Cache Open Space Advisory Committee (COSAC) Meeting 11-02-2026

Cache County’s Open Space Advisory Committee (COSAC) met November 2, 2026, to review conservation and trail proposals and open-space funding. The committee discussed pre-applications for the 585-acre Hire family property, where the owners expressed willingness to consider public trails, and a Hansen family trail easement covering about 9,000 feet. Both discussions led to plans for site visits; the Hansen appraisal and potential easement value were still being developed. COSAC recommended round-one approval of Evans Ranch Phase 2 and round-two approval of the Silva project, with Silva funding to come from the Greenbelt rollback fund. The committee also recommended up to approximately $1.15 million from the open-space bond for the Vivian Christensen project, subject to appraisal; NRCS and LeRay McAllister funding and a landowner donation were noted. Other applications were evaluated, but no approval motion was recorded for them in the transcript.

A staff budget update proposed separating open-space and Greenbelt rollback funds to improve tracking. COSAC voted to recommend requesting $920,000 in the 2027 budget from accumulated Greenbelt funds; County Council approval is still required. Staff reported approximately $1.44 million in the open-space fund before a planned $418,000 bond payment, with about $760,000 currently authorized for land acquisition. The committee also discussed a potential $1.25 million county contribution to the roughly $4 million Elkhorn Ranch project and the need to assess future bond funding and timing. No vendor awards or conventional purchasing decisions were identified; the meeting focused on land conservation, easements, and funding recommendations.