Wapsi Trail project moves forward with a snag

     Things are progressing with the Wapsipinicon Trail Project, connecting Wapsipinicon State Park to the City of Anamosa.

     During the Feb. 7 Board of Supervisor meeting, the trail committee members (Dusty Embree, Kris Gobeli, and Brad Hatcher) met with the board to provide an update on the project and where the funding lies.

     Embree said they’ve received the preliminary engineering plans, details and schematics from Anderson their hired engineer Anderson Bogert.

     “These are not final yet,” she stipulated.

     The committee and engineer have been working with a couple of major landowners along the proposed trail, ironing out the location as it passes through their properties. Embree said stakes have been placed along the route.

     “We’ve been making some adjustments,” said Hatcher, “going back and forth with the owners.”

     Embree said the feedback from property owners and those interested in the project has been “mostly positive.” With fast deadline approaching in terms of funding, she said they’re putting some pressure on the landowners “to get things firmed up sooner rather than later.”

     One snag in the project plans, the DNR’s portion of the trail within Wapsi State Park. Embree said the DNR had full intentions of engineering their piece of the project, but cannot follow through until after deadlines have to be met by the committee.

     “It’s just not going to happen in our timeline,” said Embree. So, the trail at this point will not include the DNR’s portion.

     “There are positives and not positives,” she said. “And the not positive is that it won’t be a complete trail.”

     Hatcher said the DNR is still committed to the trail project, but they do not have the funds in their budget for engineering this year.

     Embree said if they added the DNR piece of land into the overall trail project at this point, it would drastically increase the engineering cost.

     The trail project is estimated to cost $1.1 million. The committee will see about 15 percent of the total from Parks to People.

     “We might get a little less because we’re not doing the DNR piece,” suggested Embree, “but our overall costs will be less, too.”

     They also have $677,000 in contributions toward the trail project. Embree said they are hopeful they can bring in the remaining funds before the June 30 deadline, or apply for a Parks to People extension on the project.

     “I’m confident we can get there,” she said.

     In March, the committee will invite the public and stakeholders to an informational meeting, outlining the trail plans with the engineer present as well.

     Brenda Leonard, Emergency Management coordinator, also met with the board to provide an update on her department’s budget and the new mobile unit.

     In 2006, Leonard received a Homeland Security grant to purchase the initial mobile unit. Since then, with usage and water damage over the years, Leonard said she’s been looking into a new one. (The mobile unit is used in disaster situations, gas leaks, and major events such as the fair and J&P Cycles weekends.)

     Leonard said she put out RFPs and received four bids back, with the highest at $80,000 and the lowest at $40,000. The lowest is from St. Louis, with the second lowest ($41,000) from Cedar Rapids, making it more feasible for pickup/delivery and maintenance. She said she’s received a $5,000 donation toward the mobile trailer, and has $50,000 in her carry-over budget.

     “I have plenty to cover the cost,” said Leonard.

     The new trailer is 26 feet long. Leonard said the radios from the old unit would be installed in the new one. It’s all aluminum and seamless, which Leonard said would eliminate any water leaks. The new trailer would also include air conditioning. Leonard said a full furnace would cost a lot more to install, preferring generator-run heaters.

     Supervisor Joe Oswald said it would be beneficial to store the new trailer, once it arrives, indoors. Leonard said two additional smaller trailers sit outside at Central Park.

     “It would be nice to have a place to work on it in the winter,” suggested Leonard.

     She said she hopes to have the trail in time for the J&P Cycles weekend rally in June.    

  In other county business:

     • Michele Lubben, Land Use, informed the board of several items on the Feb. 13 Planning and Zoning meeting, including the re-zoning of property owned by Roger Stephen in Monticello from A-Ag to C1-Commercial; and discussion of a property on County Road D-62, with 20 feet of the house/garage structure sitting on the neighboring property. Lubben said that could be a possible violation of the county’s setback ordinance.

     • Gary Edmondson, Lucie Shingledecker, and other residents along 15^th Street between Martelle and Lisbon were at the meeting to discuss the condition of the road.

     “We were here a couple of years ago and the situation has not improved,” said Shingledecker. In terms of improvements to the road and more rock, Shingledecker said, “I don’t think it’s an impossible request.”

     County Engineer Derek Snead said the road itself is so flat, that the terrain does not help the condition at all.

     “Low-lying roads with flat stretches are generally in worse condition,” he said.

     Snead said with some ditching and shoulder work, Secondary Road could assist with the condition.

     “When it freezes up again,” offered Snead, “we’ll get rock to the worst spots in the county.”

     The board placed a signed letter from residents along 15^th Street on file.

     • The board approved the posting for a job opening for Secondary Roads, office manager. Snead proposed the position at 40 hours a week, with pay between $41,000 to $42,000. Right now, the job is at 35 hours a week.