RATHDRUM - At an open house on Tuesday, opinions about the future of 557 city-owned acres on Rathdrum Mountain were as diverse as the possible uses for the site.

About 150 residents attended the informal event at Lakeland High School. Participants were given three green dots for uses they supported and three red dots for uses they opposed. Whether attendees supported public access or open space at the site were among the options.

Tony Myers said he opposes lightly developing the property for recreational uses. He said there's property west of the city that is "overrun" with ATVs and motorcycles despite posted No Trespassing signs and he's concerned the same situation would erupt on the mountain.

"If they don't stop (the motorized vehicles) there, how are they going to stop them up there?" Myers said.

Bob Granger said he would like to see the site left alone, but if the decision is made to lightly develop it, the property should be limited to low-impact uses such as hiking.

"I'd like to see it stay closed," he said. "That's the way it's been all these years."

Jim Ochenkoski, a member of the nonprofit Friends of Rathdrum Mountain, said opening up the site to low-impact uses supports the Friends' mission.

"We want the public to have access to its property so it can enjoy it," Ochenkoski said. "The city is gathering information, and we appreciate that they're getting around to it."

The city has contracted with The Langdon Group, a subsidiary of JUB Engineers, to shepherd the public involvement process. A report based on input at the open house, an online survey and stakeholder interviews will be delivered in September to the city council, which will use the information to decide whether to develop a land-use plan for the site.

Mayor Vic Holmes said the turnout was better than he had anticipated.

"We've received a broad range of opinions," he said. "We want to know the people's opinions, so we can plan and be good stewards of the property."

Multiple attendees suggested sending the debate to the ballot, but Holmes said a lot of factors would have to be considered with that, including expenses, deadlines and the argument that city council members are elected to make decisions.

Russell Brown, who lives near the mountain site, said he has concerns the property would be a magnet for crime. After attending the open house, he wonders if decision-makers already have their minds made up about opening up the site to recreational purposes.

"I think that they're trying to sell it and not find facts," he said.

Rathdrum Police Chief Kevin Fuhr said his agency would monitor the site and handle basic calls and would call on the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office if there are any major incidents as the site is in the KCSO's jurisdiction since it hasn't been annexed. He said he and the KCSO have been in conversations about handling calls at the site.

Potential uses for the site that received a lot of support at the open house included hiking, cross-country skiing, picnicking, interpretive signs, scenic views and open space. Camping and ATV trails received heavy opposition. Votes were mixed in the public access and equestrian trail categories.

Beverly Bruch, who lives near Rathdrum Mountain, said she is concerned about someone getting hurt on the mountain and the suing the city.

"They're going to need a large insurance policy," she said.

Bruch said she is against having trails for motorized vehicles.

"We want that mountain to be undisturbed," she said. "It was a gift given to us by God and we can't replace it."

She said she would be OK if it's open to hikers or mountain bikers, however.

"That's fine if they follow the rules and have respect for the mountain," she said. "I'm all in favor of people walking on trails and learning about nature. I am not in favor of disturbing the mountain."

The site, which isn't open to the public yet, includes streams, giant cedar trees and dirt Forest Service roads. Some areas offer partial views of Rathdrum and the Rathdrum Prairie. Spring Creek on the mountain feeds into City Park year-round. The city is performing a routine selective harvest of the site for revenue and to limit fire danger.

Last year the city gained access to its site after a nearly 20-year fight with adjacent landowners. The Post Falls Highway District validated Barrett Drive, formerly named Foster Road, as a county road, allowing the city to have access to its mountain site. Barrett leads to the city's property.

Those who are interested in taking a tour of the city's mountain site should call 687-0261. People who have questions or want to make comments about the site can contact Brad Marshall at [email protected] or 762-8787.