Tammy Jundt

The Crook County Comprehensive Land Use Plan Update provides a long-range, advisory, and non-regulatory framework to guide land use decisions, infrastructure planning, and natural resource stewardship. The plan addresses growth pressures through early evaluation, shared information, and voluntary guidance, respecting private property rights while ensuring clearer information and transparency. Key strategic pillars include protecting natural resources and working landscapes, preserving the rural way of life while preparing for future growth, and fostering county-wide partnerships. It utilizes a layered advisory map framework to highlight considerations for water, agriculture, wildlife, infrastructure, and community services, aiming to position the county as resilient and self-reliant.

The 2025 Crook County Land Use Plan serves as a community-based guidance tool to shape the county's future by considering current conditions and trends. It analyzes socioeconomic factors, including population growth driven by in-migration, and their impacts on land use and infrastructure. The plan emphasizes the foundational role of natural resources such as agriculture, ranching, mining (energy and non-energy minerals), and tourism in driving the local economy and shaping the community's culture. It aims to provide a framework for decision-making regarding growth management, economic diversification, and the preservation of the county's rural character and natural assets.

This document outlines recommendations to the Board of County Commissions for achieving established goals within an overarching Land Use Plan. The strategic focus is structured around three main goals: protecting natural resources and working landscapes through regulatory amendments and multi-agency collaboration; maintaining a rural way of life while preparing for future growth via impact assessments, growth suitability mapping, interlocal agreements, and public education; and fostering county-wide partnerships for infrastructure planning, joint funding, youth workforce development, housing affordability, and economic development strategies.

The Board discussed and approved various items, including resolutions for the continuation of the 1% sales/use tax and a budget amendment for the fiscal year. They addressed departmental reports, approved multiple grant agreements and contracts for services, appointed a new County Health Officer, and reviewed property insurance bids. Additionally, the Board handled administrative tasks such as approving various permits, reviewing county road usage, discussing the 2026 General Election ballot for the lodging tax, and scheduling a public hearing for the upcoming fiscal year's proposed budget.

The Board of County Commissioners addressed several administrative and fiscal matters, including the approval of a fiscal year budget amendment and various grant award agreements for homeland security, infrastructure, and prevention programs. The Board discussed department reports from the Assessor, Attorney, Clerk of District Court, Sheriff, Treasurer, and County Clerk. Additionally, they reviewed and authorized burning restrictions in the county, set wages for election judges, made various board appointments, addressed a request for a variance from large-acreage subdivision regulations, and issued a call for property insurance bids. The Board also discussed the status of various road and fire service projects and utility infrastructure expansions.