County chooses not to validate highway as trail
Sep. 20—GRANGEVILLE — The Idaho County commissioners Tuesday stood by an earlier decision not to validate Old Forest Highway 18 near Elk City and add it to the county's list of groomed trails.
Following a brief public hearing attended by five residents, including Commissioner Ted Lindsley, who recused himself from the decision because he is a landowner in the area, the two commissioners, Chairman Skip Brandt and Denis Duman, said they saw no reason to reverse their earlier decision.
"We're not willing to take any responsibility" for the road, Duman said, adding there were no additional facts to cause him to change his mind.
The commissioners' original decision was appealed by residents there who voiced concern that unless the county took over maintenance of the road, residents could end up being landlocked. Judge John Judge of Moscow reviewed the appeal and sent it back to the commissioners for additional consideration.
Brandt said much of the additional information was "redundant" and regardless of whether the county took over road maintenance "there is a prescriptive use to that land" guaranteeing residents the right of access.
Brandt said the state makes the decisions and has the funds for grooming certain roads and "Idaho County does not decide what trail is groomed."
The appeal "has not changed my belief that validation is not in the best interest of the residents of Idaho County," Brandt said.
In other business, the commissioners:
Agreed to apply for a $100,000 grant through the Idaho Transportation Department to repair cracks in the apron around the airport. Airport Manager Mike Cook said that area is "in pretty bad shape."
Discussed the use of the Santiam road and bridge that is blocked in one area by a rock slide. Although the bridge is "looking pretty shabby," Duman said, if the time comes when it's deemed unsafe the commissioners could decide to close it.
Unanimously voted to spend $39,800 to purchase a shelter bay for dumpsters near Elk City to protect them from the weather.
Hedberg may be contacted at khedberg@lmtribune.com.
