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Park County votes to halt noncounty maintenance on Forest Service roads until new agreement
Summary
Staff said the county’s shared-maintenance agreement with the U.S. Forest Service expired Jan. 1 and the Forest Service does not expect to renew; commissioners voted to cease maintenance beyond county road obligations on the three affected roads until a new agreement is in place.
County staff informed the board that a historic four-year shared-maintenance agreement with the U.S. Forest Service covering Hunter Creek Road, Sunlight Road and Wood River Road (to Kerwin) expired on Jan. 1 and that the Forest Service staff do not expect to enter a new agreement this year. The staff memo said the Forest Service historically contributed about $15,000 annually to offset county maintenance costs on those routes.
Commissioners debated costs, authority and safety. One commissioner suggested ceasing maintenance beyond county obligations; another emphasized that emergency response and life-safety calls would still be addressed. After discussion, the board adopted a motion to cease any further maintenance on Forest Service roads beyond the county’s own road obligations until a new, specific agreement is negotiated and approved.
County staff acknowledged a continued good working relationship with Forest Service staff at the project level, but said political and funding constraints mean the county should not continue open-ended maintenance without an agreement. "That agreement with the forest service expired January 1, so we are technically not under an agreement with the forest service," staff said in presenting the issue.
