Garfield County commissioners described a new, locally driven concept to speed timber sales and forest-thinning projects after a meeting with the U.S. Forest Service chief and the Dixie National Forest supervisor.

Commissioners said the Forest Service has indicated support for a model where local county, state forestry, consultants and private-sector timber administrators handle more of the timber-sale administration and harvest oversight. County leaders said the arrangement would use local sawmill capacity and consultants who can serve as timber-sale administrators when Forest Service staffing is limited.

The county reported that much NEPA work is already complete on several sales and that the primary bottleneck is the availability of qualified timber-administration staff. Commissioners said the state forestry office agreed to pursue resources to address staffing gaps.

Commissioners framed the effort as a way to accelerate mitigation and harvest work, reduce wildfire risk and support local lumber-related businesses. The county emphasized the Forest Service’s directive that the Dixie supervisor work with Garfield County and state attorneys to implement the approach.

No formal vote or contract was signed at the meeting; commissioners said they expect follow-up coordination with the Forest Service, the state and local partners to define roles, legal agreements and the use of local sawmill capacity.