Bike

trails

move

forward

First phase

slated for 2002

from North

Broadway to

20th South

By CHRIS VETTER

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Plans for a bike trail that circles New Ulm moved forward Tuesday, as city councilors hired an engineering firm to design the path and acquire right-of-way property.

LHB, a Minneapolis firm, will be paid $145,000 by the city to prepare the trail route. After the route is designed and land purchased, the city will seek bids from construction companies.

The city plans to build a five-mile trail in 2002 that begins by the trailer park at North Broadway and follows the train tracks along the Minnesota River to 20th South Street.

This initial project, dubbed phase 1, is expected to cost $727,404. The city has secured $425,000 in federal grants and another $102,000 in state Department of Natural Resource funding. The city's portion of $200,000 was approved in the bonding measure last month.

Some issues must be resolved before the phase 1 trail can be built. The city has not set the trail's final route. City Manager Dick Salvati noted there are large swaths of land that have not cleared a trail to go across the property.

City Engineer Steve Koehler said the current map is a "conceptual layout," and the trail will not necessarily be placed where it lies on the blueprint. Koehler said the largest gap in the trail is from 15th South to 20th South.

The city will likely acquire strips of land 30 feet across, with the actual trail slated for eight feet in width.

Councilor Ron Fleischmann had concerns about the route, noting that much of the land on the northeast side of town is industrial park space.

"That might not be the most beautiful drive," Fleischmann said.

Although the council is moving forward on phase 1, the second portion of the trail, dubbed 2a, is stagnant until more funding can be located.

Trail 2a would extend from 20th South past Schell's Brewery and into Flandrau State Park. Although this route is much shorter than the five-mile phase 1, it carries an estimated price tag of $1.37 million.

The main reason for the high projected cost is the need for a retaining wall or bridge to level off the grade as the trail heads downhill into the state park, Koehler said.

"You have a certain minimum grade for the trail," he explained.

The city has secured another $450,000 in federal money for the 2a project. However, at this time, the city does not have any other outside source of income to pay for the $1.37 million 2a trail. The city has agreed to spend at least $130,000 for that portion of trail.

Salvati hopes the Legislature will give the city funding in its 2002 bonding bill. (The Legislature does not usually approve bonding projects in the first year of a biennium.) Salvati said the city will seek about $660,000 in state revenue for phase 2a.

"These trail programs are relatively high priority to the state," Salvati told councilors.

If the Legislature comes through with the money in 2002, the city could begin working on phase 2a in 2003, Salvati said.

Without the state money or a DNR matching grant, Salvati acknowledged it will be difficult for the project to move forward.

"It's obviously going to be contingent on a lot of state funding," Salvati said. "If that doesn't come through, you may have to stop after phase 1."

Brian Tohal, coordinator of New Ulm Economic Development Corporation, told councilors the trail would be used by visitors as well as area residents.

"It's another amenity for local people," Tohal said.

Phase 2b would be a trail entirely within Flandrau State Park, extending from where the park begins by Schell's to the Flandrau Pool. That trail has an estimated price tag of $620,000. Because that trail is within the state park, the DNR will be responsible for funding that portion, Koehler said.

The phase 2b already has $171,000 in federal grants and a $188,000 commitment from the state DNR, but it is still $260,000 short.

Koehler said it is unlikely the state park would move forward with phase 2b if the city does not first construct 2a.

"I don't think so," Koehler said of the Flandrau trail. "I don't see the incentive."

The council has not yet looked at completing the trail loop from Flandrau State Park along the northwest side of town, past County Road 27 and along the new North Highland extension. However, preliminary estimates by the city engineer's office suggest that trail would cost $1.086 million.

Marktplatz sign

In other news, the council tabled a plan for a new electronic sign that would be installed in the city hall parking lot on Broadway and First North Street.

The free-standing, 26-foot sign would point visitors toward the Marktplatz Mall. The sign would include an electronic message system, which would advertise sales within the mall as well as upcoming Chamber of Commerce or city events.

The sign structure could cost up to $30,000. The city, Chamber of Commerce and Marktplatz owners would evenly split the cost. The Marktplatz owners also would pay for the electronic message system, which costs another $35,000. The city would provide electricity to the sign at no cost, under the proposal.

Council President Dan Beranek spoke in favor of the sign, but suggested the issue be studied further. A subcommittee consisting of two councilors, mall owners and Chamber of Commerce officials will meet to further discuss the matter. Beranek said the size of the sign should be reduced.

The issue will return at the April 17 meeting.

Local sales tax

The councilors approved the use of a Minnesota Statute to define what is a "motorized vehicle." Under the now-accepted definition, a car, pickup and trailer pulled behind the vehicle qualify as a motorized vehicle.

The city half-percent sales tax takes effect April 1. Motorized vehicles, as defined above, will face a flat $20 excise tax if the vehicle costs more than $4,000. A vehicle under $4,000 will be charged with the half-percent sales tax.

For example, a car that costs $3,000 will have an added $15 in city sales tax. But a car that exceeds $4,000 will have a flat tax of $20 added to the purchase cost.

While the new city definition adds trailers to the list of motorized vehicles, the definition does not cover boats, snowmobiles or all-terrain vehicles, said City Attorney Hugh Nierengarten.

Thus, a person who purchases a $6,000 snowmobile will pay an additional half-percent of sales tax, or $30. An $8,000 boat purchase means a $40 city sales tax.

Library roof

Councilors approved hiring Gag Sheet Metal to replace the roof at the New Ulm Public Library at a cost of $82,050. The council had previously spent $7,150 on preliminary designs for the project. Another $4,000-$5,000 will be spent hiring an inspecting and management team to oversee the work.

Salvati noted that the city had anticipated the roof would cost $95,000, so the project will come in under budget.