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Commissioners debate who should maintain Old Works Trail after fence, warn of liability
Summary
Commissioner Bodette raised concerns about erosion and safety on the Old Works Trail and suggested shifting maintenance responsibility from the Old Works Golf Course Authority to parks and recreation; commissioners and the county attorney discussed liability, funding and the authority’s legal obligations.
Commissioner Bodette told the commission that a fence recently erected along the Old Works Trail — intended to limit access to contaminated historic ruins — renewed concerns about the trail’s deteriorating condition and liability risks. He said the original golf course authority ordinance placed responsibility for the trail with the golf course authority, but the trail’s condition now presents safety and negligence risks.
"It certainly is a liability issue for us," Bodette said, urging the commission to place the topic on a future work session agenda to develop a plan and determine whether responsibility should move to parks and recreation or be managed by contract. Commissioners debated whether parks and recreation would have the wintertime capacity to maintain the trail and whether the county should revise the agreement with the golf course authority to change responsibility.
The county chief executive emphasized the golf course authority is a separate financial entity and that the county is not obligated to assume the authority’s responsibilities unless a financial arrangement is made. The county attorney recommended additional information and board-level action by the golf course authority before the commission would take direct action.
Commissioners agreed they should continue the conversation, coordinate with the Old Works Authority and request a report from the authority’s representative, Carl Nyman, before deciding on any county-level commitment.
