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DNR offers to lead Stour Trail planning; county to review updated MOU and remain 'primary stakeholder'

Polk County Board of Supervisors · February 18, 2026

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Summary

County staff reported the Department of Natural Resources told supervisors it will take over Stour Trail planning, incorporate the trail into a multi-county ecological landscape plan, and treat Polk County as a primary stakeholder; county staff are reviewing DNR's revised MOU and expect an 18-month planning timeline.

At the Feb. 17 Polk County meeting, a supervisor updated the board on recent negotiations with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) over the Stour Trail. The DNR met with county representatives on Jan. 28 and offered to lead the planning process, incorporate the trail into a larger ecological landscape plan spanning 14 counties, and identify Polk County as a primary stakeholder with a seat at planning discussions.

The supervisor said the DNR’s involvement could shorten the county’s planning timeline: DNR-led planning would take about 18 months but could prevent the county’s own planning effort from “dropping off by years.” County staff have received DNR’s revised MOU in the agency’s preferred format and are reviewing it before returning it for negotiation and signature.

The supervisor also noted discussions covered maintenance, stakeholder roles, and timing; no binding agreement was recorded in the public transcript, and the board requested concurrence to continue negotiation and bring final MOU language back to the board (anticipated at the March meeting).