Court enters default judgment in off-road park suit

SANDPOINT ­— A default judgment has been entered against the operator of a unpermitted off-road vehicle park in Clagstone.

Bonner County officials obtained temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against Kathleen Bryngelson to cease off-road activities at the park and moved for a default judgment against Bryngelson because she never filed an answer to the county's suit or made any responsive pleadings.

Bryngelson had 20 days to file a response to the county's suit, which was filed in July.

First District Judge Rich Christensen entered an order allowing default judgment on Thursday, court records show.

Meanwhile, two criminal charges against Bryngelson have surfaced, according to the Idaho Supreme Court Data Repository. It's unclear if they are related to her operation of the Twisted Mud 'N Crawl, although their emergence coincides with the pending litigation.

The case files will remain sealed until Bryngelson or her attorney makes an initial appearance in Bonner County Magistrate Court.

Neighboring landowners filed complaints with the Bonner County Planning Department over the off-road park. They contend their rural neighborhood has been disrupted by loud vehicles, music, foul language, trespassing and littering since the park opened this summer.

Bryngelson said the park is only used by her friends and family, although a since-deleted Facebook page suggested the park was a for-profit endeavor open to anyone willing to make a donation.

Off-road vehicle parks are permitted in Bonner County, but are subject to conditional use permit approval. Bonner County's legal counsel contends Bryngelson was made aware of the permit requirement, but never obtained one.