Hartley trail project receives bad news

The future of a new recreation trail in Hartley is looking bleak.

The Hartley City Council on Monday learned that construction of a new leg of trail extending from Neebel Park would be nearly impossible. Engineer Wes Boyer, of Bolten & Menk, reported the owner of the property that abuts the proposed route will not grant a future construction easement, in turn severely jeopardizing the project's viability.

"That's not really on the table as an option," Boyer said of the easement. "That obviously makes the proposed trail route difficult or impossible."

Members of the Hartley Recreation Trail Committee had been developing plans to construct a new trail extending westward from Neebel Park to Vine Avenue in the city's right-of-way along the south side of Third Street Southwest. Its construction would require an easement from the owner of the field that abuts the route – the Berry Family Trust.

The trail committee in February was charged with approaching the property owner in hopes of obtaining an agreement; however, they rejected any future easement proposals outright.

"The farm manager said [the owners] don't want to consider that possibility at all," said trail committee member Dave Vander Broek on Tuesday. "We're kind of in a standstill now."

Boyer said the city's engineering contract for the trail project is about halfway fulfilled. He said the city could shift gears and look at other possibilities for the first leg, start over and develop a comprehensive trail plan, or drop the trail discussion altogether.

"The money that's spent is spent, but do we just keep spinning our wheels further to try to find something that works at Third Street Southwest?" Boyer asked.

The council feared a similar story would unfold if plans were developed in lieu of the current proposal.

"I'm not sure it's feasible in general," said Council Member Ron Hengeveld. "Even if a lot of people want it, where are we going to put it?"

Cost was also a concern. Construction of the first leg was estimated at $227,000; however, the trail committee has already raised around $142,000 from donations and grants.

"It's not that we're against it, but when we start looking at the finances part of it, I just don't know," said Council Member Mary Westphalen.

Mayor Rodney Ahrenstorff wasn't optimistic the project could succeed if landowners remain uncooperative. Municipalities cannot utilize powers like eminent domain to construct recreations trails.

"There are other areas where they're not going to sell you their property," Ahrenstorff said. "It comes down to want and need. We want a trail, okay, but do we need a trail to make the citizens of Hartley happy?"

The council offered Boyer no definitive course of action moving forward. Vander Broek was in favor of going back to the drawing board and developing a comprehensive plan for future trail development.