FIREWOOD PERMITS COULD GO UP
Tuesday, October 7th, 2008 -- 2:20 PM
With interest on the rise, the Clark County Forestry and Parks Committee could increase the cost of firewood permits.Forestry and Parks Director Mark Heil says loggers have complained that permit holders get firewood much cheaper than they pay through the bidding process.
There are two types of permits. One allows people to purchase smaller lots of standing hardwood, chop it down and haul it away; the more popular option is called the ?dead and down? permit.
"Individuals go in when loggers are finished cleaning up tops, butts, trimmings that are left behind," Heil explains, "A person can choose three areas in the forest that are on our maps. Areas where the logging is complete and the contract is closed."
The dead and down permit has been $20 for many years, but that could change next week.
"The committee will be looking at revising the permit charges on October 15," he says, "We have to try to keep pace with what the loggers are paying for wood when they bid on timber in the county forest."
Heil anticipates the committee will take up a proposal to raise the dead and down permit to $35 and the standing lot permit to $35 per full cord.
They sell hundreds of permits every year. And there?s been a noticeable uptick with higher fuel prices.
"We see people cutting firewood that have never gotten permits from us before. We see alot of people that maybe made firewood long ago, but haven't for five ten years," Heil says.
There is currently no distinction made between county and non-county residents obtaining the permits.
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