Fayette moving ahead with trail project

Fri May 11 2007
Posted May 11, 2007
5,313

By JANELL BRADLEY, Courier Correspondent FAYETTE --- Members of the City Council will open bids May 17 on the first part of a proposed recreation trail and will likely act on the offers at their meeting four days later. The action followed a public hearing Monday and subsequent 4-0 vote by the council to move forward. Officials decided to proceed despite concerns from at least one resident about the project. Don Albert Jr. questioned how the city can begin construction without all the necessary easements. Two private property owners are refusing to provide the agreements, and the city is working through the court system to condemn those parcels. "We have all the easements for all the Division I work," City Engineer John Biederman said. Albert also raised the issue of the path being in a flood plain. Biederman said the city has flood plain permits from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for both the new sports complex and the proposed trail. He added the city would be responsible for damage to the trail as a result of flooding. "If there was a big concern with flooding, (the DNR) wouldn't issue the permit," Biederman said. "That's no satisfaction to the owners if they lose property," Albert said. Preliminary construction work includes building a trail 8 feet wide and slightly less than a mile long. The course is from Klock's Island Park to the intersection of Water and King streets. Bids will also suggest costs for asphalt on a quarter-mile of trails within the sports complex. The estimated completion date for Division I work --- grading and asphalting the path from Klock's Island to the Iowa Highway 150 bridge --- is Aug. 10. For Division II is Nov. 2. When complete, the trail will continue to Big Rock Country Club. Cost for the first portion of the trail is about $150,000. The council's next meeting will be May 21. Contact Janell Bradley at jbradley@alpinecom.net.