By Mari Radtke
Mary Helfter and Kevin Brasser brainstormed an idea to update the signage on the Mill Creek trails and approached the Conservation Board about their thoughts. The signage would include QR tags. The QR tags can be scanned by a cell phone and a website with location information would be display. To assist with project funding OCCB approved the submission of a grant on Wednesday March 10.
OCCB also formally approved McCormack Area as an equestrian riding area. McCormack Area is 20 acres 2 and a half miles north of Highway 10 with Waterman Creek as its eastern border. “Burned Bridge” was identified as a parking location which is about a mile and a half south of McCormack Area. The exact riding route from parking to McCormack Area is not yet finalized. Conservation personnel say they are working with area landowners to allow horses to ride over private land to and from parking, but reinforce that is not established at press time. Rules for riders were also adopted. Every rider must register. Riding hours are sun up to sun down. There is no riding allowed within 24 hours of rainfall. The riding season was set outside of all hunting season.
The “armoring” project of Scout Island at Mill Creek Park is underway. Director Brian Schimmer explained to the board that a new bridge is being installed by O’Brien County Secondary Roads. The new bridge will support the weight of transporting tractors loaded with rip rap from the land to the island. It is being constructed from material already owned by the county.
The project has been in planning since at least January. Rip rap will be placed all around Scout Island to prevent erosion of the shore. Schimmer explained to the board that the permit from the Army Corps of Engineers to place the rip rap is about 2 weeks out. He also explained the permit will allow Conservation to cover the whole shore of Scout Island, approximately 650 linear feet. Conservation is starting with 275 tons of rip rap for the project and will then determine if more is needed. He also said the bottom of the new bridge will be high enough for canoes and kayaks to ride under the bridge.
The claims approved by Conservation at the OCCB meeting included a bill from Woods, Fuller, Schultz & Smith, the law firm Micah Schreurs works for. Schreurs “handled” the public records request for OCCB instead of the Rachel Becker, O’Brien County Attorney. The bill was for $5000.00. A request for the invoices has been submitted to OCCB.
Carolyn Bootsma asked after the completion of agenda business about the distance of the parking from the designated riding area. She also asked if OCCB has considered the size of the riding area to the effort to load trailers, horses, people, unload to ride a small 20 acre area and then ride on a road (if private land does not become available) another mile back to the trailers. Schimmer explained they were talking with a landowner to hammer out access for riders and was hopeful riders could be kept off the road.
The board was also asked if they were including in their evaluation of the equestrian area implemented this year the deficiencies that have been repeatedly pointed out by riders. Schimmer did not give a clear answer but saying, “We are trying to provide the requested service.” The question was reframed to address concerns by members of the public that OCCB would consider a low turnout as low interest and end the program. Royd Chambers, OCCB Chair responded with a rant that OCCB is not into “rumor-mongering” and abruptly adjourned the meeting.
The initial trail mapping for equestrian riding was done in October with 2 equestrian advocates, OCCB personnel and an OCCB board member. That effort ended almost immediately. The public was told the DNR would not allow trails on Hannibal Waterman Prairie.