Libby sidewalk project pitched to commissioners

Resident Mark Andreasen took his pitch for a dedicated sidewalk route through Libby to the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners last week.

Andreasen was before the board after presenting his project to city councilors in Libby. Last month, he laid out a plan for an eventual route, which he called the “Logger Trail,” leading pedestrians safely through the community.

Libby is home to stretches of great sidewalk, he told city councilors, but lacks interconnectivity. Sections of road heavily trafficked by pedestrians, like Education Way and Fifth Street Extension, are without sidewalks.

While city councilors in Libby expressed support, they cautioned Andreasen that the initiative would require buy-in from stakeholders. Potential partners included property owners, the county and possibly the state, they said.

That’s what led him to the county commissioners, Andreasen said June 23. He described the effort as primarily safety-focused. Watching children trek up and down the shoulder of Education Way served as a primary motivator, he said.

“We definitely want to make sure that our kids are safe,” Andreasen said.

Simultaneously, he argued that a completed sidewalk network would encourage exercise, particularly among senior residents, and possibly boost tourism. He foresaw visitors checking into their lodging arrangements and then taking a stroll through town to enjoy the views.

“The idea is that tourism is increasing,” Andreasen said. “[Tourists] can connect with that trail sidewalk system to various parts of Libby and see what a very beautiful area we have here.”

As he had before Libby City Council, Andreasen stressed that any sidewalk improvements would come with maintenance costs. He wondered if officials could organize an “adopt-a-highway” type system to keep sidewalks clear of snow and debris.

When County Commissioner Jerry Bennett (D-2) asked for clarification on what was being asked of the board, Libby Mayor Brent Teske, who also was in attendance, spoke up. City councilors had recommended Andreasen team up with its sidewalks committee to identifying stakeholders and prioritize different areas of town, he said.

“There’s a lot of grant money out there right now,” Teske said. “A lot of COVID-19 funding.”

Bennett suggested Andreasen and city officials work on prioritization. More time will be needed on stretches that require easements on private property, which should be taken into consideration, he said.

Otherwise, “it sounds like more of a coordination effort then,” Bennett said.

Upon Teske’s agreement with his assessment, Bennett said the board of commissioners would wait until the city finished the planning and prioritization process before taking any action. He suggested it might prove a fruitful future initiative for the as-yet undetermined Libby representative to the board.

The county seat has gone without a representative to the board of commissioners since the resignation of Mark Peck. Peck departed earlier this month to take a new position focused on coordinating between public and private organizations to better manage area forestland.

“We’ll wait since a majority of it is in the city then,” Bennett said. “It would be a new project for the new Libby commissioner when he gets onboard.”