Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Project Updates topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Waterways committee reports on Garfield Bay, Priest Lake lights, Granite Creek dock and buoy application timeline
Summary
Committee staff reported progress on several Bonner County recreation projects — Garfield Bay improvements, Cool and Swim Beach, Priest Lake navigation lights and Granite Creek Dock — and said a new buoy application process should be ready for applicants before the August deadline. The committee approved its January minutes unanimously.
At its April 17 meeting the Bonner County Waterways Advisory Committee received project updates from Parks and Waterways staff on multiple county-managed recreation improvements and a pending buoy-application process.
Staff reported they are finishing a Garfield Bay grant project that provides new picnic tables, benches and ADA-compliant concrete pads. The director said crews have poured concrete by hand because the ground is too soft for trucks and that the county is working to meet a reimbursement deadline of May 15. The director listed work under the Garfield Bay portion of the grant as three new benches on the levee, three bayfront benches, and nine ADA-compliant concrete pads and ADA picnic tables.
On the Cool and Swim Beach project, staff reported the work is fully funded (Priest Lake Lions Club and other local support) and waiting on suitable weather for installation. Priest Lake navigation lights and the Granite Creek Dock remain on schedule administratively; the navigation-lights grant was approved but distribution of funding is awaiting final allocations and internal reorganization at Idaho Parks and Recreation tied to ARPA-related changes.
Staff said the planned new fence at Garfield Bay will not be installed as part of the county’s work because the fence is not county property and earlier fence damage was related to snow clearing at the road. The director said Fish and Game (Idaho Department of Fish and Game) retains ownership and oversight for some elements at Garfield Bay and that the picnic-tables/benches work had prior approval from that agency.
On buoys, staff reported legal review is finishing and that the committee’s adopted application process will be open for submissions by August. Existing buoy installations that are already on record (for example, Priest Lake Narrows) will proceed; buoys never recorded will need to complete the new application process.
Administrative action: the committee approved the minutes from a January special meeting addressing grants. A motion to approve the minutes carried unanimously by voice vote; the transcript records the vote as "aye" from members present and a verbal note of unanimous approval.
Ending: Staff asked applicants to prepare submissions by the August application date and said the department will finalize buoy application language before summer boating season begins.
