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County seeks clarity on Cut Bank North Trail maintenance, drainage and liability after state project transfer
Summary
Presenters from Pepping Trails told commissioners the Cut Bank North Trail is complete and that a Montana Transportation Alternatives grant covered most costs; commissioners said they had not seen the MDT funding-and-maintenance agreement, raised concerns about stormwater certification, drainage near a private residence, and county insurance and budget implications.
Arkady Wysniewska, executive director of Pepping Trails, told the Glacier County commissioners on Feb. 26 that the Cut Bank North Trail was completed in 2025 and has been open to the public. She said a Montana Transportation Alternatives grant paid “over 86% of the project,” leaving the county responsible for roughly 13.42% of costs; Pepping Trails reported it has paid $123,942.90 to date and continues to pursue grants and donations to help satisfy the county’s obligation to MDT.
Why it matters: language in the MDT project funding and maintenance agreement appears to make the county responsible, at its sole expense, for ongoing operations and repairs of the shared-use path, including sweeping, cleaning, snow and ice removal, crack sealing and vegetation control. Commissioners and department staff said they were not aware of the agreement’s details and asked for copies and a formal state sign-off before the county accepts responsibility.
Commissioners and county staff raised multiple concerns. Road and…
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