Waterways advisory committee backs WIF grant support for three marine projects

The Waterways Advisory Committee voted unanimously at its Jan. 9 meeting to support several Waterways Improvement Fund grant applications for marine projects across Bonner County and neighboring districts.

Committee members moved and approved a recommendation supporting the city of Old Town's WIF proposal after the city presented costs and plans during a December workshop; members noted Old Town operates the only launch in Idaho west of the dam.

Chris Ray, speaking for his local fire district, described a matching-grant request to address deferred maintenance and add a floor unit to the district's fireboat. "Our grant request is for matching funds to basically address some deferred maintenance and to add a floor unit to our fireboat," Ray said, adding the total project is about $40,000 and the district is requesting $20,000 from the WIF program. Ray said the district covers more of the lake than its boundary and frequently responds to calls outside its district.

Craig presented Bonner County's Garfield Bay dock project and said a recent bid increased the county's original grant request from $115,000 to $140,000, with a committed local match of $15,000. The project would extend the existing dock and add a perpendicular dock/breakwater to protect the sheriff's boat and increase public access. Craig also reviewed a repowering request for county marine vessels: a $50,000 grant request with a $25,000 match to update engines.

After questions about engine sizing, project scope and submitted maps, committee members moved and seconded approval for the fire-district request and both Marine grant applications. The chair said she will collect updated signature pages and sign approved applications before the end-of-January grant deadline.

The committee did not record any opposing votes during the meeting; members said they would follow up with additional bid updates as needed.