Harmony EDA meets with state lawmakers over funding shortfall for bike-trail extension

Harmony Economic Development Authority members met Oct. 4 in the Community Center council room to review a funding shortfall for a planned state bike trail extension. The special meeting was for discussion only; no motions were made and no votes were taken.

Chris Giesen, who presented the project status, reported that the EDA has about $1.4 million in remaining bonding funds. He cited a Department of Natural Resources estimate that completing the full project — including the spur to the cave and the spur to the Iowa border — would cost about $2 million. Attendees noted that building only the town-to-cave segment would be cheaper, at an estimated $1.7 million.

Sen. Jeremy Miller and Rep. Greg Davids said delays caused by the COVID pandemic and recent inflation have increased costs and advised the community to request additional state support. Miller and Davids said they would work with local leaders in the upcoming legislative session to pursue funding, including through the state bonding bill.

Participants agreed to make additional trips to the Capitol and to apply for the next round of LCCMR funding as part of a multi-pronged effort to secure the shortfall. The group also discussed pursuing other local funding sources and thanked Miller and Davids for their advice and support.

Because the meeting was expressly discussion-only, there were no formal actions; the EDA left the matter as a planning and outreach task for future legislative and grant efforts.