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County hears options for Heartland Trail routing as $500K in construction funds must be encumbered by 2027
Summary
County staff said about $500,000–$550,000 remains from Heartland Trail construction funds; commissioners debated routing options (Highway 59/County 17 versus scenic routes through Bucks Mills, County 6, Pearl Lake and Cormorant), right‑of‑way challenges and the need for more public engagement before final design.
County planners and the Heartland Trail committee presented options for the next segment of the Heartland Trail and urged the board to weigh route tradeoffs as remaining construction funds must be encumbered by Dec. 2027.
"There's approximately $500,000 or $550,000 available," said Jim (speaker9), the staff/consultant who briefed the board, noting the money must be allocated to a single corridor for final design and cannot be used for new concept comparisons. Commissioners discussed the studied Highway 59/County 17 alignment (favored by long‑standing committee members for being easier and cheaper) and more scenic alternatives through Bucks Mills, County 6 and Pearl Lake that might better attract tourism but could raise costs, require DNR coordination and need bridge/widening work.
Board members emphasized two tensions: the quick path that moves the project forward versus scenic or visitor‑attraction routes that may need longer public engagement and corridor expansion processes. Several commissioners recommended additional outreach to affected townships (Lake Eunice, Lakeview) before committing to engineering design.
Next steps: staff and the Heartland Trail Committee will gather township input and present recommended corridors and mapped pros/cons to the board for a future decision so remaining funds can be encumbered in time for final design.
