The Ferry County Recreational Trails Committee

Some details on Recreation Trails committee:  On April 27th, Ferry County Commissioners appointed a nine member Recreational Trail Committee “to advise the Commissioners on use and management of the rail corridor”

Committee members are:

Adjacent landowners: Gordon Strandberg, Richard Lybarger and Bobbi Weller
Small business owner: Jim Schumacher
Backcountry Horsemen member: Larry Hemming
Curlew  School Community Association (CSCA) representative: Landon Swafford
Kettle River Advisory Board (KRAB) member: Ed Watt
Motorized recreation enthusiast: Stan Christie
Non-motorized representative: Bob Whittaker

There is one FCRTP board member on this committee. We are very concerned that the general balance of this committee, as selected by the Commissioners, is not representative of the three years of public comment, 95% of which clearly indicates desire for a contiguous 29 mile non-motorized rail trail. We will continue to represent our mission, our supporters and the majority of the county by requesting that this committee not tamper with the standard non-motorized rail trail development formula.

Please attend meetings and/or submit comments to this committee. It is vital the community continue to stay involved as this committee deliberates and debates the best use of your corridor. Ferry Co. Commissioners email: commissioners@co.ferry.wa.us

DEVELOPING: Please see stroy below related to the potential abandonment of the KFR rail line on the East Side of Ferry County. If this happens, there is the amazing potential to connect Republic to Kettle Falls via Grand Forks with a non-motorized, international public use trail that connects all our communities. This obviously could be a major development. It is becoming clear that this County rail trail project may soon expand and, therefore, all eyes will be upon us as we move forward beyond rail banking and start the planning and development of our 29 mile section.