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Board authorizes two-year, $40,000 commitment to fund a trails coordinator position with Golden Hills RC&D
Summary
The Pottawattamie County Board approved $20,000 per year for two years to help fund a trails coordinator position to accelerate multiuse trail development; Golden Hills RC&D will employ the coordinator and the role focuses on fundraising, rights-of-way work, coordination and construction oversight.
Pottawattamie County supervisors voted to provide $20,000 per year for two years to support a proposed trails coordinator position housed at Golden Hills RC&D to accelerate development of multiuse bike and pedestrian trails across the county.
Conservation Executive Director Jeff Franco presented the request as a follow-up to discussion on May 20. Franco said county trail partners have built about five miles of trail over 15 years and that a dedicated coordinator is needed for fundraising, rights-of-way outreach, engineering coordination and construction oversight. He said the proposed two-year commitment would leverage other partner contributions and grant potential and that the Iowa West Foundation was reviewing a related request.
Franco said the total position cost would be larger than the county’s $20,000 annual share and that Golden Hills, the Trails Association and other funders had committed additional support. "We're asking for $20,000 per year. So a one-time ask of $40,000 for a two-year commitment to funding a trails coordinator position that would be housed under Golden Hills RC&D," Franco said.
Board members discussed oversight and reporting and asked for a simple funding request form rather than a more detailed contract; Golden Hills trustees and staff emphasized that Golden Hills would provide oversight and that the coalition would coordinate the position. Several supervisors and partner representatives said the role should focus heavily on fundraising.
After motion and second, the board approved the two-year funding commitment by voice vote. Staff and partners said they will post the position, seek candidates, and return with progress reports and proposed oversight language as the role is hired and work begins.
Why it matters: the county’s $40,000 commitment is intended to catalyze fundraising and accelerate planned trail segments — including engineering work toward a longer route that county partners hope will reach Underwood — and to provide a designated point of contact for permitting, right-of-way outreach and construction oversight.
Next steps: Golden Hills will post the job, seek candidates, manage payroll/benefits for the coordinator and provide progress reports to the county; partners will continue fundraising for engineering and construction.
