Bonner County to put reaffirmation of ending Trestle Creek plowing on regular meeting agenda

Bonner County commissioners agreed at a public workshop to place a formal vote on the next regular business meeting agenda to reaffirm a prior decision to stop county snowplowing and maintenance beyond the snowmobile turnaround on Trestle Creek Road.

The issue matters to dozens of year-round and seasonal residents who have relied on county plowing, county and Forest Service officials said, and the board said it wants to be clear and consistent about when the county will maintain roads that are not listed in the county's Schedule A maintenance agreement with the U.S. Forest Service.

Kyle Lee, road manager for the North Zone of the U.S. Forest Service, opened the discussion by recounting a long informal arrangement in which Bonner County crews continued plowing a stretch of road from the snowmobile parking lot up to Star Lane. Lee said the segment "was never written into the Schedule A" and described a history of handshake agreements and expectations. "These are residents that have lived out there since before I was born, and I'm 45 years old," Lee said, adding that many residents cannot afford private contractors and that improper equipment would damage the road if residents plowed it themselves. Lee also said the segment in question is about 0.4 miles beyond the grooming/snowmobile turnout and that loss of county plowing would affect the county's grooming program.

Jason Top, Road and Bridge staff, told the board the county has repeatedly faced liability and safety concerns when crews travel past the established snowmobile turnaround. Top said landowners had permitted county work in the past but that threats of litigation and frequent snowmobile traffic have created unsafe conditions for county plow crews. "That is something that the Forest Service would need to do if they want us to continue plowing beyond the snowmobile turnaround," Top said, describing physical work (turnaround construction or easement changes) the Forest Service would need to complete to remove county liability.

Heather Fuller, district ranger for Bonners Ferry on the Sandpoint District, said the Forest Service does not currently have funding or staffing to do the regulatory work necessary to build a separate snowmobile bypass or easement. "We just don't have it right now," Fuller said, citing steep slopes on one side of the road, riparian/bull trout habitat on the other side and related compliance requirements.

Commissioners emphasized safety, liability and the need for a consistent county-wide process. Commissioner Ford said he sympathized with residents but worried that plowing past a snowmobile parking area increases risk: "I'm not sure that the county has any business plowing any road after a snowmobile park," Ford said, adding that signage and speed limits do not always prevent risky behavior. Other commissioners and staff repeatedly raised equity concerns: if the county continues plowing by past practice for one neighborhood, how does it treat other residents in similar situations who have been declined service?

Staff and the Forest Service discussed alternatives. Forest Service staff said they could permit residents to plow but that many residents lack the equipment or funds to do it in a way that preserves the road surface. Fuller said the Forest Service might contribute funding in limited cases but currently lacks resources to build the separate easement requested at the last workshop. Road and Bridge staff also proposed possible mitigations such as signage or constructing a dedicated turnaround or parking area, but said work that changes the right-of-way or removes snowmobile traffic from the plowed lane would likely require the Forest Service to lead permitting and construction.

No final policy change was adopted at the workshop. The commissioners directed staff to place a formal item on the next regular (Tuesday) business meeting agenda so the board can "affirm the decision" publicly or consider an amendment to Schedule A if the Forest Service and Road and Bridge bring an equitable proposal addressing safety and the exchange of maintenance responsibilities. County staff also agreed to prepare a memo and clearer public notice so impacted residents would receive direct information about next steps.

Next steps include a formal agenda item at the Board's regular business meeting (publicly noticed) and follow-up between Road and Bridge and Forest Service staff about possible remediation options (signage, turnaround improvements, or permitting that would allow residents to contract for plowing under Forestry-specified standards). The board and staff said they want a consistent, equitable process for cases where the county may be asked to maintain roads that are not in Schedule A.