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Bonner County waterways advisory committee approves revised buoy permitting process for legal review
Summary
Committee voted to approve a revised buoy application and a streamlined annual IDL encroachment approach, asked staff to add contact information and to send the draft to county legal counsel for review.
Bonner County’s Waterways Advisory Committee on Jan. 23 approved, with requested edits, a revised three‑part buoy permitting process designed to streamline public applications and reduce repeated encroachment permit costs to the county.
Waterways Director Matt explained the proposal’s intent: “Instead of paying IDL every time for multiple requests throughout the years… we’re trying to be smart with our money, save dollars, and only apply to IDL encroachment permits once a year.” The draft document formalizes a six‑step timeline for applications, a site inspection and a department checklist to evaluate acceptable conditions.
Committee members sought clarity on who receives applications, how denials are communicated, and whether an appeal path should be included. Staff said application submissions are routed through the Bonner County Parks‑Waterways email and that Carrie, the department coordinator, handles intake and can issue notices on the department’s behalf; the committee asked that a contact email and phone number be added to the document. The committee also discussed denial and reconsideration language: the draft allows applicants to present their case to the waterways advisory committee at the committee’s October meeting for reconsideration.
Members debated including an explicit appeal process; legal staff’s earlier advice counseled caution. The committee voted to approve the document for submission to county legal counsel with the agreed edits (contact info and minor wording changes). The committee also discussed criteria for marinas — referencing IDAPA definitions — noting that commercial marinas or facilities with 25 or more slips, or where 50% of slips are available to the public, may be evaluated differently for buoy placement.
Votes at a glance • Motion to approve buoy permitting process pending addition of contact information and review by county legal counsel — outcome: approved (unanimous).
