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Custer County to convene workshop on slash/disposal fees, debates permit waivers for fire‑damaged homes
Summary
Commissioners agreed to schedule a workshop to decide whether to waive fees or run targeted chipping/collection days for fire‑related slash and deadfall. They also discussed, but did not approve, broad permit‑fee waivers for damaged properties and raised concerns about permitting capacity and insurance coverage.
After voting to pursue DOLA funding, the Custer County Board of Commissioners turned to local recovery logistics, including whether to waive fees for residents bringing fire‑generated "slash" and deadfall to county disposal sites.
Commissioners said residents have asked the county to waive or reduce disposal fees for clean wood debris generated by the fire. "People are asking about this item; we may need to have a serious workshop about where we're going to put this stuff, what we're going to do with all the slash," one commissioner said, urging a quick follow‑up. The board agreed staff would schedule a workshop and coordinate logistics.
Operational details: Commissioners and staff discussed options including dedicated collection days, moving the county chipper to a collection site and limiting accepted materials to clean slash (no household waste). The county chipper’s maximum feed size was cited at 8 inches; staff said large trunks or deadfall might require alternative handling or contractor support.
Permitting and fee relief: The board then addressed whether to waive or reduce permitting fees for properties affected by the Aspen fire. Several commissioners cautioned that more precise damage data are needed and that a broad waiver could be misused. One commissioner suggested a targeted resolution for specific addresses or zones and noted insurance companies often cover permit costs. The board also discussed the county’s 2% use tax on reconstruction materials when permits are issued from the county office and urged homeowners to document purchases to ensure the tax is applied correctly.
Next steps: Staff will set a workshop date to recommend how the county will handle slash disposal and will return with options on targeted permit relief once damage assessments and insurance coverage clarifications are available.
Quotes: "If we had some ground to spread it out on... we could chip this as it comes through those days," a commissioner said about possible collection days. "The chipper is only good for up to 8 inches," staff added.
Ending: The board did not adopt any fee waivers or permit changes at the meeting; it directed staff to prepare recommendations for a workshop and to report back with detailed options.
