Thursday, June 21, 2007

Funding walking trail a topic at Valley Falls city council

by Clarke Davis

Matching money for a walking trail was a topic before the Valley Falls City Council Monday night.

Jeri Clark, who chairs the Valley Falls Recreation Commission, asked the city to be the prime sponsor of a walking trail for which the commission hopes to acquire a grant.

She believes the community could get $15,000 through the Sunflower Foundation but it would require matching funds.

Besides the money, she said the city is best equipped to maintain and care for the trail after it is developed.

Councilwoman Rosalind Jackson said the trail fits nicely into the city’s Economic Development Council’s idea of developing bird watching as a local draw for tourism.

Councilman James Durand said $15,000 would require 3 mills on the tax rolls and questioned Clark if her commission had thought of raising its tax levy to pay for it since 1 mill in the school district raises $13,000.

“This is a large hit for the city,” he said.

Clark said the commission had not considered it and that raising their tax levy would be subject to a protest petition and possibly an election.

The money would be used to complete one section of the trail planned to run from the tree grove east to the old railroad bed and then north to eventually loop back west across Hagge’s pond. The late Mayor Bob Zieg had spent a couple of years scoping out the trail and planting the idea.

Councilman Paul Burns said he wanted to see drawings and nail down some costs. “Let’s see how wide and how far it will go,” he said, noting that the national disabilities act would also play a role.

“We got a track at the football field,” he said.

Jackson, on the other hand, sees it as a tourist draw and notes that one has to invest to get something back.

“We want to get people here to spend money,” she said.

“Where can they spend it?” was Burns’ comeback.

The city has budgets for next year being prepared now that will be on the council’s table in July. The council held the line with no increase in the 32-mill levy last year, but has committed almost a mill for the animal shelter in the coming year.

City administrator Bret Frakes said the budget is a guessing game until the new valuation figures come out in July, then, he said, the council will have a better idea of how much money they will have to work with.

Clark also asked if the city would be interested in appointing a community group to look into building a new swimming pool.

She said the community will need one someday and that maybe now was the time to put money away and start the planning process.

“I just thought we could work together and all be on the same page,” Clark said.

There was little response from the council table except to note that the pool is now costing taxpayers about $20,000 a year above the revenue it brings in and that not figuring in the cost of the water.

Pools are an expensive proposition, but those council members speaking to it acknowledged the community could not be without one.

Other business:

—Frakes reported the county Geographic Information Systems office was considering contracting the Kansas Rural Water Association to produce maps using the Global Positioning System to mark manholes, valves, fire hydrants, etc., for all the town’s water and sewer systems. For now they are just acquiring cost estimates for those who want to participate.

—The Valley Falls Athletic Association is going to install swing gates with traffic signs to close Sycamore Street past the ball diamonds and stop the need for putting out barricades.

—High school students Cameron Bickford and Stephen Lane have been hired for summer help in the public works department.

—The street committee will meet soon to review applications for a new city employee in the public works department. Marlin Gier has resigned to go to work for the city of Meriden.

—Discussed trimming or removal of trees near the VFW hall.

—Donated $200 to the Chamber of Commerce for July 4th fireworks.