Mills County approves no-cost agreement with American Conservation Foundation for wildfire plan

Mills County Commissioners Court on May 26 approved a memorandum of agreement with the American Conservation Foundation to develop a Community Wildfire Protection Plan that county officials said will identify wildfire risk, prioritize fuel-reduction projects and guide grant applications.

"The most important thing I want the court to understand is they're going to do this at no cost to the counties," David Shaw, who presented the agreement, said, describing ACF's role in developing the plan and coordinating grant applications. Shaw said the plan will include risk assessments, community preparedness measures and priorities for fuel-reduction projects that can be used to pursue federal and state grants.

Steve, a representative whom Shaw identified as working with local natural-resources partners, told the court the group is working with other counties and with the U.S. Forest Service and the Texas Forest Service to improve competitiveness for Community Wildfire Defense Grants. "We're actually in this process with a number of other counties right now," Steve said, noting nearby counties have received multi-million-dollar awards after completing similar plans.

Shaw and Steve said the plan will be structured as a five-year action document, to be reviewed and updated as projects are completed or new risks emerge. Shaw described a collaborative approach: ACF or a partnering consultant will draft the plan, the Texas Forest Service will review and sign off, and local emergency services and elected officials would be part of the final approvals.

Commissioners framed the decision as an opportunity to attract federal funds without requiring county up-front costs. The court approved the memorandum unanimously.

Next steps: county staff will execute the agreement and coordinate any public meetings required for plan development and grant applications.