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City agrees to sponsor Challenger multi-use trail connection, commits to maintenance if funded
Summary
The council authorized Thief River Falls to act as sponsoring agency for a proposed Challenger multi-use trail connection, approved pursuing Transportation Alternatives funding for a roughly $625,000 project (City share about $180,000), and adopted a separate resolution to maintain the facility if the grant is awarded. One councilmember abstained due to proximity to their home.
The Thief River Falls City Council approved a resolution authorizing the city to act as the sponsoring agency for a Challenger multi-use trail connection and separately adopted a resolution agreeing to maintain the facility if the project is funded.
City staff said the project would complete an approximately 1,200-foot gap in the trail near Challenger Elementary School to connect the County-built trail sections and improve active-transportation access in the area. The total estimated project cost is $625,000; staff estimated the City’s responsibility at about $180,000 (roughly a 30% share of construction costs once non-eligible engineering costs are excluded). Staff said the project would be submitted for Transportation Alternatives funding with a likely project year between 2028 and 2030.
"The estimated cost of the total project is 625,000 and the funds that the City would be responsible for is approximately 180,000," staff told the council. Council members discussed right-of-way and connection routing, where the trail would run (the west side of Pennington) and coordination with a school safe routes planning grant. One councilmember said they would abstain from the vote because the project is adjacent to their property; the council recorded an abstention and otherwise approved both resolutions by voice vote.
Staff noted the City hopes to coordinate scheduling and potential state aid to reduce the local levy impact; bidding and award were targeted for spring months though construction would avoid fair-related dates. Council also approved a related "maintained facility" resolution committing the City to routine upkeep once the facility is in place.
