THE CITY REBORN FROM THE ASHES OF AMERICA'S MOST DISASTROUS FOREST FIRE
Ask Additional $350,000 For Mountain Bike Trail
Issue Date: May 26, 2022
Construction is expected to start this year on the first 10 miles of what is expected to become an extensive mountain bike trail system in Marinette County, if Marinette County Board approves agreements to be considered at its meeting on Tuesday, May 31.
The 10-mile segment of Mountain Bike Trail to be built this year is in the Goodman Park area, and will include portions of trail suitable for all skill levels, from children to experienced hardy bicyclists, as well as a camp area and a bicycle playground for very young children.
At its meeting on May 31, County Board will be asked to approve adding $350,000 of ARPA funding to the $500,000 they already placed in the 2022 county budget to construct the first 10 miles of optimized trail. The additional funding proposal was supported by unanimous vote of the Board's Administrative Committee at its meeting on Thursday, May 19, and also had the tentative blessings of the Infrastructure Committee, which oversees facilities operations including parks, forestry, highways and other facilities.
The board also will be asked to approve a contract with Trail Solutions International Mountain Bike Association to construct the first segment of trail in cooperation with Marinette County Parks, Forestry and Facilities employees
Also on the County Board Agenda for May 31 is approval of an allocation for upgrades to the audio/visual system at the UW-Green Bay Marinette Campus Theater.
Proposals for both the additional Mountain Bike Trail funding and the improvements for the UW Theatre on the Bay are to be finalized at an 8:30 a.m. meeting of the Infrastructure Committee on Tuesday, just prior to the full County Board meeting.
Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs (AWSC) Vice President Lori Heideman and Wisconsin Department of Tourism Representative Drew Nussbaum will be present at the 9 a.m. board meeting to officially present Marinette County with the Snowmobile Friendly Award designated by the AWSC. The award gives Marinette County the right to display Snowmobile Friendly signs at county attractions, and to use the designation in its tourism advertising efforts.
Other agenda items for County Board are the annual report by NWTC President Dr. Jeffrey Rafn; reports by Stephenson Public Library Director Karin Adams, Facilities Director Martin Keyport, and Communications Director Kirsten Burmeister.
On recommendation of the Infrastructure Committee supervisors will be asked to make a somewhat controversial change in the ordinance governing seasonal weight limits on county highways by removing an existing process to appeal decisions of the Highway Commissioner in regard to granting exceptions for specific transportation reasons. That change was approved by the Infrastructure Committee on a split vote, with Supervisor Shirley Kaufman opposed and Supervisors Roger Allen, Tom Gromala, Hank Novak, and Al Sauld in favor. Eliminating the appeal process had also generated a fair amount of debate at the April meeting of the Administrative Committee, which did pass it along for a recommendation from the Infrastructure Committee, which oversees Highway Department functions.
County Board also will be asked to approve a recommendation from both the Infrastructure Committee and the Administrative Committee to use $250,000 of ARPA funding to fund the purchase of the following pieces of equipment large tracked excavator, mini excavator and skid steer, skid steer mulcher attachment, and cross country ski trail groomer, and Administrative Committee recommendations to create two additional Civilian Corrections officer positions, effective immediately, to help alleviate a problem with keeping the County Jail adequately staffed, to approve transfer of $63,517 from Technology Services to the Sheriff's Department Administration Outlay Account for the final payment on the Spillman project, to approve a $50,000 agreement with BayCom to replace the Vesta Map Local Premium with Rapid SOS, to approve the 2023 County Budget Policy and Budget Schedule, and approve several appointments to represent various businesses on the Local Emergency Planning Committee.