Kalispell-area resident thanks county for park thinning, asks for emergency-egress access near Horseshoe

During the public-comment period at the Feb. 4 meeting, Randy Sundberg of Kalispell urged commissioners to support continuing fuels-reduction work in Mini Lakes county parks and requested county assistance in re-opening an emergency-egress road near Horseshoe.

Sundberg, who identified himself as president of the Mini Lakes Homeowners Association, said the community has worked for 12 years to achieve thinning in county parks and that crews have completed or are finishing work at Lake Meredith, East Bass Lake and Swimming Lake. He said more than 20 property owners had signed up for property-thinning work and praised county staff for the aesthetic and safety benefits of the effort.

Sundberg also said he had arranged access through a landowner and the fish hatchery to re-open an egress route out of Horseshoe and asked county support to obtain permission from the hatchery. He said the plan would include installing a gate to restrict everyday use and that the reopened route would connect to Kaufman.

"So Sean's gonna open up the egress Road out of Horseshoe... we would just like to use it for emergency egress so we can put a gate on it so people aren't using it on a daily basis," Sundberg said.

Commissioners and staff acknowledged the request and Sundberg said he would follow up with the hatchery contact. The comment period did not produce a formal direction; the request was recorded for staff follow-up.

Ending: The county did not take formal action on the request during the meeting; Sundberg said he would attempt further outreach to the hatchery and the county will be asked to coordinate if a formal access agreement is possible.