Here is an update on the boat house problem.
- Thread starter Gary D.
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OP
Talk about playing politics with this. We have been told verbally and writing to get our butts out. We even have a date which is next month.
Parking and summer access to that area will be a major "B" to put it mildly.
Now keep in mind the outfit that is getting rid of us also owns the paper that has printed this article.
______________________________________________________________
Marine unit may have new home
By MARC STEWART
Staff writer
County must keep boats at north end of lake for quick response to emergencies
COEUR d'ALENE -- Kootenai County Sheriff Rocky Watson has found a place to put his fleet of dinghies.
The county hopes to secure two slips on the east end of the Third Street docks for the eight boats used by the sheriff and waterways departments and Kootenai County Fire and Rescue.
"Third Street is the best of all the bad spots we looked at," Watson said Thursday. "It has deep water year-round, and minor storm issues. It's where I am recommending we go. We don't have a lot of options."
The exact location on the Third Street docks hasn't been determined. But the options include putting large metal structures at the south end of the existing docks, relocating the public docks near Tubbs Hill, or building a separate dock area further south near Tubbs Hill, said Kootenai County Waterways Director Kurtis Robinson.
Robinson is creating proposals for the project. He said it could cost between $300,000 and $500,000 to move and expand its current boathouses.
The county will need to get permits from the Idaho Department of Lands and permission from the city of Coeur d'Alene to move its boat facilities there.
"It's too early to say," said City Councilman Al Hassell. "It's not something that was anticipated. The City Council will take a look at this after the parks and recreation commission does."
The process could take a long time, and it could receive strong opposition. Hassell said the size of the structures could cause objection from various groups, including the Tubbs Hill Foundation.
Watson said the county must keep the boats at the north end of Lake Coeur d'Alene because it needs to be able to react quickly to emergencies, such as fires on Tubbs Hill, sinking boats and personal watercraft accidents.
The county owns three floating boathouses and leases slip space from the Marina Yacht Club to house the eight boats.
"Lake activity is going up fast," Watson said. "I am trying to add another boat to the river now because of all the accidents and activity. I also have to look at what my needs will be 10 years from now."
Coeur d'Alene businessman Duane Hagadone, who owns The Press, bought the Marina Yacht Club on Blackwell Island in early 2004. Hagadone plans to upgrade the marina by adding more slips and dredging the Spokane River. Hagadone Corp. currently is attempting to get permission from Idaho Department of Lands, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Environmental Quality to start dredging.
Watson said Hagadone's representatives have never asked him to move his boat facilities from the yacht club. The county has used the yacht club since about 1978, Watson said.
"In the end, they wanted us to stay in the marina," Watson said. "But, we don't co-mingle well with commercial operations. We come and go at all hours of day. We make a lot of noise. We park poorly, and sometimes we need privacy for our investigations."
Finding space wasn't easy. The majority of the north shoreline is privately owned, and many possible locations are too shallow, or have storm issues, Watson said.
The Kootenai County Commission will have to make a decision about where it wants to put the boat facilities soon.
"I think the Third Street location works out well for public safety, and we don't think it will be an eyesore either," said Commission Chairman Gus Johnson.
Parking and summer access to that area will be a major "B" to put it mildly.
Now keep in mind the outfit that is getting rid of us also owns the paper that has printed this article.
______________________________________________________________
Marine unit may have new home
By MARC STEWART
Staff writer
County must keep boats at north end of lake for quick response to emergencies
COEUR d'ALENE -- Kootenai County Sheriff Rocky Watson has found a place to put his fleet of dinghies.
The county hopes to secure two slips on the east end of the Third Street docks for the eight boats used by the sheriff and waterways departments and Kootenai County Fire and Rescue.
"Third Street is the best of all the bad spots we looked at," Watson said Thursday. "It has deep water year-round, and minor storm issues. It's where I am recommending we go. We don't have a lot of options."
The exact location on the Third Street docks hasn't been determined. But the options include putting large metal structures at the south end of the existing docks, relocating the public docks near Tubbs Hill, or building a separate dock area further south near Tubbs Hill, said Kootenai County Waterways Director Kurtis Robinson.
Robinson is creating proposals for the project. He said it could cost between $300,000 and $500,000 to move and expand its current boathouses.
The county will need to get permits from the Idaho Department of Lands and permission from the city of Coeur d'Alene to move its boat facilities there.
"It's too early to say," said City Councilman Al Hassell. "It's not something that was anticipated. The City Council will take a look at this after the parks and recreation commission does."
The process could take a long time, and it could receive strong opposition. Hassell said the size of the structures could cause objection from various groups, including the Tubbs Hill Foundation.
Watson said the county must keep the boats at the north end of Lake Coeur d'Alene because it needs to be able to react quickly to emergencies, such as fires on Tubbs Hill, sinking boats and personal watercraft accidents.
The county owns three floating boathouses and leases slip space from the Marina Yacht Club to house the eight boats.
"Lake activity is going up fast," Watson said. "I am trying to add another boat to the river now because of all the accidents and activity. I also have to look at what my needs will be 10 years from now."
Coeur d'Alene businessman Duane Hagadone, who owns The Press, bought the Marina Yacht Club on Blackwell Island in early 2004. Hagadone plans to upgrade the marina by adding more slips and dredging the Spokane River. Hagadone Corp. currently is attempting to get permission from Idaho Department of Lands, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Environmental Quality to start dredging.
Watson said Hagadone's representatives have never asked him to move his boat facilities from the yacht club. The county has used the yacht club since about 1978, Watson said.
"In the end, they wanted us to stay in the marina," Watson said. "But, we don't co-mingle well with commercial operations. We come and go at all hours of day. We make a lot of noise. We park poorly, and sometimes we need privacy for our investigations."
Finding space wasn't easy. The majority of the north shoreline is privately owned, and many possible locations are too shallow, or have storm issues, Watson said.
The Kootenai County Commission will have to make a decision about where it wants to put the boat facilities soon.
"I think the Third Street location works out well for public safety, and we don't think it will be an eyesore either," said Commission Chairman Gus Johnson.
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