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Bonner County weighing whether to continue maintaining Dog Beach after BNSF asks for lease and fees
Summary
Parks director and commissioners discussed whether the county should continue maintaining Dog Beach, which sits on railroad right-of-way; BNSF offered a lease option with application fee and annual charge that would increase county costs and require insurance and an MOU.
Bonner County staff and commissioners discussed whether to continue county maintenance of Dog Beach (near Long Bridge). Parks and Waterways Director Matt Zoeller told the board the county has maintained Dog Beach informally for years but does not hold clear title or a formal maintenance agreement.
Zoeller said BNSF recently replied that it would require a $1,500 application fee and a $4,500 annual lease to permit county maintenance on the railroad right-of-way. He estimated the county currently spends roughly $6,000 a year to maintain the site; adding the lease and insurance requirements would bring the county’s annual cost to roughly $10,000.
Commissioners and members of the public raised liability and ownership questions. Commissioner Corn suggested the county should not continue maintenance without a formal agreement. Public commenters asked whether BNSF truly owns the land or holds a right-of-way and whether the county could pursue other options such as signage, a donation of property, or community-led maintenance. Staff and commissioners noted BNSF controls the right-of-way and that any solution requiring county maintenance would require a formal MOU, railroad insurance and permissions.
No vote was taken; staff will prepare a memo for the next meeting. Commissioners discussed whether to cease maintenance immediately; because this item had been noticed only for discussion, staff will bring a board action item next week to allow a formal vote on continuing maintenance or ceasing activities.
Why it matters: The county is maintaining a popular public site on land it does not own; formalizing maintenance would increase county costs and liability exposure but abandoning maintenance would affect residents who use the beach.
Next steps: Staff to prepare a memo and present options (cease maintenance, enter MOU with BNSF at the proposed cost, pursue alternative arrangements) at an upcoming meeting.
