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Valley County commissioners approve support letter for woody‑biomass grinder grant application
Summary
The Valley County Board of Commissioners added and approved a draft letter of support for Humankind and Forrester Company to apply for a grant to purchase a grinder for woody biomass processing, citing an opportunity to reduce costly grinding and improve waste management; the board voted unanimously to approve the letter.
Valley County commissioners voted Dec. 16 to add and approve a draft letter of support for a grant application by Humankind and Forrester Company to fund a grinder for processing woody biomass.
The letter, added to the agenda at the start of the meeting and later approved by motion, is intended to support a Forest Service grant application to buy equipment that would grind woody debris rather than burning or landfilling it. Commissioners said the proposal would be discussed in more detail in January or February if the grant opportunity advances. The board approved adding the letter to the agenda and later approved the support letter by unanimous voice vote.
County staff said the grant is the same U.S. Forest Service program the county applied to previously; the group pursuing the new application would use the grinder to process woody debris for reuse rather than disposal. Commissioners indicated the county and the private partner would discuss lease sites, operations and whether the county would own equipment or contract with a private operator if the grant is awarded.
County staff noted a short timeline for the initial request; at the meeting someone observed, “It’s gotta be in by Friday,” which was one reason the item was added to the agenda on short notice. Commissioners also noted the county has previously spent money to grind woody debris; at the meeting one commissioner recalled the county spent “a little over $200,000” last year on grinding instead of burning.
The motion to add the draft letter to the agenda was made during the meeting and the formal motion to approve the support letter for Humankind and Forrester Company passed by voice vote with all present saying “aye.” No formal contract terms, ownership arrangements or budget commitments were approved at the meeting; commissioners said those operational details would be covered in later discussions if the grant application proceeds.
Commissioners said they expect a fuller presentation and public discussion in January or February to cover lease arrangements, site locations and whether a county‑owned grinder or a contractor model would be used.
Ending: The support letter will be finalized, routed for signatures and held pending the outcome of grant applications; commissioners signaled intent to return to the topic with staff and the private partner for detailed negotiations if funding becomes available.
