Commercial Savings Bank recently donated $8,000 to Carroll County Conservation Foundation’s fundraising to resurface the Sauk Rail Trail from its original asphalt to concrete.
Carroll County Conservation last year received a federal COVID-19 Relief Recreation Trails Program grant for $900,186 administered through the Iowa Department of Transportation plus $100,000 each from Carroll County and the City of Carroll to resurface the trail.
Based on early estimates, that would be enough for the section from Swan Lake State Park to the Highway 30 access.
Conservation Foundation leaders then began pushing to replace the last remaining 2 miles of asphalt to Maple River Junction at the same time.
Carroll County Conservation Board Director Jason Christensen said that could bring costs to $1.5 million to $1.6 million.
Commercial Savings Bank Senior Vice President Paul Milligan is joined in display of a mock check signifying the bank’s $8,000 donation by his grandchildren (from left) Charlotte Milligan, 7, daughter of Kevin and Erin Milligan; Connor Milligan, 8, son of Kevin and Erin Milligan; Emilee Milligan, 6, daughter of Ryan and Kathi Milligan; Mallory Milligan, 10, daughter of Ryan and Kathi Milligan; and Claire Milligan, 1, daughter of Kevin and Erin.
"The bank is excited to get the trail paved all the way to Maple River, and we're glad to assist," Paul Milligan said.