Paul Rignell
Columbus Reporter
The current Columbus City Council is not on board with extending the East Anoka County Regional Trail through the city.
During the council’s Jan. 14 meeting, Councilman Bill Krebs said he believes residents would not get enough use or benefit from the bike and pedestrian trail to justify the city’s obligation for keeping the trail free of brush or any trash from trail users to keep the path safe and clear.
Under current county plans, the trail would extend more than 2 miles through the city, but not in a central location or along an artery such as Potomac Street, Broadway Avenue or Kettle River Boulevard.
County parks staff are envisioning a trail extension that would follow Lexington Avenue/County 17 north from 185th Avenue Northeast, then wind through Coon Lake County Park before following Jodrell Street and tracing the eastern shore of Linwood Lake. That leg of the trail would end at Island Lake, near Viking Boulevard/County 22 in Linwood.
During its meeting, the council asked Anoka County Park Planner Karen Blaska about an option to plan the trail through the central Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area.
“They (the state) will not allow us to go through,” she said.
As for where the trail would reach Columbus, as currently drawn, “it’s on a way far end (of our city),” Krebs noted to Blaska. “It’s skirting the other (west) end,” he added.
Mayor Dave Povolny asked Blaska for a county timeline. He wondered whether the trail is likely to continue with or without Columbus’ blessing, maybe within a few years.
Blaska replied that this should be closer to a 10-year project. The total required investment is estimated at $12.9 million in current dollars, perhaps reliant and contingent heavily on available federal, state and metro area grants.
Councilman Denny Peterson spoke more against the trail extension as a concept.
“I disapprove of the whole operation,” he said.
Peterson said that as for how any state funding may be generated, he believes it is high time for bicyclists to be charged state licensing fees along with other vehicle operators.
Newly elected Councilman Mark Daly sided with Krebs and Peterson in voting against a resolution that would have shown favor with the trail plan. Mayor Povolny voted for the resolution along with Councilmember Jeff Duraine, who said it has been a city park board priority to add bike trails.
More cell coverage
Council was unanimous in support for Verizon Wireless to install a 130-foot steel monopole tower at 13932 Lake Drive (north of Waldoch Sports) to allow for increased cellular coverage.
Povolny said expanded coverage is long overdue in the city, and he offered his thoughts that this request has come “10 years too late.”
Council approved and issued a conditional use permit. There will be no light or beacon at the top of the tower because its size is not tall enough to require a light by state or federal regulations. Verizon could allow other cellular providers to add antennae on the monopole in the future, but only with city consideration and a permit amendment.