Bonner County Commissioners approve waterways grant application but split on $21,000 match

Bonner County Commissioners voted to authorize staff to submit an application to the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation seeking $70,000 from the Waterways Improvement Fund to replace the county’s waterways tow vehicle, and approved language in the application that would require Bonner County to provide a $21,000 local match.

The motion passed on a roll-call vote after extended discussion about whether the board was committing county funds before budget-year allocations were final. Commissioner Bradshaw voted yes, Commissioner Williams voted no and Commissioner Korn voted yes, allowing the motion to pass.

The county’s Parks and Waterways director, Mazel Orr, said the grant would replace the department’s aging tow vehicle, which currently is a nearly 20-year-old Kodiak that “only runs well on premium fuel” and is a single-cab that does not carry the three maintenance staff normally needed for buoy and maintenance work. Orr said the department is seeking a three-quarter-ton or one-ton dually crew cab that can tow the department’s triple-axle boat trailer and carry three staff.

“Funding would not be spent until fiscal year 2026,” Orr said, adding the department has received auditing, legal and risk review of the application paperwork.

Commissioners and staff pressed several budget and procurement questions. One commissioner asked whether the $21,000 match would be taken from the waterways operating budget before the department receives its usual seasonal revenue and whether pulling that amount could “cripple waterways for the entire year.” Orr said the match amount assumes the vehicle purchase is made in fiscal 2026 and noted the department could potentially trade in the Kodiak for an estimated $8,000–$10,000, which would reduce the cash match needed.

Commissioner Bill Wilson raised a procurement point: county policy requires sale/auction of assets above certain values, so a straight trade-in may not comply with procurement rules.

Orr said the vehicle would, when not towing the boat, be usable for other maintenance tasks, and that many WIF (Waterways Improvement Fund) applications for vehicles receive funding when a local match is available.

Several commissioners said they were comfortable authorizing the application process but expressed concern about language that read as a binding “letter of commitment” requiring the $21,000 match. One commissioner asked that the motion be clarified to authorize only the application; the chair said the board would vote on the motion as presented and, if it failed, could adopt a narrower authorization. The motion as presented — including the commitment language — carried.

The director emphasized that award of the grant was not guaranteed and that the board would still have the option to decline the grant award later if the county could not fund the match.

Public comment during the item was limited and supportive of pursuing grant funding. Commissioners noted the grant application is due at the end of January and that writing grants is resource intensive.

The vote record on the grant application motion as recorded in the meeting transcript: Commissioner Bradshaw — yes; Commissioner Williams — no; Commissioner Korn — yes. The motion therefore passed.

Funding details, trade-in valuation and final procurement steps remain to be clarified by staff. Orr said the department could explore trading in the Kodiak to reduce the cash match and that staff would return with details if the grant were awarded.

The board’s approval authorized staff to submit the grant application with the stated $21,000 match language; acceptance of any awarded grant and the actual expenditure of matching funds would require subsequent administrative and budget steps before funds are spent.