Commissioners cut permit fees in fire-stricken areas

As people continue to rebuild following a series of wildfires that swept across the county last summer, a resolution signed on Monday is expected to provide some relief for those individuals.

The board of county commissioners signed the measure, which reduces or waives various building permit fees.

Actions approved by the commissioners aim at directly helping those who lost homes, cabins and other structures during the Elk and Pony Complex fires. Triggered by a series of lightning strikes last August, the fires swept across the northern half of Elmore County, burning more than 265,000 acres before they were contained.

Both fires were responsible for destroying more than 80 structures, including 38 residences.

In addition, the fires damaged or destroyed prime feeding range for cattle and charred the forests from Prairie through Lester Creek before reaching the doorstep of Pine.

Among the changes approved by the commissioners dealt specifically with deposits for various building permits.

Typically ranging in price based on the actual amount of the permit, the resolution dropped those fees to $100.

The fee reductions will remain in effect until Sept. 30 before they revert back to their previous rates.

This week's action was one in a series of steps aimed at restoring personal property and range land heavily damaged in the fires. In September, a group known as the Elmore County Disaster Task Force met to begin work on an action plan that focuses specifically on land recovery while helping those economically impacted by the fires.

More than 30 people, representing stakeholders, politicians and key federal, state and local government agencies, gathered to share ideas and concerns.

In addition to the loss of habitat to support wildlife and ranching operations, the fires also posed a risk of flooding due to the lack of ground cover in some of the affected areas.

Rehabilitation work on the BLM and U.S. Forest Service lands alone is expected to cost millions of dollars.