Bannock County signs Good Neighbor Authority award to fund fuels reduction near landfill

Bannock County commissioners on Sept. 11 voted to sign a Good Neighbor Authority grant award from the U.S. Department of the Interior to fund fuels‑reduction work in the Lava Ranches neighborhood and on property near the Bannock County landfill.

Charity Stagg, Southeast Idaho Council of Governments, told the commissioners the county applied for $400,000 and the Department adjusted the award and budget. “We applied for $400,000. They adjusted our budget a little bit to give the county a little bit more indirect, increase that another 6,700,” Stagg said. She said the department awarded $250,000 initially and is now awarding the additional $156,700 to bring the grant to the proposed amount.

The project described in the award is fuels reduction in the Lava Ranches neighborhood and on a property listed as Crystal Springs near the county landfill. Stagg said staff was unable to locate landowners for the Crystal Springs parcel. “It does say Crystal Springs on there, but unfortunately, I wasn't able to find any landowners out there,” she said. A commissioner asked whether an amendment to the award would be required if the county cannot secure that parcel; no formal amendment procedure was recorded in the excerpt.

The presiding commissioner (name not specified) moved that the board sign the Good Neighbor Authority award with the U.S. Department of the Interior. “I'm just gonna make a motion that we go ahead and sign the Good Neighbor Authority Award Grant with US Department of Interior,” the presiding commissioner said. The motion received no recorded second in the provided transcript excerpt and was approved by voice vote after commissioners present were asked to indicate their support: “All in favor, say aye.” The transcript records an affirmative response; no roll‑call tally or recorded dissents appear in the excerpt.

After the vote, the presiding commissioner proposed moving into executive session under the item code cited on the record for potential litigation. The proposal cited item code “74 dash 2 0 6 1 a and b, and also f” as the authority under which the commission would meet in executive session; no vote to enter executive session is recorded in the excerpt provided.

Why it matters: Good Neighbor Authority grants fund forest‑management activities on certain federal and adjacent lands; fuels‑reduction work is commonly used to reduce wildfire risk for nearby neighborhoods and infrastructure. The award moves the county toward contracting or scheduling the on‑the‑ground work but, per the transcript, steps remain if landowner permission is required for specific parcels.

What’s next: The board recorded a motion to sign the award; staff and the Southeast Idaho Council of Governments will need to resolve the Crystal Springs parcel and any administrative amendments if landowner agreements are required. The transcript excerpt ends after a proposal to convene an executive session on potential litigation.