Residents raise safety and trespassing concerns about proposed Wall Lake bike trail

Shawn Nichols, an attorney representing certain Wall Lake residents, and several nearby homeowners spoke during public comment at the Minnehaha County Commission’s Aug. 18, 2020 meeting to oppose a proposed Wall Lake bike trail. They told commissioners the proposal would increase traffic, create safety hazards for neighbors, invite trespassing onto private property and change the character of the residential area.

Nichols introduced the group’s concerns and identified specific issues commissioners and county staff should consider, including neighborhood safety and the potential for increased traffic and trespass. Residents who spoke included Duane Boice of Hartford; Terry Krantz of Hartford; and Peggy Bevier of Hartford. They said a substantial number of nearby residents oppose the trail and raised questions about how recreational use would transition to an established residential area, and who would be responsible for maintenance of nearby roads and sewer infrastructure.

The public comments focused on localized impacts: safety around residential driveways, the adequacy of transitions between trail and homes, potential damage or increased maintenance needs to county roads and sewer lines, and concern about enforcement of trespassing complaints. The speakers asked the Commission to consider those impacts and to seek stronger assurances about routing, maintenance responsibility and privacy protections before approving any trail action.

The meeting record does not show the Commission taking formal action on the Wall Lake bike trail during the Aug. 18 session. Commissioners received the comments as part of the public comment period; no vote or decision on the trail was recorded that day.