Iowa County approves expansion of levee trail; board also clears liquor license and insurance renewal, tables unspecified item

Iowa County supervisors voted to move forward with a plan to expand the levee trail system commonly called the Marango (Lehi) trail and to include the project in the county drainage district, and during the same meeting they approved a liquor license for Price Creek and renewed the county's Davis insurance policy. One unrelated agenda item was tabled for later negotiation.

The trail proposal was presented by representatives from the local drainage district, who said the plan would extend existing levee-top trail segments by roughly 0.6 mile on the west side and add about 2.36 miles on the east side, more than doubling the trail length currently open to the public. "We're just trying to expand on the lehi top trail system," a drainage district representative said during the presentation.

The presenters told supervisors they plan to seek grant funding and private donations to cover much of the cost and maintenance. They said a local hospital had provided a donation that will help the group meet a roughly 20 percent local match needed to apply for certain grants. The group described a fundraising approach that would allow individuals to contribute modest amounts (for example, donors covering a load of gravel).

County staff and the drainage district discussed maintenance, liability and core approval requirements. County staff said the drainage district and county conservation board currently handle maintenance in the area and that a written agreement would be required once outside funding is secured. "Once they get their funding and get that lined up ... we will sign an agreement," a county staff member said.

Presenters noted engineering and site constraints. They said the city plans to install a 12-inch sewer pipe that will be covered with fill and cross the levee, and that part of the proposed corridor includes a slope currently near or above the 5 percent threshold used by ADA guidance; the presenters said engineers expect to regrade portions so slopes can meet a 5 percent or lower standard where feasible. They also acknowledged limited parking near the levee and said no additional county land for parking is currently available.

Supervisors approved a motion to move the trail into the drainage district and to advance the project; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. County officials said the county will require a signed agreement addressing maintenance and liability once grant funding and private fundraising are in place.

Votes at a glance - Liquor license: Supervisors approved a liquor license for a business named Price Creek after a motion, a second and a voice vote approving the license. - Insurance renewal: Supervisors approved the Davis insurance renewal following a motion and a voice vote. - Tabled item: An agenda item referred to as "Number 8" (details not specified in the meeting record) was motioned to be tabled pending ongoing negotiations; the motion passed. - Marango (Lehi) trail: Supervisors approved moving the trail project into the drainage district and advanced the project; the motion passed by voice vote.

What it means and next steps The drainage district presenters and county staff said the county will not add ongoing taxpayer costs beyond the agreement terms: the expectation is for initial fundraising and grant applications to cover construction and initial maintenance. Supervisors asked that the project secure core (engineering/permitting) approvals and a written maintenance/liability agreement before construction begins. The presenters said they will proceed with grant applications this year and with volunteer and fundraising efforts to pay the local match required by grants.

Other items mentioned during the meeting included a report of recent sewer problems at a county transportation facility, staff updates on road-safety review meetings discussing enforcement of traffic citations, and administrative business such as vehicle procurement and bid openings. The county noted two upcoming ordinances (numbers cited as 41 and 42) and a separate ordinance regarding pioneer cemetery control and maintenance will appear on a future agenda for public hearing.

The meeting record did not specify exact vote tallies or the full text of motions for the liquor license, insurance renewal or the tabled item; those items were decided by voice votes after motions and seconds were recorded.