Three major trails projects in the works

Several trails projects in various stages in Flathead County were solicited under an administrative framework that county officials are trying to improve, county Planning Director BJ Grieve said.

County officials are changing some guidelines for trails projects, but have agreed to implement those for future trails, not projects that are already under way.

Soon, the county commissioners are to again discuss the Lakeside-Blacktail trail.

In April, the county submitted a $300,000 application to the Montana Department of Transportation for Community Transportation Enhancement Program funds for that project. In late June, the county received the approved agreement back from the state.

The contract is being reviewed by the county attorney’s office before advancing to the commissioners.

Preliminary cost estimates for the Lakeside project are about $356,000. The federal program will pay 86.58 percent of the $300,000 and the Lakeside Community Council and Lakeside trails committee are to cover the remaining 13.42 percent, about $46,500. If the project exceeds the $300,000 grant and match amount, a section won’t be built.

The Bigfork Rotary Club submitted an application to the county on May 6 to continue to develop the Swan River Road trail.

The estimated price is in the $300,000 range to build two sections of trail totaling 1.5 miles. After the application is reviewed by the planning staff, it is to be forwarded to the county commissioners for approval. It’s then submitted to the state.

The first part of the new trail section would connect to a trail at the Swan River School and run south of Lee Road to another stretch of trail that the Rotary Club built earlier, county planner Alex Hogle said. The new trail would pick back up for about 7/10ths of a mile and run to Williams Street.

The ultimate vision, Hogle said, is to connect the Swan River trail to the Wild Mile trail.

The Rotary Club has been directed to obtain letters of support or agreement for easements from involved property owners as the next step in that trail project, Grieve said.

The Willow Glen trail in Kalispell was completed June 28. But, a certificate of completion hasn’t yet been issued, Grieve said.

That project hit a bump, Hogle said, because the Sam Bibler Commemorative Trail Project, the local sponsor, is about $11,214 short of its match amount. Volunteers thought they would be able to raise all the money they agreed to pay, he said, but feel now that isn’t possible.

“They’ve sort of thrown up their hands and said they don’t think they can raise any more money,” he said. “They think they’ve tapped out their sources.”

Figuring out how to cover those costs is an issue, Hogle acknowledges, but he pointed out that the trust has contributed $66,807 to the project’s cost. The group will accept donations from anyone who wants to contribute. Donations may be sent to the Sam Bibler group in care of Allen Sieler, P.O. Box 515, Kalispell, 59903.

County Commissioner Jim Dupont isn’t happy that the county is put in the position of having to cover cost overruns for any trails project. He said he doubts that many people in the county actually use trails. “I don’t want to sound negative toward trails, I’m not against them. But I want money in the bank, not pledges to pay for them.”

In the case of the Willow Glen trail, the project sat stagnant for about a year, Hogle said. “It was a function of time and reality that made the price go up.” But, he said, once an engineer was hired and bid documents prepared, “since then the price has stayed in line.”

Commissioner Pam Holmquist asked how the county is supposed to come up with money to maintain trails.

The bottom line, Hogle said, is the county hasn’t required the match to be paid up front, in part because the cost can change if the project is modified.

Some of the volunteer trail groups get very preliminary cost estimates when they apply for CTEP funds, he said. After the county has full engineering work completed, along with design work and environmental permitting, “we often find the actual cost will be higher” than the initial projected cost, he said.

Getting a better handle on the actual cost before firming up the matching amounts will now be required for all trails projects, Grieve said.

Reporter Shelley Ridenour may be reached at 758-4439 or sridenour@dailyinterlake.com.