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Koochiching County to send letter supporting Voyager Country ATV Club phase‑two trail application
Summary
The Koochiching County Board voted Oct. 28 to prepare a letter of support so the Voyager Country ATV Club can meet a Nov. 10 deadline for a Joint Powers Board and legislative summit funding application for phase two of a multi‑phase trail; county staff and the club described funding needs, wetland challenges and permitting steps.
Koochiching County commissioners on Oct. 28 agreed to draft and sign a letter supporting Voyager Country ATV Club’s application for phase two of a multi‑phase trail project.
The support letter must be submitted by Nov. 10 so the project can be considered by the Joint Powers Board and then at a legislative summit in January, a Voyager Country representative told the board.
The club representative said the first phase of the trail is near construction-ready and is awaiting the final $100,000 from a dedicated account that was expected in July but was delayed. He said clearing trees before April 1 is required to avoid a season‑long delay for bat protections and that preliminary engineering for phase two—described as running from near Boondocks County Road 3 to County Road 119—shows an estimated need of about $750,000, noting river crossings, wetland delineation and permitting will add to cost and complexity. He also said the City of Rainy (sic) and International Falls are reviewing the trail plan and the club is seeking support from all communities in the county before Joint Powers consideration.
"We had our annual fall ride ... we had 325 people that we fed. We estimated there was probably over 400 there throughout the day," the Voyager representative said, describing local support and the club’s outreach. He added the club had finished preliminary engineering and begun preliminary permitting with the Department of Natural Resources and would work with Nathan Heibel on wetlands and permitting.
Commissioners moved and approved a motion for county administration to draft and sign a letter of support before the Nov. 10 deadline. The motion did not include a recorded roll‑call vote in the public transcript; the board indicated unanimous voice approval.
Why it matters: the trail is staged in phases and depends on mixed local, dedicated‑account and grant funding; wetlands and river crossings in the project area increase permitting complexity and cost. County staff and the club outlined a timeline tied to seasonal restrictions and funding availability.
Next steps: county staff will draft the letter of support and the board chair will sign it so the engineering firm may include it in the Joint Powers Board packet ahead of the legislative summit.
