Golden Hills RC&D outlines Loess Hills projects, requests $15,000 in county funding

Angie Remington, who recently became director of Golden Hills RC&D, presented the organization’s work and a county funding request to the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.

Remington described Golden Hills’ regional programs — land stewardship, outdoor recreation and tourism, water-resources projects, local-foods work, arts and culture and community partnerships — and said the organization has long partnered with county conservation staff on Loess Hills projects. She told supervisors Golden Hills had submitted a funding request consistent with prior years for $15,000 and that the trail-planning position the organization is discussing (a Regional Trails Coordinator) would be considered separately.

Remington and a speaker identified as Lance walked the board through recent and upcoming initiatives tied to the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway, which the presentation said celebrated its national designation and route in 1998. Golden Hills highlighted an April “Low High Trek” multi-day hiking and camping event that will visit Hitchcock Nature Center and an urban hike in Council Bluffs, plans to propagate and sell native plants in partnership with Iowa Western Community College, and partnerships with county conservation boards to collect seed and support prairie restoration. Remington said the organization administers an interactive Loess Hills hiking guide and that Golden Hills has worked with local museums and communities on interpretive panels and murals.

Funding and grants: Remington told the board that Golden Hills has received county funding in prior years and that the $15,000 request is “consistent with what we’ve awarded in the past.” She described the organization’s 12-county service area and said some Golden Hills projects extend across multiple counties; the board asked clarifying questions about the trails coordinator position and how county funds would be used.

Board response and next steps: Supervisors thanked the presenters and asked about details; the county’s prior awards to Golden Hills run several years. No final funding decision was made at the meeting. Remington said she would provide any additional information the board needed and asked the county to consider continuing support in its upcoming budget discussions.

Ending: The board received the update and asked staff to include the request in future budget deliberations so supervisors can consider the $15,000 recommendation alongside other county priorities.