Bonner County holds public interviews for Waterways advisory seats; commissioners vote to enter executive session

Bonner County commissioners held public interviews on Nov. 18 for three applicants to the county’s Waterways Advisory Committee and voted to enter executive session to consult with the Parks and Waterways director before making appointments.

The public interviews began at 1:01 p.m. Candidates who spoke included Ted Trovick Segal, who identified himself as the operator of Heitman Docks Marina near Glen Gary; Jennifer Owen Segal, who described prior grant-writing experience; and Joan Knapp, who cited years of local recreation and fisheries involvement. A fourth applicant, Nick Van Allen, did not attend.

Applicants emphasized several recurring priorities. Ted Trovick Segal urged stronger maintenance of launch ramps and docks and said poor infrastructure represents “a direct liability to the county if somebody injures themselves in any of these facilities.” He also recommended finding funding to support the marine division and the county’s buoy programs, and said he would disclose and recuse himself from any matter where he had a personal or business interest. Jennifer Owen Segal called for data-driven buoy placement—based on accidents, erosion or documented complaints—and said no-wake buoys should be used where there is proven need. Joan Knapp stressed protecting and improving public access and said preservation of lakes for public use was central to her interest in serving.

Commissioners framed the advisory role as supporting the Parks and Waterways director (referred to in the meeting as “Matt”) with practical work such as identifying grants, prioritizing projects the department can realistically manage, and offering consistent, unbiased recommendations when requests come before the committee. The board discussed the committee’s founding language (Resolution No. 01-14), which asks that members provide representation for specific water bodies including Lake Pend Oreille, the Priest River, Priest Lake and Garfield Bay; commissioners agreed they should strive for geographic representation but not leave seats empty if no applicants apply from a named area.

Because one applicant is reapplying, a commissioner said the board should meet with the Parks and Waterways director in executive session to discuss the incumbent’s performance before deliberating publicly on appointments. Speaker 4 moved “that we go into executive session as per Idaho code 74-2061a”; the motion was seconded and passed on roll call (Commissioner Ford: Yes; Commissioner Dodgke: Yes). The board noted that final appointments would still require a formal resolution and vote at a later public meeting.

The interviews surfaced practical issues commissioners are likely to press in future deliberations: whether the committee can generate or manage grant funds without overburdening staff, how to prioritize buoy placement and no-wake zones (county code currently requires a no-wake zone within 200 feet of shoreline), and how to maintain infrastructure to reduce liability exposure. The board did not make any public appointments during the Nov. 18 session; commissioners moved to executive session to review personnel and performance matters and said any appointment would be finalized by resolution at a subsequent open meeting.

Next steps: the board will meet in executive session to consult with the Parks and Waterways director and then, if they reach agreement, will bring formal appointment resolutions to a future public meeting for vote.