In a stark contrast from their meeting in Perry last week, there was light attendance at Thursday’s Dallas County Conservation Board meeting.
Just over a dozen people, most of which who also attended the first meeting, met at the Waukee School Administration Building. The Board meeting started with a public hearing in regards to the Raccoon River Valley Trail to High Trestle Trail connector project. Like last week, Engineer Rich Voelker with Snyder and Associates kicked things off with a powerpoint presentation updating attendees on the project’s status and various route options that are being explored. Voelker again talked about obstacles with bridges, small right of ways and and acquisition. In addition to looking at different routes, Voelker also talked about various types of trails including bike lanes, cycle tracks, trails in the right of way along gravel or paved roads and following the old railroad grades.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, Perry City Councilman Chuck Schott asked what thoughts the Board had since the last meeting. Board member Mark Powell said the primary trouble point is between M Avenue and Bouton. He said they’re looking at the possibility of going along M Avenue and O Avenue as a more scenic option. 
Perry Mayor Jay Pattee asked if any more thought has been given to the route along the creek, Voelker said property owners in that area have expressed no interest in working with the Board on the project. Pattee said the most popular and attractive parts of the Raccoon River Valley Trail are those along the river because it’s scenic. He said it’s not about building something to get from point A to point B, rather it’s about building something of the interest of those who are going to use it.
Dave Millburn of Johnston said he made the trip from Johnston to Perry on a bicycle last weekend and his cycling group would be fine with riding along the road and he doesn’t feel a ton of money from the tax base needs to be spent to make it scenic the whole way through. He said they just want a safe way to get from one trail to the other.
Perry City Councilman Phil Stone said he’s still concerned about the route south of Bouton along Highway 141 due to it not being a destination and there being safety concerns. He said it’s a narrow shoulder, with areas of extreme ditches and they need to be concerned with drawing people to Dallas County. Stone also talked about the water line City Administrator Butch Niebuhr brought up as a concern at the previous meeting being an obstacle, along with the high rate of speed motorist travel at on the highway. Additionally, Stone said though he’s not a cyclist he feels if they choose the route along the highway, many people will chose to bypass going into Perry and ride along the highway shoulder west of Willis Avenue. He says this brings up additional safety concerns along with cutting into the benefit of having the connector for those who live and work in Perry.
Schott asked what the cost would be to build a bridge over Highway 169 south of Bouton. Board member Jim Miller said as a cyclist that is not something that’s appealing, plus he makes the trip from Waukee to Adel on a bicycle frequently and riding around that highway in the southern portion of the county is not an issue.
Pattee said the route along the creek is the safest route and the one with the least amount of dust problems. He said the money portion of that option has yet to be seen. Powell said that means they have to work with the landowners to get them to cooperate with granting an easement on their property and questioned how long is too long to wait in hopes that they will come around. Pattee said what if the landowners were willing to work with them, to which Powell responded he would be willing to further explore the option.
Cheri Scheib of Perry said she’s not crazy about the idea of having a trail right alongside a gravel road. She said she doesn’t feel she would allow her grandkids to ride the trail if that was the case. A landowner who lives in the area says he wouldn’t allow his children on a trail there even if it was paved.
Jim Caufield of Perry asked Voelker how difficult this project is compared to others and what the best route is from an engineer’s perspective. Voelker said they look at the level of exposure between trail traffic and road traffic, constrictions along the route with right of ways and ditch depths and who has to come together to make it work, such as landowners and/or the state Department of Transportation. Overall he said he’s too early to come up with a definite recommendation because there are pros and cons with each option.
In response to Stone’s comment about trail users ignoring the trail and not following it onto Willis Avenue into Perry, Voelker says for the most part, where the trails go the cyclists go. While there may be “hardcore” riders who want to go that way, he said the shoulder of Highway 141 is not an inviting place and he doesn’t think that would be a popular option.
Miller said if you’re on the trail and committed to the trail, you’re going to follow it. If you’re looking for the shortest route, you’re going to go whatever way you want to get where you need to go fastest. He said the vast majority of riders are going to follow the trail and take advantage of what owns have to offer. He encouraged those nervous about having the trail along Highway 141 to travel the Raccoon River Valley Trail between Waukee and Ortonville because it’s much of the same.
Hartz then asked the Board once the route is decided on, how much money will need to be fundraised to make the project happen. Conservation Director Mike Wallace said their estimates show the project has a price tag of $4.9 million dollars. He said federal grants typically come at 80/20 percent, meaning locally there would have to be a 20 percent local match, or roughly one million dollars.
Several people then spoke about the importance of this project and how beneficial it will be for cyclists and those in Woodward, Bouton, Perry and all along both the Raccoon River Valley Trial and High Trestle Trail. Miller said the Baccoon Ride for example has people coming from 26 different states to ride and there’s no one in the country that can compare with the trail network here in Iowa.
Pattee thanked the Board for working on this project and being committed to it.
No formal action was taken on the issue and when the Board was asked if they have a clear cut preference, members said they’re still looking at options and brainstorming ideas on what’s best for all involved.
Finally before the meeting adjourne, Wallace informed attendees that Raccoon Valley Bank is donating $100,000 to the trail connector project, an announcement that crew applause from the audience.