Idaho high court rules district does not own boat launch

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho (AP) - An Idaho Supreme Court ruling has upheld a lower court decision regarding ownership of a launch on Lake Coeur d’Alene.

The Dec. 11 ruling says the Eastside Highway District does not own a park boat launch in Coeur d’Alene’s Boothe Park, The Coeur d’Alene Press reported.

The highway district had appealed a decision establishing a boundary on the park’s east side.

The case has kept alive a debate over who can access the boat launch and whether the district and the public are allowed lake access at the park, district administrators said.

The state Supreme Court affirmed the lower court decision that Gregory and Ellen Delavan own the launch.

The court found that any boundary agreement between the couple and the highway district no longer exists, regardless of whether an agreement existed between the district and previous property owners.

The Supreme Court also ruled the summary judgment granted to the Delavans by the district court must be re-addressed.

The park was established around 1955 when it was conveyed to the Coeur d’Alene Highway District, the precursor to the Eastside Highway District.

The park’s deed describes the property, but discrepancies in the size and measurement resulted in arguments.