Allen County commissioners said they were appreciative of efforts to open a hiking and biking trail atop the old Santa Fe Railroad right of way between here and Humboldt.
But, they have reservations about how involved they want to be.
Commissioner Rob Francis said he was uncomfortable with any suggestion the county take control of the trail, particularly its long-term maintenance.
Commissioner Dick Works also begged out of taking responsibility.
“We want to keep our liability at a minimum,” Works said.
Their comments came in response to casual conversation about the trail, which someday might become part of the state-maintained Prairie Spirit Trail.
As is, the six-mile-plus stretch will connect Iola and Humboldt, but will leave a section of old railroad right of way between where it begins at the south city limit and the Prairie Spirit Trail ends, on Bruner Street at the northeast corner of Riverside Park.
Francis said he would be hesitant about making the developing trail a county park.
“That would be a huge commitment,” he said.
Volunteers organized under auspices of Thrive Allen County have surveyed the Iola-to-Humboldt corridor and started to clear undergrowth, with expectation of having the trail paved with crushed rock and open for use later this year.
Financing will come from two grants Thrive attracted that totaled nearly $50,000, one of $23,952 from the Sunflower Coalition and another of $25,000 from Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City.
County commissioners earlier approved provision of rock that volunteers are confident will fulfill a local in-kind contribution of $10,000.
Construction of an extension of the Prairie Spirit Trail, from Cofachique Park to Bruner, is being completed. Iola officials have said they’d like to close the gap between it and the Iola-to-Humboldt trail. An aside mentioned is also putting a simple trail atop the levee that protects Riverside Park from flooding of the Neosho River.
COMMISSIONERS approved use of the courthouse lawn for the Bowlus Fine Arts Center’s Heritage Arts summer youth camp June 23-28.
The camp will involve about 60 youths, ages 4 to 13, said Traci Plumlee, camp coordinator. Rain would move activities to the Bowlus Center, where all activities will be the first day.
On June 26, from 8:15 to 11:30 a.m., “Old-Fashioned Games,” will be the camp’s theme. Included will be such games as jacks, marbles and jump rope. “We also will play some tag and team games and hold relay races,” Plumlee said in a written explanation.
