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City accepted donation for airport-trail parcel; officials say engineering and public review precede any construction
Summary
Officials reported the city accepted a donation of land intended for a trail to the airport but emphasized that engineering, permitting and public review must occur before work begins; staff also updated the board on the Eagles Nest property and outstanding FEMA/FMA application timelines.
City officials told the Red Lodge Planning Board June 10 that the council accepted a donation of land from O'Neil intended to support an airport-trail connection, but that the gift only transfers ownership so the city can conduct engineering review and a public-design process before construction.
A presenter relayed council action and stressed the sequence: once the closing is complete the city will own the parcel and the public-works director and engineering staff will conduct design and liability reviews. "So just because there may be people who start walking on it... no, construction did not begin today," the presenter said, adding that a five-year reversion clause returns the land to the donor if the city does not move forward within that period.
Board members asked whether neighbors will have an opportunity to review designs during engineering; the presenter said "the entire community will" be able to provide input. The presenter also said city staff will ensure the city accepts only an asset, not a liability, and noted the project will need coordination with parks and land-use reviewers.
On a separate property, staff updated the board on the Eagles Nest negotiations. The presenter said staff has talked with the property owner about possibly accepting a reduced purchase price (the presenter mentioned a 75% price-acceptance discussion) and delivered a voluntary FEMA/FMA form; staff indicated no signed commitment had been received and cautioned that the city will not spend significant funds on applications without clear owner agreement. Staff also flagged that grant-application deadlines with DES fall later in June and that the city must confirm owner participation before incurring expenses.
Next steps: staff will proceed with engineering and public-review steps for the donated trail parcel, keep the five-year reversion condition in mind, and follow up with the Eagles Nest property owner to confirm participation before submitting grant applications.
