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Residents press council for ATV trail to Giants Bridge; raise flooding, parking and plowing concerns
Summary
Residents and a presenter urged the council to support creation of an ATV/side-by-side trail to the top of Giants Bridge, discussed potential gravel/fill from diversion-channel work and presented flood and Sandbar-debris photos; public commenters also raised handicapped parking, Main Street parking enforcement and alley snow-removal concerns.
At the presentations and during open public forum, residents urged the city to pursue an ATV/side-by-side trail to the top of Giants Bridge and raised local flooding, parking and snow-removal issues.
Corki Hayden, invited to the podium as a presenter, described a long-standing effort to create a trail that would allow ATVs to access views now available only to hikers and bikers. He said the area has sizable parcels and that work on the diversion channel could produce gravel and fill useful for trail construction. "I've got my mind made up — I want to do this," Hayden said, urging coordination with existing mountain-bike facilities rather than duplicating them.
Hayden also raised concerns about local flooding and debris behind the Sandbar and said he has photographic documentation. "I have at least 100 pictures of the area from Biwabik to the St. Louis River," he said, asking staff and council to consider the potential downstream effects.
During the open public forum, Cory reinforced support for the ATV connection and asked how residents could help move the project forward and avoid conflicting efforts with other groups. "I want to do this, but I don't want to work against what you guys have going," Cory said, and requested copies of planning materials and confirmation that the ranger club had already listed a West Park trailhead.
Other public comments called for a formal handicapped parking plan for Main Street, a "no parking" enforcement strip near a restaurant entrance, and more proactive alley snow clearing; councilors and staff acknowledged those concerns and said the parking plan and West Annex committee work would be coming back for further discussion.
No formal action was taken on the ATV trail concept at this meeting; presenters and residents were asked to provide additional information and the council indicated it would keep the item on joint-powers and budget planning agendas for future consideration.
