in local firewood permit sales; county and federal staff said an online permit option is being developed and temporary in-person coverage is planned one day a week.
Commissioners at the Garfield County Commission meeting on Sept. 22 said they are pursuing short-term options to keep firewood permits available in remote communities after a seasonal employee’s scheduled Oct. 4 departure and while an online sales option is still being implemented.
County leaders said many residents in rural parts of the county rely on personal-use firewood for winter heating and that calls for help are arriving daily. Commissioner Taylor said she had raised the issue with the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management staff during recent public-lands meetings and that the county needs help ensuring continued access to permits.
A county staff member said the Forest Service and county are “working on a plan to have somebody over here at least 1 day a week” to sell permits and answer questions while the online purchase system is built. Commissioners and staff discussed short-term workarounds, including sharing printed permits already purchased from Red Canyon Visitor Center and urging residents to call county staff for assistance.
Officials noted constraints on hiring at the federal level and the seasonal nature of the current permit seller. Commissioner Taylor stressed that commercial permits could be obtained farther away and that county concern is primarily for residents who need small amounts of firewood to heat homes.
Why it matters: Many Garfield County households, particularly older residents in rural areas, depend on firewood for heat. A lapse in local permit sales could expose people to enforcement risk or reduce safe, legal access to fuel. County staff said they will post updates on social media and in local papers when details about in-person coverage and the online option are finalized.
County staff and commissioners did not announce a funding appropriation at the meeting; they described operational steps and temporary staffing plans.
Ending: County staff said they will notify commissioners when the weekly in-person coverage schedule is set and that the online permitting option is under development for future seasons.
