Council mulls assessment of property

PONDERAY — City officials are considering a tag-team effort between Sandpoint and Ponderay to assess the value of key access properties to the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail.

Sandpoint City Attorney Scott Campbell visited the Ponderay City Council at the regular meeting Monday evening to raise the possibility. According to Campbell, the appraisers require a total $2,000 and 30 days to complete the assessment.

“We’re just looking to split the cost and both being able to use this,” he said.

Councilman Steve Geiger expressed some initial hesitance.

“I don’t think, from my perspective, that we have the money to do this,” he said.

“And it seems like a waste of money. I think that (the owners) are going to sit on that property for a long time.”

Campbell countered that the owners would be more likely to deal under the knowledge that the property won’t be developed. He also cautioned that both properties would need to be assessed before any more planning can occur.

Ponderay Planning Director Erik Brubaker mentioned that the assessment could open the door to potential grants. In the application process, a valuation would provide a foundation to make a grant proposal viable, he said.

“But I don’t anticipate that this won’t cost us a dime — not at all,” he added.

After more discussion, Ponderay Mayor Carol Kunzeman told Campbell that they’d discuss the proposal further before making a decision.  

The properties, owned by the Hall family, are popular access points onto the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail, a two-mile stretch that curves along Lake Pend Oreille from Sandpoint to Ponderay. Under the current property divisions, however, hikers often trespass to use the trail.

Community initiatives like the Friends of the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail have concerted efforts to acquire the area as a public park.