blue lake trail history and update (1 Viewer)

[ttFJC]

County Commission Regular Meeting

Apr 29, 2025 - 09:00 AM

Please submit agenda items to the Commission Office, located in the City County Complex, 414 E Callender Street. Phone: 406-222-4106 or Email: Commissioners@parkcounty.org. Commissioners will review and have discretion on meeting requests.

im thinking we might have missed the deadline for submitting a comment about this. dang nabbit

 

[ttFJC]

Heres the agenda not sure if this was posted already or not.

 

[ttFJC]

left a message at park county commission, hopefully they are gonna call me back. we might have missed the boat for public comment, I'm looking into if we could possibly submit a statement in person or comment if someone can make the meeting. I might be able to pull it but ill know more if they call me back, fingers crossed. I might draft a letter addressed from the 406 club as the land use coordinator and state we are opposed to this action, please fix the bridges we love this place.

and FYI I'm using this thread to organize my thoughts and process, i apologize for the continued posting

 

[ttFJC]

DRAFT LETTER

this is a five minute letter. anyone wants to chime in with comments or things you might add feel free.

To the Park County commission:

My name is Aaron Thies, and contacting you on behalf of 406 Cruisers. 406 Cruisers is a Montana wide and nationally recognized 4x4 club for Toyota 4x4 enthusiast and we represent over (insert Number here) members across the State of Montana. I serve on the Board of Directors as the Land Use Coordinator. 406 Cruisers is an affiliate of TLCA (Toyota Land Cruiser Association), a national and international recognized 4x4 club.

As a club association, we would like to express our opposition to the action items listed on the April 29, 2024 agenda. Please see below:

• Discussion/Decision on requesting FEMA DR4655 Project 689668 - Main Boulder Road - be moved to an Alternate Project
• Discussion/Decision on requesting FEMA DR4655 Project 679952 - Cooke City Roads - be moved to an Alternate Project

As an association, we are of the opinion that the county should put every effort into maintaining the roads for public use, and not move the funding into alternative projects.

Prior to the flood in 2022 that damaged the bridges and roads, the club had annual trips to the areas previously mentioned and has not had the opportunity as the proper repairs have not been made to continue this annual outing. This trail had been gaining in popularity until the damaged had occurred.

In my personal opinion, as being someone that is familiar with all the 4x4 destinations across Montana, and many popular destinations across the country, Montana would be at a great loss to lose access or let this one become unmaintained. I would rate in my top three favorite destinations across the state, and also very high in the destinations across the country.

4x4 recreation is flourishing in the state of Montana, specifically in the area surrounding Bozeman, in Gallatin country as well as Livingston and Park County. Many tourists traveling to Yellowstone are missing out on an unknown hidden gem right on their way to Yellowstone. Allowing this road to be maintained would certainly help encourage increased tourism. As a club, we have not been able to make this trip or spread the word of its use because of the uncertainty of the repairs and questionable access issues.

You attention to this matter is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to myself, or any other club representative.

Thanks,

Aaron Thies





406 Cruisers- Land Use Coordinator

 

[AirheadNut]

IMO there needs to be more room for volunteer participation in maintenance projects like this so that enthusiasts can lend a hand to keep these places accessible.

 

[ttFJC]

IMO there needs to be more room for volunteer participation in maintenance projects like this so that enthusiasts can lend a hand to keep these places accessible.

i agree 100% but it seems like they kind of like to do things like this and say oh yeah were gonna fix it in 2026 were just waiting on money and then someone decided the money was better spent else ware without very good public notice and you wouldn't know unless your watching like a hawk. its been on my radar but yeah, lets rent a tractor and go up and do it ourselves

 

[AirheadNut]

I think there is a tendency for people in career public land management to get proprietary about the lands they manage and forget that it actually belongs to everyone. I've seen that a lot in National Parks.

 

[ttFJC]

update- heard back from the commissioner office. they will have an opportunity for public comment on the issues, and there is a go to meeting remote option for making a statement. I'm working on my draft letter will formally submit it when i have a change to refine it a bit, and i plan of making some sort of statement during the public on behalf of the 406 club as the land use coordinator. if anyone wanted to show up in person they could issue a similar statement but it doesn't seem necessary at this time. I'm going to get the details from the commissioners office about the live stream and ill make it available for anyone interested

 

[ttFJC]

the agenda- theres a link for the zoom meeting below

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meeting.gomeet.com

 

[ttFJC]

final letter im sending tomorrow morning to the commission. just FYI. added some more direct language and offered to help coordinate efforts to not lose access. and i think we had at least 100 members at one point...ill be making a statement using this a a guide to the commission. i let everyone know how that goes.

 

[ttFJC]

Ugh frustrating... many local groups voicing their opinion that they shouldn't reappropriate the funds. the church camps up there are really pushing them to fix the roads. all of it, not just the lower portion. a couple of 4x4 groups. there even was an attorney there warning them of the reallocation of FEMA funds being a legal problem. i really dislike the publics works guy. kept saying they don't have the time before the FEMA funds expire. they got the clubs opinion, that we need to do something, dragging your feet is unacceptable. do not reallocate funds. i feel better because the Jesus crowd is on it and their making it a safety thing. we shall see. . .govt is frustrating. they ended up moving the funds to the alternative projects, with promise to reallocate funds from other projects freed up. not a win on this one, but they know a lot of people are pissed.

no accountability, blaming FEMA and the state, blaming the red tape for flood plains. non one wants to take responsibility. "its not our fault we inherited the problem of all the road maintenance and we have no budget"

"priorities" "spread the funds"

oof. i hate giving bad news, but we shall see what comes of this but i'm afraid its not moving in the right direction

 

[90WT]

I appreciate your efforts @ttFJC .
Thanks for taking the time and keeping us informed.

 

[pigmony]

Thank you for taking the time to look into this and communicate it to us.

 

[ttFJC]

yeah i might have to do an update at the next meeting. once i have a chance to organize my thoughts. I'm super flustered right now. Recalculate and formulate a plan.

 

[elkun1]

Thanks for the effort you're putting into this Aaron. I started a reply but deleted it, let's just say this doesn't surprise me.

 

[Mike NXP]

Thanks for the effort, I wish the public had enough power to do something