The Bannock County Board voted to approve signature authority for a five-year cooperative road agreement with the U.S. Forest Service, a move county staff said will improve coordination to access public lands and increase competitiveness for grant funding.

Kyle Frommister, Public Works Director, and Chris Cole, the Forest Service district ranger, described the arrangement as a routine renewal that clarifies which roads provide access to federal lands and positions the county to compete for grants. Frommister referenced a prior Scout Mountain project, saying the partnership "utilized 315,000 for that, and that was for 5 and almost a half miles of road," which included widening, signage, cattle guards and chip sealing.

Commissioners and Forest Service staff also discussed practical challenges tied to recreation access, including inadequate parking for snow-grooming operations and changing vehicle/trailer sizes that are increasing year-round use of certain trailheads. The agencies said they are exploring parking expansion, preliminary survey work to widen Inman Road and other site adjustments.

Cole said Good Neighbor Authority work and fuels-reduction projects are likely collaboration priorities going forward as workforce and funding shifts continue in federal land management.

Speaker 2 moved to approve signature authorization on the Forest Service agreement; the motion passed on a voice vote with commissioners answering "aye."