Klemgard shelter to see roof repairs

The long-standing picnic shelter at Klemgard park will get a new metal roof.

Years of Palouse weather have worn out the cedar shingles of the shelter, said park ranger Dave Mahan. Now the roof leaks in several spots.

“What we’re going to do is we’re going to get the metal roofing material and strip the old roofing material,” he said.

He pointed out the wooden shingles are going on 30 years old.

“I’d like to get it done before spring really hits,” he said.

Schedule for replacing the roof this winter will largely depend on the ferocity of the weather.

“I’ll be working on it as weather allows,” he said. Volunteers and park board members may also drive out to help work on the roof when the weather is good, he said.

Mahan pointed out the funding for the project won’t cost more than $5,000. The funds are not coming from the park’s regular budget. Funds will instead come from the park’s planned giving account and the donation boxes set up around the county parks.

Kamiak Butte and Klemgard Park both sustained wide-spread damage to their forests in the strong windstorm which hit the region Nov. 15. Park rangers have been working to clean up the trees as the weather allows.

Park ranger Todd Heitstuman in particular wrestled with the destruction when the windstorm dropped a large pine tree across the driveway at his Kamiak Butte residence.