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Read comments (9)The walking and biking trail, which stretches from the south near Wells' Dairy's corporate campus north beyond the little league ball diamonds, then east around the golf course, still has a segment to be completed.
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A crane is coming in October to set the two remaining bridges over the Floyd River and Willow Creek north of Le Mars. Scott Langel, city engineer, said city officials are waiting for the ground to dry out and the crop to be harvested.
"One of the two bridges that has to be set we have to traverse across farm field," he explained.
As for the railroad underpass for pedestrians, Langel said plans have been sent to the Union Pacific Railroad in Omaha by Le Mars surveyor Dave Wilberding.
The design for a walkway cover near the railroad, meant to protect pedestrians from rock or anything shot out from passing trains, still needs final approval, Langel added.
As for the actual recreation trail segment yet to be paved, the holdup has been the need to pull the remaining land it crosses out of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).
"The various landowners now have the option to go directly to the FSA (Farm Service Agency) and ask that the ground be taken out of the CRP program," explained Le Mars City Attorney Joe Flannery.
If they choose to do so, and their request is accepted by the FSA, the rec trail work will continue, he said.
Three landowner groups have parcels of land affected by this: Alliance Concrete (now part of Grupo Cementos de Chihuahua, Mexico) and Corn Corner Aquisition Inc.; Scott and Julie Langel and Mike Anthony; and City Farms including David Langel.
Since the land would be pulled out of CRP before the designated time, the landowners would have to pay penalties on it, Flannery noted.
The city, he said, would reimburse them for that cost.
Langel estimated that the total of all the penalties will be around $13,000.
Once that is complete, Langel anticipates going after the paving of the trail in the month of October.
"Beyond that, we're on borrowed time," he said, speaking of the coming change of seasons.
When complete, the final segment will connect the trail from where it currently ends near Business Highway 75 north of Le Mars to the golf course loop to the northeast.
The thing I am complaining about is, it's been a work in progress and yet they still don't have the permission to continue which they should have had in the beginning! So basically the trail sits unused by those who would like to use the whole route! It is similar to the confusion with the Hwy 3/ Plymouth St. ordeal! Questions should have been asked first instead of leaving so many projects unfinished! Do you get what I am saying?
It's frustrating and upsetting that our town doesn't think things through thoroughly and It annoys me to my final pieces to believe we have a community built of so many people with their brains on half mass!
I enjoy the trail for the most part but I am sure it would be allot more enjoyable for an avid runner and walker who could use it to it's full potential! Which I am!
I think personally we need to find something Constructive for our Teenagers to do! Because a trail does not benefit them nor does it interest them! I think first and foremost we need to focus on getting our teenagers on a different path then a path of destruction compared to what they have been on since so many privileges have been taken away! We need a community center that isn't based on religious back ground (Asylum) because we have so many people complaining about it and not wanting their children to go there because of their religious beliefs! Which saddens me for I am a Youth Leader in our church! So we need to find a way to draw the kids to a center/hall for them to enjoy instead of DRUGS, SEX & ALCOHOL! Which for some reason so many of our teenagers turn to for lack of a place for them to go! I work really hard to keep my Youth kids busy on weekends and to make a choice of Party? or Hang out with us? I can only work with in our church and whom these kids bring we need someone on the outside to help with this before it's too late!
Granted we may have a pretty good group of kids but it's very small to our high increase of misguided children!
That is why I complain we could focus on other things and try to help out but our focus is in the wrong areas I personally feel!
confused parent
You've been on these blogs before complaining that there is nothing to do in LeMars. So when the city builds a trail that entire families can enjoy together and also from your previous blogs I know your family is important to you, you complain about it. "People work with each other and find something constructive for a family and a community to do.....". What better way for a family to spend time together then a walk or bike ride around LeMars. What do you suggest the city (us tax payers :)) suggest to "build" that would make people happy and give the members of the community more to do? I think the trail is a great idea and my children and I have a great time on it!
The trail is wonderful. Looking forward to the completion. Great job city employees!
Don't forget about turning a 50+ year old gym into an indoor pool......where is the common sense when projects are started that all of the logistics aren't ironed out before we begin.
If the railroad doesn't approve the tunnel we will have two halves that will never make a hole. Shouldn't that tunnel proposal have been sent to the railroad first before and pavement was ever poured?
My family regularly enjoys using the walking trail and I look forward to its completion.
At least it's free for everyone to use as compared to the extra nine holes at the golf course we didn't need.
The answer to lots of questions is helping our schools makes a lot of sense and most of the things done by our city leaders makes no sense at all. No sense wins every time. Live with it folks.
How can we be happy about something that rarely anyone uses??
How can we get all giddy inside when it is something that is not much of a hit in the first place??
I mean we do have LARGER issues at hand!!!
Lets see the continuous harassing of "If It Doesn't Pass The First TWO TIMES Push Until We Annoy Everyone, ISL" the Continuous "We Need Your Tax Dollars Intersection Of Central and HWY 3!" oh and lets not forget the Continuous whining about "Oh No There Are So MANY CIGARETTE Butts All Over Our Town We Look Dirty!"
Ummm lets see all of which should be attended to yet our focus and GREAT NEWS FOR THE WEEK IS THIS ARTICLE OUCH...
I am trying so hard to be optimistic but frankly have been just so rubbed wrong about a community I thought would have gotten a HUGE clue by now!
People work with each other and find something constructive for a family and a community to do instead of teaching our children how to spend carelessly and then cry about it later!
I'm Sorry If I Offended Anyone But My Heart Is Just Breaking With How We Look As A Community To Outsiders! Truly Some Peoples Choices Make Us As A COMMUNITY Look Like Fools!
Personally I Don't Like To Look Like A Fool To My Husband Let Alone Anyone I Know! Why Would I Want Our Town To Make Me Look Even Worse With Our "Act First and Cry Later!" Programs!?
Just My Opinion Today.
and the tax payers have no problem having there tax dollars go to some silly trail that I hardly ever see anyone use. But we can't have our tax money go to the ISL. Is there something here that I am missing are any tax paying people going to have a say in this. Will anyone stand up and say I don't believe that our tax paying dollars should go to something that is not really needed. It sure is interesting to me.
Great to see coordinated efforts paying off. Keep up the good work! However, there is 1 mistake (I Hope) and that is calling it the final segment. Lets see if we can get an intercity connecting set of trails that are bicycle and walker friendly!