Board trims Blacktail master plan estimate to $11.5M, debates boat landing and $330,000 gated storage

Williams County park staff on Dec. 17 walked the Park Board through revisions to the Blacktail master plan, telling board members updated designs and value-engineering have reduced an initial $14 million construction estimate to roughly $11.5 million but left Blacktail about $1 million over some original line items.

Staff reviewed the history of plats and a 2003 land swap with Game and Fish and said there are two small triangular parcels (about 0.3 acres each) and several easements that constrain placement of a northeast boat landing. “If we were to put a boat landing in there, it would be tight,” staff said, warning that a ramp would sit close to private houses.

Staff relayed that Game and Fish does not support boat slips on their parcel and has said it may fence its land to prevent access. “Game and Fish cannot sell land,” staff noted when explaining the land-swap history and management constraints.

On the budget, staff said the original submission to JE Dunn returned an estimate around $14 million; after cuts — removing some sewer hookups, trimming irrigation, reducing tree plantings (from 500 to 250) and scaling back restroom pods and lighting — the estimate is down to about $11.5 million. Staff flagged the proposed fire-hall replacement (budgeted at $700,000–$800,000) as a major cost driver.

The board also discussed a proposed gated storage facility inside park boundaries (an area currently leased to the Blacktail Dam Association). Staff gave an architect’s rough cost of about $330,000 for 60 storage stalls and noted the revenue model assumed near-full use of those stalls. Several board members questioned that utilization assumption and suggested budgeting for about half the projected occupancy in year one or delaying the project in favor of higher-priority park needs such as playgrounds or restroom amenities.

Members discussed an interim approach of having the association enforce cleanup and require identification tags for items stored behind cabins, which could buy time before a major capital investment. One board member suggested the association license stored items and remove any without identification after a set time.

Staff also passed along a community suggestion for a mini-golf feature estimated at $300,000–$400,000 and noted the Parks Department will pursue grant and donation options for optional amenities. Staff confirmed a fishing derby is scheduled for Feb. 22 in coordination with the Blacktail Dam Association and Wilson United Sportsman.

No formal vote was taken on the gated storage proposal during the meeting; the board asked staff to refine cost/revenue estimates and consider staged or deferred options in the master-plan amendments.

The board set its next meeting for Jan. 21 and adjourned at 09:56.