Pottawatomie County supervisors discuss $20,000-a-year trails coordinator to speed trail builds

Pottawattamie County supervisors and local trail advocates on Tuesday discussed funding a part-time trails coordinator, with proponents asking the board to commit $20,000 a year for three years to accelerate construction and grant pursuit.

Supporters said the coordinator would centralize grant writing, landowner outreach and project management needed to expand the county’s trail network and attract economic activity to small towns.

Advocates argued the county needs a dedicated staffer. “We’ve talked about this coordinator for about 11 or 12 years now and I feel it’s time for us to get a coordinator to get us up and going,” said Brian, a board member who placed the item on the agenda. He said trails in the region add to local economies, citing an estimate that Pottawatomie County’s trail system contributes about $34,000,000 a year to the county’s economy. “So I’m asking that we help fund a coordinator for 3 years out of gaming for about 20,000 a year,” he said.

Board members and residents raised several practical questions. Scott asked for a job description; another supervisor said the county should not use gaming funds for ongoing salaries without precedent. “We haven't to date use gaming revenue for any ongoing expenses. They’re usually one-time costs,” a board member said.

Golden Hills RC&D was proposed as the fiscal host: the coordinator would be a Golden Hills employee, receive benefits from that organization and be housed administratively there while working on county property. Supporters said Golden Hills could provide payroll and technology in a host arrangement; a speaker who said they sit on the Golden Hills board clarified that the Golden Hills board had not yet approved taking management of the position.

Proponents described the coordinator’s duties beyond grant writing: working with contractors and engineers, cultivating long‑term relationships with funders such as the Iowa West Foundation and the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, and spending time securing landowner agreements. “This needs a mind that is trained on getting grants written, working with funders, working with contractors, working with engineers to put this together,” said Jeff, a board member and longtime trails supporter.

Several board members asked for concrete documents before approving funding: a draft job description, a proposed contract or fiscal sponsorship agreement with Golden Hills RC&D, clarification on who the employee would report to, and any insurance or liability language that would release the county if the employee is Golden Hills’ staff. One supervisor suggested using conservation department excess user‑fee revenues this year rather than gaming funds; another warned that relying on year‑to‑year excess revenues could undermine recruitment and retention.

There was discussion about scope and time. Supporters described the proposed position as part-time under 30 hours per week; other speakers and a board member noted the work could require full‑time effort and that funders had previously indicated willingness to support a full‑time role if matching funds were available.

No formal motion or vote to fund the coordinator was made. The board directed staff and proponents to provide a draft job description, any proposed contract with Golden Hills RC&D, documentation of matching funds and grant applications (including communications with potential funders such as Matt Hinkes at the Iowa West Foundation), and options for a funding source (gaming revenue vs. conservation excess user fees). Supervisors indicated they would revisit the item after reviewing those materials.

Supporters framed the proposal as a relatively low-cost pilot: $20,000 a year for three years, they said, could act as a litmus test to determine whether a dedicated coordinator produces measurable trail development.

The discussion closed with supporters reiterating the economic and recreational benefits they expect from an accelerated trail program and with the board requesting the documents needed to consider a funding commitment.