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Presenter reports progress and minor setbacks in Williams County park master plan
Summary
At a Williams County meeting, the presenter updated the board on Blacktail and other park projects, citing a midnight 6-inch waterline break, an estimated $50,000 soil remediation cost at a building site, and strong concert and camping activity; no formal votes were required.
The county’s parks presenter told the Williams County board that work under the parks master plan is moving forward despite weather setbacks and a brief water outage.
The presenter said a 6-inch waterline broke at the Blacktail beach worksite, releasing what crews described as “about 400 gallons a minute.” Crews and rural water personnel responded overnight and residents were without water for a period the presenter characterized as slightly under 24 hours. The presenter said repairs were completed and the team expects to meet upcoming project milestones: the primitive area before the end of August and the beach area before the end of September.
The presenter also told the board that poor soils at one building site required excavation and backfill, an issue he estimated will add roughly $50,000 to that project’s cost. He said the structural work is otherwise underway and that the building is progressing.
The presenter detailed several finish- and amenity-related items: one bathroom door needed adjustment to close flush, interior handles for bathroom doors have been ordered and will be installed, and the county will try installing mirrors despite earlier vandalism concerns. Staff also plan to add hooks in showers and continue improving signage.
On trails and erosion control, the presenter said staff and contractors have been addressing washed-out sections and soft spots “spot by spot,” and credited contractor/volunteer support identified in the meeting for consistent progress. He reported increasing trail usage and mainly nonmotorized use so far.
Parks programming has seen strong public turnout: the presenter said the first concert (July 3 at Blacktail) and a recent show at Codora Rey Dam drew substantial crowds and that group campsites remain popular. He said the county’s online reservation system is reducing conflicts over reserved campsites and that campground revenue is expected to be the highest on record across the three sites discussed.
A public report prompted a water-quality check at Blacktail’s boat landing. The presenter said Dana from the health unit collected a sample and, according to the presenter, concluded the observed growth was ordinary green algae rather than blue-green algae. The presenter emphasized increased monitoring in the coming month as warmer, drier weather raises the risk of blooms.
No formal board action was taken on the master plan updates during the meeting. Staff said inspections and coordination with the Corps and other agencies will continue, with bid and scheduling decisions to follow as needed.
