County Board OKs trail grant agreement

The McLeod County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday voted 4-1 to enter into an agreement with the state of Minnesota to accept grant funding to improve two miles of the Dakota Trail from the east boundary of the county to County Road 1.
Commissioner Doug Krueger, who said he felt he needed to maintain “consistency” on his stance on trail issues, cast the dissenting vote.
The Legacy Fund grant, which will provide $647,000 of the estimated $680,000 cost of the improvements (the city of Hutchinson plans to contribute about $33,000 in in-kind services), will include a bridge repair and paving of the two-mile segment of trail.
The board heard comments from one person in regard to accepting the grant, who asked if there will be meetings with adjacent property owners, and said there would need to be a renewal of a construction agreement.
For more from the County Board meeting, including plans to replace a deficient bridge on Koala Avenue, see the Nov. 8 print edition of The Chronicle.