Parks board advances draft project checklist for county land, will seek commissioner, legal and public review

The Broadwater County Parks and Recreation Board voted to send a draft “comprehensive project checklist” for citizen‑led projects on county land to county commissioners and the county attorney for review and to solicit public comment before finalizing it.

Board members said the checklist — which lays out steps such as site identification, project scope and design, cost estimates, maps and maintenance plans — is intended to help community groups and volunteers submit projects that are feasible, fundable and aligned with existing master plans. The board’s motion directs staff to bring commissioner and legal feedback back to the board and to post the draft online for public review; the board will revisit the document at its April meeting.

“Community groups can’t just go out on county land and start building,” a board member said while describing why the checklist is needed. The checklist aims to ensure applicants provide permits, funding plans and maintenance assurances so projects are not left half finished or in conflict with other uses.

Nicole Brown, Broadwater County Community Development Director, urged that commissioners and legal see the draft early so gaps can be found before public posting. She said the draft can be shared with legal and commissioners and then posted as a draft for public comment so concerns are raised and addressed in an orderly way.

Board members debated timing and process at length. One member proposed taking another month for review, asking that the board collect edits and return an amended draft to the board and commissioners; the chair called a voice vote and announced the motion passed. The meeting record does not include a roll‑call tally; the board recorded the motion as passed by voice vote.

Why it matters: board members said a clear, public checklist will help citizen groups (Rotary, Lions, Eagle Scout projects and others) understand the county’s expectations and reduce conflicts such as multiple groups seeking the same parcel. The checklist is also intended to make applications more competitive for grant programs that require precise scopes and budgets.

What’s next: staff will post the draft as a proposed checklist for public comment and present it to commissioners and legal for review; the board will reconvene in April to consider edits and a final version.