Parks director asks for direction after county ended launch lease; commissioners set follow-up and allow emergency repairs

Kootenai County Parks and Waterways Director Nick Snyder told the Board of Commissioners on March 4 that the county's January 6 notice terminating a 2015 lease with Lakes Highway District has left boat launches at Bayview, Maiden Rock and Lower Twin in a state of uncertainty and asked for a date certain for county removal of signs and infrastructure.

Snyder said the county paid Lakes Highway District about $221,000 in lease payments from the general fund since 2015 and estimated total county costs to provide launch services'including dock replacement, maintenance, restroom supplies, staff time and utilities'at a conservative $350,000 to $375,000 since 2015. He said the county collected just over $50,000 in vehicle/launch fees at Bayview over the same span, producing an approximate net loss to the county of…