County

endorses

trail for

Sleepy

Eye Lake

Resident accuses

city officials of

keeping project

a secret

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to sponsor a grant application that could put a trail around Sleepy Eye Lake despite questions and accusations from some of the lake's neighbors.

Sleepy Eye city officials asked commissioners to approve a resolution that would make Brown County the sponsor for the city's grant. However, two lake area residents questioned the city's approach to the project.

The city wants the grant to help fund a bicycle and walking trail around the northern, eastern and western portions of the lake, but it wants a federal grant through MnDOT to help build the project. Brown County is acting as the sponsor for the grant because Sleepy Eye's population doesn't meet the application requirements.

Not everyone from Sleepy Eye liked the board's decision.

"Truth and fair play are not a part of the equation," said Greg Bartz, a Home Township resident. "I assume you're going to use a heavy-handed approach here. ... I hope you vote again on this until the city shows us some courtesy."

Sleepy Eye City Manager Mark Kober told commissioners the city didn't meet with landowners before making the application because the deadline didn't leave enough time to arrange a meeting. Kober did visit with one lake resident prior to coming before the board.

Brown County Highway Engineer Wayne Stevens added that the grant application is a federal process that can't be negotiated until it gets state approval.

"You wanted to keep this quiet until you got (the county's) approval," said Bartz, referring to Kober.

Kober responded by saying the law is clearly defined in terms of negotiations with landowners, and he apologized for not approaching them before coming to the board.

"We don't know if we're for it or against it," Bartz said. "We didn't even know about it."

Commissioners Charles Guggisberg and James Berg agreed, saying the lack of notification was a problem, but they disagreed with Bartz when he stated that a vote for the application means the county approves of how the city acted.

"I don't necessarily agree with that," Berg told Bartz. "This is just giving Sleepy Eye the opportunity to go after (the grant for the trail)."

Stevens later explained that the U.S. government will consider the trail a Brown County project because Sleepy Eye technically doesn't meet the population requirements to get the grant by itself.

Brown County now has the option of withdrawing the application at any time before construction contracts are signed, Stevens said.

"Can't the property be condemned and taken?," Bartz asked.

Stevens confirmed that the possibility exists although property is rarely condemned and taken in the case of a recreational trail.

Guggisberg reminded Bartz that the county can withdraw the application at any time and said the project will be halted if the county thinks it isn't going properly.

"I think you kept this secret so you could get your ducks in a row," said Bartz. "Why is this being kept secret?"

Kober told Bartz that Sleepy Eye has made no effort to keep the trail project secret. He said the city held four public hearings during the time it made its master plan for the lake project and said the trail project, which is part of that plan, might not materialize.

Kober, speaking after the meeting, estimated the trail could cost $275,000, but he added the city's budget isn't yet complete.

If the grant is accepted, the city won't see the money until 2007, Kober said. He said the city would have five years to put together meetings if and when the state awards the grant.