I’m overdue to provide an update on what is happening with the Rice County Highway Cost Participation Policy and its funding of sidewalks and paths. At the April 7 County Board meeting, the commissioners decided that their transportation committee, consisting of Commissioners Plaisance and Docken and county highway engineer Dennis Luebbe, would consider the matter at an April 15 meeting.

Prior to that meeting, I mailed a letter (see below) and copies of the old and current cost participation policy to the commissioners. In the letter I asked them to consider  a simple compromise position: moving the sidewalks and bike paths from the “not eligible” for county participation category to the “potential County participation” category. This is essentially the “case-by-case” funding option that has been discussed as an option.

The transportation committee meetings are not open to the public, but last Friday I called my commissioner, Jeff Docken, to ask what action the committee took. He said that they decided to ask the County Board to consider two options at an upcoming meeting: keeping the current policy or changing it to the “case-by-case” or “potential funding” option that I presented in my letter. I believe he said it would be at a work session, probably May 5, but we should keep an eye on the Board’s agenda for its upcoming meetings.

It remains important for members of the public to let their county commissioner know their views on this subject. Please consider contacting them or writing a letter to the local paper. See below for more information, as well as the text of the letter I submitted. Read the rest of this entry »

A correction about the April 7 Rice County Board of Commissioners’ meeting and the highway cost participation policy: this is a work session and the public can speak at 8:30 am for two minues/person. The Board will decide whether to put this item on the agenda of a regular work session (possibly the April 14 meeting). County engineer Dennis Luebbe will present his views on the matter around 9:10, then the commissioners will discuss the matter around 9:40.

A group of us will carpool down to Faribault from Northfield and will meet at Northfield city hall’s parking lot around 7:50 am. I invite those interested to join us.

My apologies for the error. I also encourage people to contact the commissioners about the issue and/or write a letter to the local newspaper.

I wrote the following action alert and fact sheet for an important issue here in my county:

Fact Sheet: Rice County Highway Cost Participation Policy

Summary: Rice County no longer pays a share of the costs for replacement sidewalks and new and replacement shared-use paths (sometimes called bike paths) on county roads in cities and townships. Sidewalks and paths along urban roads serve an important safety function and provide transportation and recreation options for many people, including children, the elderly, and the disabled. While some claim that these facilities are amenities, they are more properly viewed as essential components of a modern urban road.

On Tuesday, April 7 the County Board of Commissioners will revisit this issue. Please contact your county commissioner and/or write a letter to your local newspaper at your earliest convenience. (See contact info below.) Read the rest of this entry »