WALLACE — The long-debated section of West Fork Pine Creek Road was once again brought before Shoshone County commissioners this week.

The public meeting was initiated by Paul Loutzenhiser, who urged the commissioners to keep the road open for public access. Representing the North Idaho Trailblazers, Loutzenhiser said the group uses the road to reach a Bureau of Land Management property known as the “Rollercoaster.”

The Rollercoaster is a series of natural and manmade obstacles and challenges designed for Jeeps and other four-wheel-drive vehicles.

Loutzenhiser had previously petitioned the commissioners to validate the road following repeated efforts by local property owner Joe Avery to restrict access. Although a secondary route to the Rollercoaster exists, access to it is controlled by Avery through an easement agreement with the BLM.

In June, the Idaho Supreme Court upheld the commissioners’ decision to deny validation of the road. However, the court’s opinion noted that the commissioners had erred by failing to recognize the road as a public right-of-way. This ruling effectively removed county jurisdiction, leaving the situation in legal limbo.

Loutzenhiser, who serves on several recreational and four-wheel-drive boards, offered to collaborate with the county to secure grant funding for surveying and maintaining the road, provided it remains open.

He also submitted documents and maps detailing the Rollercoaster’s history, including its development, permissions and agreements signed by the North Idaho Trailblazers and state and federal officials.

“You guys have a lot of power in this situation,” Loutzenhiser told the commissioners. “The recreational community is really in hopes that we can work together and keep this trail in good condition.”

The meeting drew a sizable crowd and was moved from the commissioners’ office to the district courtroom. After Loutzenhiser spoke, many attendees voiced opposition to his request, citing financial and environmental concerns, as well as apprehension about out-of-area trail users.

Resident Dawn Wiksten said it boils down money.

“The taxpayers of this county cannot afford to maintain what we already have that needs maintaining," she said. "When the taxpayers of this county have to pick up the tab for people who are not residents, who are not paying into our county coffers, and we have to provide road maintenance, police, fire and trash. All these things are being demanded by people who don’t even live here and don’t have any skin in the game.”

Avery questioned why grant funding couldn’t be used to improve the secondary route along Langlois Road instead of maintaining a primitive section.

“I get blamed for a lot of stuff, and I’m the guy that blocked the road off, but I give them access on another road,” Avery said. “They have another good road to drive on. That’s the way they took all their equipment in when they built the Rollercoaster and that’s their access point. They talk about getting these grants and stuff for this other road, the good road that goes to the Rollercoaster now is only maintained by one entity, a timber company, and they put a lot of money into it. Why can’t some of these grants be for that road? Make that a better road.”

Others expressed frustration over the prolonged debate, which has spanned five years, multiple hearings and an Idaho Supreme Court decision.

“I am wondering what we have to do to close this topic,” said Kereen Dose. “It seems like we’re in the same place we were two years ago, so how do we stop the same conversation over and over again?”

Following the meeting, Loutzenhiser said he had recently met with Avery to explore a potential agreement outside the courtroom, but no resolution has been reached.