Commissioners debated whether to spend $10,000 from the community‑benefit fund to commission a study into stewardship contracting and related timber‑sale opportunities; supporters called the chance to revive local timber receipts and create long‑term contracts 'the best opportunity' in years, while skeptics warned of transport, secondary‑market and fiscal risks.

Officials said several timber sales were affected by this season's fires; about 700,000 board feet were already sold from one fire-impacted unit, contract modifications could add ~1,000,000 board feet, and short market windows and blue stain constrain buyers.

Agency staff told the committee that several timber sales were burned over, about 700,000 board feet have already been sold from one unit, and the agency plans contract modifications and salvage projects adding roughly one million board feet to existing sales.

Agency staff said crews are decking and hauling burned timber to centralized pits, aiming to move salvage through NEPA quickly because timber value falls after roughly six months.