Bonner County parks director requests $21,000 vehicle match and $50,000-a-year ramp plan; commissioners ask for documentation on snowmobile and groomer costs

Bonner County Parks and Waterways Director Matt Zeller asked the Board of County Commissioners for a $21,000 match to buy a crew-cab flatbed vehicle and proposed a $50,000 annual funding request over five years to bring ramp and parks maintenance in-house, reduce grant dependence and avoid charging local residents new user fees.

Zeller told the commissioners he wants the county to “accept the program that we are and ask for what we need within our realistic capacities, not some dream world,” and argued that relying on user fees at boat launches would push local residents away from county ramps. He also framed the request as an equipment-first plan: year‑one replacement of an aging dump truck and cab chassis and subsequent purchases of a mini excavator or skid steer, a crew truck replacement, and potentially two boats by year five. “With your approval, $21,000 match for this vehicle. We need this,” Zeller said.

The ask came during a line‑by‑line budget review in which the commissioners repeatedly pressed Zeller for supporting documentation and more precise dollar justifications rather than broad policy statements. Commissioner Daufke asked staff to provide the underlying data used to estimate state snowmobile revenue and to show how the requested contingency draw would be justified: “I’m asking you to identify where it is you’re pulling the data from to…