County commissioner urges action on County Road 17 trail drainage, announces retirement

Brad Anderson, who identified himself as the county commissioner representing Cannon Falls, used the public‑input slot to press the city and county to coordinate on a long‑standing drainage and safety problem affecting a path that runs alongside County Road 17. Anderson said the trail has not drained well for years and that pedestrians have at times had to walk in the highway because the path is impassable.

Anderson asked the city to prioritize the issue now so it can be incorporated into the county’s multi‑year road program. He explained that typical county projects require three to four years to develop plans and go to bid, and that improvements outside urban sections can be constrained by right‑of‑way or prescriptive easements. Anderson said the county’s five‑year road plan totals about $74,000,000, of which roughly $25,000,000 comes from county funds and the remainder from state, federal and grant sources. He gave example project totals of approximately $23,000,000 in 2026 and another ~$17,000,000 in the next group of projects.

Anderson suggested the council state its expectations and noted that some projects may involve cost‑sharing or acquiring additional right‑of‑way. He urged city and county staff to engage early so trail or path work could be considered as part of reconditioning or resurfacing work on County Road 17.

In closing, Anderson announced that this will be his last year as county commissioner. He said he has served 12 years on the county board, plus prior service on a township board and school board, and that he will not seek re‑election. He thanked city officials and staff for their collaboration.