Lawmaker opposes giving stretch of road to tribe

WORLEY, Idaho – A lawmaker from North Idaho objects to the state Transportation Department’s plans to turn over an abandoned stretch of U.S. Highway 95 to the Coeur d’Alene Tribe.

The dispute centers on a four-mile stretch of highway near Worley that state officials say won’t be needed when construction on a new section wraps up next summer.

Under an agreement with the tribe, the agency intends to hand over the road after paying $200,000 to resurface it rather than tearing it up and paying to restore it to its natural state.

“We’re usually begging people to take roads,” said Andrea Storjohann, assistant district manager for the department. “If it stays on as a state road, we have to maintain and keep it up and our dollars are already stretched. It seemed like a perfect fit to give it to the tribe.”

But Rep. Dick Harwood, R-St. Maries, is irked about the deal.

Harwood contends the state has no authority to give abandoned roadways to tribes, and says state code makes highway districts, a county or city the only legal options.

Harwood also says it’s an insult to taxpayers to pay money to resurface a road destined for the tribe, especially at a time the state is struggling for money to improve its roads and bridges. Instead, he suggests turning over the road to the highway district, which could then sell it to the tribe.

“It just needs to be done right,” he said. “Taxpayers get the shaft every time we turn around. Enough. We don’t have a huge surplus of money right now. We’re hurting. And the governor is wanting more money for the highway department.”

Transportation officials disagree with Harwood’s interpretation of the law and say it’s not uncommon for the state to pay for improvements before relinquishing control over a road.

“Oftentimes we’ll do some paving before giving over a road because they’re going to be assuming something they’ll have to maintain in the future,” Storjohann said. “It’s standard operating procedure. The confusion this time is it’s the first agreement with the tribe.”

Storjohann also said the land under the stretch of highway is owned by the tribe.

Tribal spokesman Marc Stewart said the Coeur d’Alenes will likely use the roadway as a service road for trucks delivering goods to the tribe’s golf course and casino.