By Aaron Vehling

At the Jan. 11 council meeting Stacy City Engineer Chuck Schwartz presented a plan that involves the city applying for a DNR grant to develop some trails around the city.
The trail would go from the Sunrise Prairie Trail, through the city park, up old Hwy. 61, south of the firehall down to what will be the new business park and interconnect with the Lionís Club ball field, he said.

ìWhat makes the grant attractive and competitive is that you are tying in together DNR amenities,î Schwartz said to the council, referring to the trail being tied into the DNR trail, Carlos Avery and city parks.

The grant is for up to 50 percent of the cost of the project with a maximum grant of $50,000.
Schwartz said that the Lions Club has expressed interest in the plan and Lent Township unofficially was interested.

ìWe have a few cooks in the kitchen and need to get everybody on the same page to support it,î he said.
The city has about $125,000 in CDs for the park and rec fund and about $23,000 in the general fund that can be used for the project, he said.

The council generally responded well to the idea, but there were some questions.

ìMy only concern is spending city funds on property that is not dedicated city park land,î Councilor John Daher said.

Councilor Mel Aslakson said he wanted to see what Lentís intentions were regarding the project. Schwartz was adamant about the need to take the opportunity to apply for the grant. ìIt just makes too much sense to connect the trail and all three of those parts,î he said.

Carlson called for an interest meeting to be held at 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 20, to discuss the issue.
Schwartz also discussed another DNR program involving outdoor parks and recreation that could tie the trails into city park improvements.

ìIt would be nice to look at a whole design for the park,î Daher said.

Schwartz will look into the costs of a pavilion, landscaping along the road and a basketball court.

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