No easy solution to North Fork dilemma

KINGSTON — Over the past few years there has been public outcry from the residents of Shoshone County concerning the use and abuse of the areas up the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River.

The mounting frustration reached a fever pitch last week when a photo began circulating around social media that showed one of the dumpsters near the Bumblebee Cutoff overflowing with trash.

Early last week, the Shoshone Board of County Commissioners determined that they would add a second dumpster to area for the remainder of the season, but it also became glaringly clear to them that how they manage the North Fork needs to change.

As of right now, the county is maintaining two dumpsters and restroom facilities to help keep littering and other messes at bay, but they know more is needed.

“We know that the usage up there is at a maximum,” BOCC chairman Mike Fitzgerald said. “I see it being used as a good thing. I like that people are coming and using our places. The bad part though is that we have essentially five issues up there that we have to address.”

Those five issues Fitzgerald laid out were trash bins, restrooms, law enforcement, existing facility controls and funding.

The dumpsters and restrooms will continue to be a service that the county can and will provide, but the law enforcement and existing facility control really boil down to the last issue and that is funding.

Finding the funds to ensure that a dedicated law enforcement officer is on hand and patrolling the many roads is a large cost to the county, as would be making sure that existing facilities are maintained.

“The plan to make this all work is in place, we know what needs to be done,” Fitzgerald said. “But we don’t have the funding to put it into action. We have a long-term plan ready to be put into place.”

Figuring out the funding issue is where things get more convoluted for everyone.

Suggestions like implementing a sticker program or installing a toll booth have been popular ideas, but unfortunately those ideas aren’t feasible due to sheer volume of area and the number of ways to get in and out of the North Fork area.

The area can’t be turned into a state or national park due to the heavy amounts of privately-owned property.

“We are currently looking at revenue strategies to address the five issues,” Fitzgerald said. “Revenue alternatives include a broad range and possibly a mixture of funding sources, which include, but may not be limited to levies, fees and grants. We will be implementing something to raise revenue though. I don’t like to say we are raising taxes, but when you look at what’s happening and expectation of service, we don’t have much of a choice.”

There is no definite answer at this time, but Fitzgerald hopes that the community will see the effort and partner with the county to come up with the best solution.