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Bonner County commissioners defer decision on who pays for porta‑potties, park maintenance at Sandpoint‑area county park
Summary
Commissioners discussed a long-running disagreement over responsibility and funding for portable restrooms and maintenance at a county park gifted by the City of Sandpoint; no motion was made and the board asked staff to pursue further talks with the fair board, the city and community partners.
Bonner County commissioners on May 6 debated who should pay for portable restrooms and ongoing maintenance at a small county park near the fairgrounds that the City of Sandpoint previously gifted to the county.
The discussion centered on whether the park’s upkeep should be covered by Parks and Waterways, the fairgrounds’ budget or contingency funds, or whether the city or community partners such as Spot Bus should contribute. Commissioners did not take a vote; they asked staff to return with additional information and to consult the fair board and Mayor Connolly.
Why it matters: The park is used by local residents, seasonal visitors and Spot Bus riders, and commissioners said access to a restroom is an immediate practical need for people waiting at the stop. Who bears the cost affects county budgets and whether the county maintains a seasonal portable restroom in coming months.
Parks and Waterways director Mazeler told the board the park was “given to the county by the City of Sandpoint” under a signed agreement and had previously been managed by the fair board. The fair board later voted to stop managing the park and returned responsibility to the county, Mazeler said. That, she said, left uncertainty about which county department—Parks and Waterways, the fairgrounds staff or another office—should budget for seasonal porta‑potties and maintenance.
Commissioners and staff outlined options rather than choosing one. Possible responses included: (1) placing responsibility and a line item for porta‑potty rental in Parks and Waterways’ budget; (2) funding the rentals from contingency for the short term while the board determines a long‑term owner; (3) negotiating a shared cost arrangement with the City of Sandpoint, Spot Bus or the fair board; or (4) advertising a camp‑host-style arrangement in which an individual receives a lakefront RV spot in exchange for cleaning and light maintenance.
Public commenters emphasized practical and budget considerations. Monica Gunner, a Bonner County resident, said the fair board “did not want it there when the city put it there… now to have it dumped in their lap is really not fair.” Anne Wilder, a Priest River resident, quoted a vendor price and said the county could expect about $99 a month for a single porta‑potty: “$99 a month is really not that much if we’re looking at 4 months.”
Board members said there is currently no outstanding bill for the restroom and no need to rush a payment; the decision is forward‑looking, the commissioners said. Multiple members urged staff to consult the fair board and city officials to clarify whether the city intended the park to remain a county obligation under the original gift agreement. Staff told the board the original gifting agreement is available in the county’s shared folder and recommended contacting Mayor Connolly for the city’s position.
Next steps: The board directed staff to (a) follow up with the fair board; (b) contact Mayor Connolly and the City of Sandpoint about cost‑sharing or retention of responsibility; and (c) explore short‑term options including contingency funding, grant opportunities and a camp‑host exchange to buy the county more time. The item will return to a future meeting for a formal decision.
The board did not adopt a motion on the subject at the May 6 meeting.
