Flathead County will hire a private contractor this winter to keep the snow cleared off bike and pedestrian trails leading to area schools.

The commissioners voted Monday to use Mike Schlegel, who has done contract snow-removal work for the county at various green-box sites, for snow removal at trails around West Valley, Helena Flats, Evergreen, Kila and Smith Valley schools.

The county will pay Schlegel $450 per heavy snowfall to keep trails around all five schools cleared, a fee that county Public Works Director Dave Prunty said he believed was very reasonable. He estimated roughly 10 plowings during the winter.

Maintenance of county trails has been an ongoing concern.

Last winter, when the road department was understaffed and on a tight budget, keeping the new trail between U.S. 2 and East Evergreen School became a challenge. Evergreen neighbors pitched in to clear snow following an unusually heavy snowfall.

County workers still may have to be involved in the Evergreen path maintenance in the winter to haul away snow, Prunty said.

Commissioner Dale Lauman said the $450 charge per plowing is a bargain for the county, and Commissioner Joe Brenneman agreed.

"Doing it per cost with someone we can trust is the way to go," Brenneman said.

Having a game plan in place for trail work this winter will buy the county some time as it works on a broader master plan for all trail maintenance. The county is developing a park master plan that would address the trail issue.

Parks and Recreation Director Jed Fisher said he believes there's a need for a seasonal county employee to handle trail issues such as sweeping, sign replacement, fence repair and other maintenance.

Federal money given to states for trail projects is seed money and isn't intended to provide full funding that includes maintenance.

Local governments accept the responsibility for maintenance when they accept the grants.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com