Granite County adopts resolution to join Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority

The Granite County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt Resolution 2025-13, petitioning the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority to expand its membership to include Granite County. The motion was approved on second reading; Commissioner Paul Foster was not present.

The resolution asks the county to be included in the regional passenger-rail authority’s service area and authorizes staff to transmit the petitioning paperwork. County staff warned the commissioners that the county should expect “some expenses” tied to remapping and paperwork as well as an initial membership fee and annual dues, though the packet did not specify exact amounts.

During public comment, a caller identified as Elena Gagliano said she had received a copy of a letter from a board member of Big Sky Passenger Rail and that the county website did not show the letter or evidence that commissioners had received it. Gagliano said she would email a copy for the county record. The commissioners said they had not received any such letter via their county email addresses.

The motion to adopt the resolution passed on a voice vote. The board instructed staff to file the adopted resolution with the rail authority and to follow up on the paperwork and any invoicing related to mapping and dues.

Documentation: the resolution appears in the meeting packet as “Resolution 2025-13.” The packet language and the commissioners’ discussion referenced potential one-time mapping costs and ongoing dues; the packet did not list exact dollar amounts.

Looking ahead, the clerk’s office will mail/submit the signed resolution and will notify the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority of Granite County’s petition to join.