County Management Plan And Bike Path

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah.   August 2, 2017.  Mitch Poulsen, Bear Lake Regional Commission, Matt Combs, District Manager, Forestry Fire and State Lands, presented County Commissioners a resource management plan for the county which they have been working on for a year.  It is completed, and needs for final approval. 

They have been working with the County Attorney to draft an agreement with the US Forest Service to ensure that the county commissioners are first in the loop when discussing what happens with Forest Service Lands. 

Commissioner Bill Cox said, “Developing the plan was a lot of work, and a lot of discussion went into developing the direction of the way we manage our resources.  It is concise and direct so that it is easy to use and the public will be able to see what is going to happen.  Sage grouse management is discussed in this plan.  This is a dynamic plan, we will accept public comments and if there are things that need to be changed in a year or two, we can make those changes.”

Then the discussion turned to the bike path.  Poulsen said there might be more discussion on where the path will go.  He feels the path should be on the east side of the road, where most of the land is public, but there are significant barriers on both sides of the road.  The west side, if run through Sweetwater Trailer Park to the sewer ponds meets resistance from the Sweetwater HOA as they do not want the path through the trailer park.   There are two hills in the path which would require significant cuts.   Not only that, but people want to ride along the lake and might ride on the road instead of the bike path.

The east side of the highway is mostly public lands, with only one private owner.   Combs said that there is enough room for at ten foot path with two feet shoulders on each side.  He will work with the Corps of Engineers for permits.   However this path might lessen the amount of parking spaces available on the beach.

They have some funding and to save money they can use UDOT engineers.   UDOT often will donate extra materials too if they have it which will also help with costs.

Commissioner Bill Cox said he’d like to firm up the numbers for building the path. The right of way by the private owner on the east side of the lake is two feet from the corner of the house.  And some of the areas have very narrow shoulders.

Combs will continue the work with UDOT.  UDOT will prepare an MOU with the county which will outline the reimbursement to the county. 

“Keep moving forward,” said Cox.  “Our goal is to get to  Rendezvous Beach. Then to Cisco Beach  and eventually on to Idaho.”