Resident urges push-button warning lights at Lake Bemidji State Park crossing

Karen Snortland, a Bemidji resident, told the Beltrami County board she and other park users regularly cross County Road 20 (Birchmont Beach Drive) to access the Bog Walk at Lake Bemidji State Park and asked the county to install pedestrian-activated safety equipment at the crossing to reduce the risk to visitors. "With the speed limit of 55 miles per hour at the crossing, we feel this is a fatality waiting to happen," she said, and described a proposed solar-powered, battery-free push-button unit that would activate a highly visible caution light.

Snortland cited county and park counts to support her request: she referenced a Beltrami County Highway Department estimate of about 2,700 vehicles using the corridor daily and said a park-conducted count recorded roughly 6,000 pedestrian crossings across a seven-month shoulder season. She said warning signs alone have not been sufficient and offered the Friends of Lake Bemidji State Park’s willingness to work with county staff on a solution, including discussing feasibility or cost-sharing.

Chair (Speaker 1) indicated that the board generally does not comment or provide immediate decisions during public comment but said the board may hear further follow-up from staff. The resident’s material — including a proposed sign specification the group shared with the board — will be available to county highway staff for review, and the board did not take immediate formal action during the meeting.