As tensions continue to mount in Bonner County over a proposed zone change, Sheriff Daryl Wheeler has taken to social media, encouraging community members to participate in a meeting centered on the campground expansion plan for the Bonner County Fairgrounds.
The proposal involves a significant shift, earmarking part of the 20-acre Sheriff’s Complex for addition to the sprawling 43-acre Fairgrounds Complex.
This intention has ignited a debate within the county, and the special meeting is set to provide a platform for these discussions.
The meeting, scheduled for Thursday at 11 a.m. in the Bonner County Administration Building, features an action item of paramount importance – a potential rezone and conditional use permit for an RV campground expansion.
The location of the proposed campground has been a source of controversy and debate for more than a year.
Advocates for the proposed site assert that the county-owned property should be optimized according to the commissioners’ discretion, who bear the responsibility of managing county assets.
They argue vehemently that the current site is the only feasible option that satisfies the required campsite count stipulated in the grant application, while also accommodating the construction of a potential justice center.
However, this perspective has been met with stern opposition. Critics argue that the earmarked land has historically been designated for a possible justice center complex. Their assertion stems from the site’s proximity to the county jail and a currently unused plot of land, but no official documentation to substantiate this claim has come to light.
This debate has cast a shadow over the project, stalling the commencement of Phase I of construction – the repair of the campground road that is currently riddled with considerable potholes. With the deadline of June 30 looming large, the county, ensnared in the intricacies of Phase II of this four-phase project, now faces the risk of forfeiting a grant nearing $500,000 from the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation.
In an attempt to salvage the situation, the Board of County Commissioners has petitioned for an extension to the grant deadline, yet the response remains pending.
The Bonner County Fair Board recently voted to reject the grant. They argue their input was insufficiently sought in the discussions surrounding the project or the decision-making process concerning the site selection.
County commissioners Luke Omodt and Steve Bradshaw, however, refute these claims. They maintain that past fair managers have been adequately consulted about the project and its proposed location.
The grant, awarded to Bonner County in mid-2022 by the Idaho Parks and Recreation, was earmarked for enhancements to the land adjacent to the Bonner County Fairgrounds to build an RV campground.
The funds, granted as a reimbursement, will require the county to shoulder the upfront costs of the project, with the promise of reimbursement from the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation upon project completion.
