‘Safe Routes’ wanted for school access

Talk about it

The county plans to start work on a Safe Routes to School program in the fall to help connect trails in the area and make it easier for Two Harbors students to get to school.

The county is due to receive $800,000 in federal money, plus funds from other sources such as state aid dollars for the project that will cost about $1.05 million.

One part of the project would be a paved trail following along County Highway 26 and connecting with the sidewalk by Super One. A paved trail is also planned along Paul Antonich Drive by the soccer field.

County Highway Engineer Al Goodman and Kevin Johnson of the Department of Natural Resources, told the Lake County Board of Commissioners Tuesday there would be an emphasis on connecting with Segog. There are also plans to connect near Sunrise Nursing Home.

Lake Superior School District Superintendent Phil Minkkinen said he hasn’t heard any complaints about kids’ current routes to the Two Harbors schools but said cars can travel pretty fast on Highway 2.

Goodman said in the future there could be plans for a paved trail that would go under the railroad tracks near Super One referring to Two Harbors as “Trail City USA.”

According to Safe Routes to School’s Web site: “Safe Routes to School programs enable community leaders, schools and parents across the United States to improve safety and encourage more children, including children with disabilities, to safely walk and bicycle to school. In the process, programs are working to reduce traffic congestion and improve health and the environment, making communities more livable for everyone.”

The project is expected to be completed in July of 2011.

Marlow timberland

Lake County will not get a chance to present its plan to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council to purchase 4,720 acres of timber lands from Roy Marlow, a landowner it is in litigation with. Lake County is 34th on a list of 44 projects to be pitched to the council.

Money for the purchase would come from the state’s Outdoor Heritage Fund. The Heritage Council would have purchased the land with funds raised from a pool of cash created by the .375 percent state sales tax increase state voters approved for the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.

The county still has plans to go forward and try and have the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources look at conservation easement on 30,000 acres of Marlow’s land so it could be used by the public. The 4,720 acres the county wants is included in that.

Jail meals

Lake County Sheriff Carey Johnson wants the board to consider going with Fuzion Food Group in January to provide jail meals. The board sought out meal providers in the area, but none of them could offer meals for what Fuzion would cost a year, about $58,000. Current meals from Sunrise Home cost $96,000.

But the cost for Fuzion ovens would be a big hit off the bat, $40,000, and staff would be used to prepare meals in the jail kitchen.

“It prevents contraband from coming in,” said commissioner Tom Clifford about the positives of jail meals being prepared in-house. He suggested getting a letter from the Minnesota Department of Corrections before any purchase of equipment.

The board took no action.

Tags: two harbors, news, county board, safe routes to school