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Brainerd committee declines to pursue DNR trail grant for Cayuna Lakes east segment
Summary
After staff said the project is roughly $1.8 million with a maximum DNR grant of $300,000 and a 75/25 match requirement, the committee directed staff not to apply for the Minnesota DNR regional trail grant for the Cayuna Lakes State Trail east segment at this time.
Brainerd City committee members directed staff not to apply for a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources regional trail grant for the Cayuna Lakes State Trail east segment, citing the small grant size relative to total project cost and unclear plans to fund the remainder.
Staff presented 60% plans and a project estimate of about $1.8 million. "The maximum grant amount is 300,000," staff said, and committee members noted that a 75/25 local match would leave roughly $1.5 million in local funding to secure. Staff also noted a contingency in the estimate of about 30 percent at this plan stage; as plans mature the contingency should fall.
Members questioned the wisdom of spending staff time chasing a small grant without a plan to carry the project from grant to completion. "I fully support having an appetite to expand and connect, but I do not support a myopic decision to chase a grant with absolutely no plan on how to bring the project to full fruition," one councilor said.
A motion to direct staff not to apply was moved and seconded; the committee approved the motion by voice vote.
