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County staff seek direction after board terminated launch leases with Lakes Highway District; dock replacement, public meetings set
Summary
Parks director told commissioners the county has paid about $221,000 to Lakes Highway District under a 2015 lease and that operating the Bayview and two other launches has produced a net loss; staff asked whether to remove county signs and to authorize limited emergency maintenance while parties meet.
Kootenai County Parks and Waterways staff asked the Board of County Commissioners on March 4 for direction after the board’s January 6 notice terminating a 2015 lease arrangement with Lakes Highway District that had provided county access to three public boat launches.
Nick Snyder, director of Parks and Waterways, told the board the 2015 arrangement required the county to pay Lakes Highway District roughly $25,000 per year to operate launches at Bayview, Maiden Rock (Spirit Lake) and Lower Twin (Par 3 Road). Snyder said the county has paid Lakes Highway District just over $221,000 in direct lease payments since 2015 and estimated total county costs including dock replacements, maintenance, restroom supplies, staff time and utilities at about $350,000–$375,000 since 2015. Launch-fee receipts at Bayview since 2015 were roughly $50,000, Snyder said, producing an approximate net loss of $300,000–$325,000 for the county over that period.
Snyder said Parks and Waterways has fabricated a replacement dock (poly float, steel frame, concrete decking) and is ready to install it if Lakes Highway District authorizes encroachment and installation. He said Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) requires an encroachment permit and that the IDL permit process takes about 30 days; Parks staff estimated submitting by April to meet a Memorial Day–era installation window. Snyder asked the board whether Parks and Waterways should (a) remove county signs and other county-management markings by a date certain, (b) cease routine maintenance on the properties, and (c) be authorized to take limited, written-authorized emergency actions (by email authorization from Lakes Highway District) if hazards affecting public safety or the environment arise before ownership/management is resolved.
Commissioners and staff discussed options, including returning the launches to a $1-a-year lease model (as occurred historically), transferring management responsibility to the county if Lakes Highway District preferred release, or pursuing other agencies that specialize in marine facilities. Several commissioners said they wanted to allow Lakes Highway District to meet with the public and respond; commissioners and staff set a follow-up timeline tied to Lakes Highway District’s March 17 public meeting and suggested reconvening to decide by March 25 if Lakes Highway District has not provided direction.
Snyder asked for board authorization to respond to emergencies in the interim with written authorization from Lakes Highway District; commissioners indicated support for limited emergency-response cooperation while the parties resolve management, but left formal maintenance and signage decisions pending follow-up. Snyder said reducing or eliminating the $25,000 annual lease payment would substantially reduce the program’s subsidy from general-fund tax dollars and allow more of boat-registration-derived funding to support marine facilities.
