Lincoln County approves $79,680 feasibility study with consultant; initial payments to come from PILT

Lincoln County’s Board of County Commissioners voted Nov. 19 to enter into a feasibility-study agreement with a consultant to evaluate biomass and co‑generation opportunities and to pursue grant funding. Commissioners approved moving forward and directed initial payments be coded to PILT funds.

The study’s consultant, identified in the transcript as Zach, told commissioners the work is time‑and‑materials and that the contract cap is $79,680. He said the firm includes grant‑writing capacity and has begun preliminary conversations with local port authorities and other potential funding partners, and he named the Climate Smart Communities Initiative as one identified opportunity. “Everything we proposed is a time and materials basis,” Zach said, adding the consultant team can begin grant applications right away if the board approves.

A commissioner urged using PILT (Payments in Lieu of Taxes) to pay the initial phases of the work so the county can secure intellectual property and use study results to attract investors. The consultant said the firm would bill incrementally and that the county would not be required to pay the full amount up front.

The vote to enter the agreement and authorize initial PILT funding carried by voice vote in the meeting; the transcript records members indicating “in favor” and at least one “opposed” but does not include a roll‑call tally. The board also instructed staff to monitor grant opportunities and return with follow‑up approvals if the scope or cost of work changes.

The agreement is intended to fund the study’s first phases and grant‑writing support; if the study shows strong feasibility, commissioners said they expect the county to use the report to attract private investment. No timetable for final study delivery was recorded in the public transcript. The consultant gave the $79,680 figure for the record during the discussion.