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One of the best things about N. Idaho is the ability to explore the mountains around us. Those spaces are constantly being encroached upon. It’s vital that we make it known to those who are making the changes that we don’t want those changes.

I was quite surprised last year to drive down Bottle Bay Road to find a ton of excavation and a new parking place being installed about two miles down Bottle Bay Road. The Idaho Department of Lands said the project has two parts: 1) the trail improvements and 2) the parking lot/toilet/kiosk. The trail improvements are to prevent erosion. Great. However, the second part of the project is another story.

The second part of the project is completely unnecessary. In fact, a few miles down Bottle Bay Road is a trail system already in place with parking/bathroom/kiosk.

The second part of the project will increase traffic. This creates even more of a danger to pedestrians and cyclists who frequent Bottle Bay Road.

The money collected through the “Off Highway Vehicle license tag program” could be used in a far better way (e.g. improving existing trails). The project has already cost $9,000 and\& the rest of the “improvements” (vault toilet and kiosk) will run another $20,000.

Some might be think that those sticker fees are creating an extra $30,000 that the IDL doesn’t know what to do with so they decided to create an unnecessary, redundant, unwanted parking lot with a noxious toilet and kiosk instead of reducing sticker fees.

If you agree, email me keepbonnercountyrural@gmail.com and let’s work together to let make our voices heard.

BRAD SMITH

Sagle