BOCC examines roads, waterways

SANDPOINT — Bonner County commissioners voted to approve a road standards waiver and a grant application in a Tuesday business meeting centered on roads and waterways. 

In the meeting, planner Alex Feyen brought forth a request from a property owner seeking a deviation from public road standards for a collection of small lots. 

Feyen said the applicant had utilized a statute in Bonner County Code exempting cluster lots in a conservation subdivision from the requirement to connect with a public road, which had created an “island” of public roadway surrounded by private streets. 

By applying for the road standards waiver, the applicant sought to absorb the public road fragment into the surrounding private roads. 

Jason Topp, Road and Bridge Department director, said maintaining islands of public roadway can be difficult without trespassing on private property. Topp recommended that commissioners approve the applicant’s request but suggested adjusting the county’s code to address the loophole. 

“We should look at rewriting the code to make it be continuous from one public road to another, so we don't have these islands out there,” Topp said. 

Commissioner Asia Williams asked the planning department to bring new code language to the board to prevent similar issues in the future. 

Additionally, Topp made a public service announcement about potholes on county roads in response to an influx of emails from residents. 

Topp told attendees that county staff are working to patch potholes, but that warm, wet conditions are amplifying deterioration of the area’s gravel roads. 

“In the 30 years I've been here with the county, I've never seen water like this,” said Topp. 

“We are doing what we can,” he said of repairs, adding that he encouraged motorists to drive at reduced speeds to minimize damage while roads are vulnerable. 

Parks and Waterways Director Matt Zoeller came before commissioners seeking permission to pursue a state grant for a new truck to tow the department’s boat. 

Zoeller said the grant, if secured, would require a 30% match of $21,000 and could allow the department to replace its 20-year-old truck that lacks adequate crew capacity. 

After being prompted by Williams, Zoeller told attendees the department had recently become aware of the opportunity and had not budgeted for the $21,000 match, but that the opportunity was worth pursuing: “The way I look at it, we're getting a vehicle 70% discount,” he said. 

Williams voiced concerns about the effect the expense could have on the department’s relatively small budget. 

“Pulling $21,000 out of your budget could cripple Waterways for the entire year,” she said. 

Commissioners voted 2-1 to permit the department to pursue the grant, with commissioners Ron Korn and Steven Bradshaw voting in favor and Williams voting against.