Bonner County commissioners voted Dec. 30 to authorize the Parks & Waterways director to add a Firefly user interface for the county’s campground reservations and to approve two Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant applications for trail-maintenance equipment.

Matt Zoller, Bonner County Parks and Waterways director, told the board the Firefly interface—operated by the same parent company Esperia that controls Reserve America—will route transactions through Firefly while keeping park listings visible on Reserve America. “That's correct,” Zoller said when asked whether Reserve America listings would remain; he said the change will save roughly $50 per month at the park level and keep the existing 3.5% per-transaction fee. Zoller told commissioners the Firefly interface will allow staff to perform live bookings and cancellations and to issue refunds in-house following evacuations and other disruptions.

Commissioners asked for written confirmation from the vendor that Reserve America visibility will be preserved; Zoller said he has correspondence from the vendor and will forward it for the record. A public commenter, Wayne Martin, asked whether Firefly would be free; a commissioner clarified the switch reduces the county’s payment by about $50, not that the vendor provides the service for free. The motion to approve the contract—conditioned on post-implementation confirmation of Reserve America visibility—passed by roll call.

Zoller also presented two RTP grant applications to Idaho State Parks and Recreation. The first seeks $58,000 to purchase a side‑by‑side for trail maintenance at Priest Lake; he said the county would provide a 20% match of $11,600 from state snowmobile-tag funds that have already been budgeted. The second application requests $48,000 to obtain a pilot truck to move groomers and equipment for the Sandpoint program, with a $9,600 match derived from the same state snowmobile funding source. Zoller emphasized that both programs are funded through the snowmobile registration pool and not by county tax levies.

Board members clarified allowable uses and maintenance funding. For the Sandpoint grant, Zoller said the vehicle would be used year-round to support trails—hauling fuel, tools, parts and mechanics—and noted the department budgets about $10,000 annually for vehicle maintenance. Commissioners voted to approve both grant applications and authorized the chair to sign letters of commitment requiring the county match amounts.

The actions taken will allow the Parks & Waterways office to submit final documentation to state agencies in January and proceed with implementing the reservation interface once vendor confirmation is provided.