Trails in the News - Press Clipping Files

02/20/2007

Closing the Gap in the Little Traverse Wheelway

Petoskey News-Review

The Petoskey City Council came one step closer Monday to closing a gap in the Little Traverse Wheelway recreation path.

Council members voted 5-0 to authorize a city contract with Northwest Design Group of Petoskey. Through it, NDG will provide engineering services as part of the planning efforts for a Wheelway segment between Petoskey's Magnus Park and Resort Township's East Park.

The contract also allows for NDG to provide construction oversight services for the trail. Under the contract, Petoskey's cost for the firm's services is not to exceed $190,000.

Mayor Dale Meyer noted the trail's potential role as a tourist attraction.

“I personally have walked that area for a number of years,” he said of the proposed route between the parks. “I don't know that you could find a more majestic bike path in the state of Michigan, riding along the bluff with the water below you.”

Several levels of government are cooperating to develop the trail segment on Petoskey's western outskirts. About $1 million in federal transportation grant money will be provided through the Michigan Department of Transportation, covering a majority of the $1.3 million construction cost.

Along with funding the engineering services, Petoskey has designated $150,000 in its 2007 budget to cover part of the local match needed for the construction grant.

Reserve funds from a city tax-increment financing program - designed to pay for enhancements along the waterfront and Bear River corridor - are another potential source of funds for the local match.

Emmet County has paid for land acquisition and easements along the proposed route for the trail, city manager George Korthauer said, with Resort Township designating some funds for the project as well.

In other business Monday, the council voted unanimously to allow the city to participate as a reciprocal unit in the Michigan Municipal Employees' Retirement System.

This action will allow city employees who've previously worked for most other MMERS-affiliated governments to apply their time with the past employer toward their current retirement plan. With the city manager's approval, Petoskey employees could also purchase time credit toward retirement based on their years of service in other, non-reciprocal positions, including military service and private-sector jobs.

Timetable

The start of construction on the Little Traverse Wheelway between Magnus Park and East Park depends on when the state makes grant monies available for it. City manager George Korthauer said chances are slim that construction will begin this year, and that trail building efforts more likely will get under way in 2008.

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