Trail Talk II

Update

Thanks to Atlantic City Councilman Dave Jones who responded to this blog last week and seems to be taking up the trail issue. Good for him.
In his response he brings up a good point. He states:

"Last year I asked if we could put an asphalt overlay on the trail out by the Little League Park and was told by Ron Crisp we could not because of the well fields out there. Ron was told that by our city councilman at AMU. A couple of months ago I was coming home on Olive street and thought: Wouldn't all the traffic and asphalt on Olive St. harm the well fields? So I asked Alan Bonderman about it and he told me he couldn't see any problem with the overlay. I then brought it up at a council meeting or work session and I was told by our local AMU councilman that it could not be done because of the same reasons that were stated earlier. I informed the council and Ron Crisp what Alan had said and they are to be looking into it. I will bring it up again at the next City Council meeting."

Jones has indeed brought this up at several council meetings and work sessions including last Wednesdays work session. And, he's right councilman Kern Miller, who he refers to as the "AMU councilman" has been downplaying the idea, claiming that there were Environmental Protection Agency regulations that prohibited asphalt trails in the well field. Well it turns out that may be baloney. (Miller has been a serial foot-dragger when it comes to recreational issues that don't involve a skate park.)
I called the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Friday to ask about this issue and was referred to a Roy Ney who told that the EPA does not regulate those types of issues. He also stated that the Iowa DNR does NOT have separation distance requirements for asphalt roads and trails in or near well fields. They do prohibit the storage and use of certain types of chemicals, but asphalt trails are ok.
He did add that city or local rules could be in place that prohibit them, but there is no state rule against them.
So I contacted John Martins at AMU who confirmed that there are no state or federal regulations prohibiting asphalt trails, but he did say that he was looking into the issue to make sure asphalt trials posed no health risks, or dangers to the city's water supply.
He added that AMU has not made a decision one way or another about paving the trails, but it seems safe to say that there are no plans to for that anytime soon. That's ok, at least it's on the agenda and being considered. It would be a wonderful addition to what could be come a first class community trail system.
As Martins pointed out, maybe we don't need to pave the entire trail system, especially since the lower trail tends to flood - which leads to serious maintenance issues. I would rather have gravel trails than broken up asphalt. Paving the top part would still provide a good sized loop and could act a connection to the T-Bone trail at some point in the future.
There is also the question of routine maintenance. Right now AMU re-grades and rocks the trails, but it is unlikely it would want to take on maintenance of paved trails.


But that’s not to say the city couldn’t.
So keep up the good work Dave. Trails are important to a community's future and its growth. Recreation areas in general, attract people to the area, who spend money, hopefully have a good time and end up spreading the word.
Want an example? Drive up to Littlefield Lake east of Exira nearly any weekend this summer and count how may campers you see. That's a small lake, with few amenities, several miles from the nearest town, and yet it is routinely full. Imagine what a park like the one envisioned at the quarry, with an extensive trail system connected to the well field and eventually the T-bone trail - one with three lakes and a river - could be!
It seems Jones gets it. And the city is slowly, I emphasize the word SLOWLY, moving ahead.