It's Back.... The Opposed Trail Along Mill Road

Update 8/5/2008: The $704,000 and $202,000 matching dollars is for as many trails they can get with these monies, not just the trail on Mill. As we understand, the engineer has asked the council and the Park and Rec Comm for their top 5 priorities (from trail map on blog)
Whether the matching dollar amounts are a coincidence or typo, this information comes directly from public records.
2008 Budget
Police page three $704,000
Fire page four $202,000
Road Maintenance.... Zero, Zip, Nada!
LINK HERE
Now is the time to send in your objections or your top 5 as Park and Rec meets 8/6/08 and council on 8/13/08

Memo

From: Kim Stephan
Date: July 9, 2008
Subject: Budget Considerations for 2009 From Parks and Recreation Committee

Council Member Tom Lee asked the committee to consider their recommendation for the trail proposed along Mill Road. The City received a Trail Grant for $704,000, with the City's portion being approximately $202,000. Council Member Lee informed the committee that the grant monies received are difficult to get and if not spent the chances of receiving these grant monies again would be greatly reduced. A trail was proposed alone Mill Road with the 2009 street project but the road has been taken out of the project and the residents along Mill Road were opposed to a trail or a sidewalk being added to their street. The committee feels strongly that Mill Road is dangerous to pedestrians and bikes and should have a trail on it as it is a collector street; it is narrow and it is very busy. Taking into consideration the feelings of the residents concerning a trail, the committee still felt it was their obligation to look at what was best for the community as a whole and that would be to have a trail on Mill Road. The committee discussed at length the Mill Road resident's objections verses the safety of the road and while reluctant to go against the resident's wishes would like to recommend to City Council that Mill Road have a trail constructed within the easement using the Trail Grant monies.
Motion was made by Vice-Chairperson Amundsen, seconded by Committee Member Haiden to recommend City Council proceed with the trail being constructed on Mill Road per the specifications in the 2009 street project, the Comprehensive Trail Plan and the plan submitted for grant monies due to the connectivity of the trail plan and the safety of the residents with the understanding the residents of Mill Road will not be assessed for this trail as Federal Grant Funds will be used. All in favor. Motion carried unanimously.

Just who is going to pay the additional $202,000 for the unwanted trail? How many other trails are not payed for with grant money and just what the heck is a "collector street" in a town with such a small population? We need to keep an eye on these people... $202,000 would go a long way on road maintenance!

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