Commissioners work toward trail easement agreement
SANDPOINT — After Bonner County commissioners examined a revised version of the document Tuesday, the Camp Bay Trail easement agreement appears to be approaching finalization.
A proposed easement agreement drafted by landowner M3 ID Camp Bay, LLC first appeared before commissioners Oct. 15. Board Chair Asia Williams and Commissioner Ron Korn voted to table the decision after community members voiced concern that rules regulating public use were overly restrictive.
At the BOCC’s Nov. 5 business meeting, commissioners reviewed a revised version of the document that no longer included a clause stating Bonner County would police the area in accordance with the use conditions established by the grantor.
“I do think that it is a lot better than what we had last time when it was presented to us,” Korn said of the updated document. Williams and commenters at the Nov. 5 meeting also voiced support for the revisions while proposing further changes to the agreement.
Williams suggested editing four items in the document and expressed a desire to create a clear agreement that complies with the original December 2022 resolution.
“I just want it to be very simple,” Williams said of the easement agreement. “We don't have an obligation for any additional terms. We just need a 10-foot-wide trail to the water.”
Williams’ revisions included striking the “Enforcement Costs” item from the agreement and editing the “No Liability of Grantor” item to only reference Idaho Code Section 36–1604, which describes liability limitations for landowners who have entered an easement for recreational purposes.
Williams also suggested revising the “Construction and Maintenance” item to remove ambiguity and changing the language of the “Grant of Easement for Trail” item to protect against a potential reversion of the agreement.
Several commenters expressed a desire to see public use hours expanded beyond the 8 a.m.–8 p.m. period outlined in the December 2022 resolution.
“I can't have an issue to change the time because the time was already addressed in prior litigation and prior discussion,” said Williams. “It said 8 a.m.–8 p.m. — that's up to the developer to change that.”
During the discussion, Williams said that officials in the county’s road and bridge department have voiced concerns about parking infrastructure at the trailhead. No dedicated parking area exists; street-parked cars may impede plowing on Camp Bay Road or disrupt a nearby school bus turnaround point.
According to Williams, M3 has recognized the potential hazard and is “looking at a parking option, but it's to be noted that there is no requirement in the resolution that they do that.”
Korn and Williams both voted to redraft the agreement to include the four revisions and to allow the grantor to review the changes. Pending approval from both parties, the commissioners expressed their intent to sign the agreement. Commissioner Steven Bradshaw was absent from the meeting and did not vote.
Tuesday’s meeting also featured the presentation of Bonner County’s Employee of the Month honor to Priscilla Tanner, administrative assistant in the Road and Bridge Department.
“Scilla brings a positive energy to the office with both coworkers and the public alike,” Jason Topp said, quoting a nomination written by Claire May, operations coordinator in the department. “Her amiable demeanor and optimistic nature are contagious and instrumental to the success of day-to-day operations in the Road and Bridge Department.”
Topp told attendees he has received phone calls from community members who compliment Tanner’s professionalism. “She's always going above and beyond as an employee and brings a wonderful welcome working atmosphere to our workplace,” Topp said.