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Lyon County puts hold on ATV park proposal

MARSHALL — A proposal for an all-terrain vehicle trail system near Russell was put on hold Thursday — although likely for a short time.

Lyon County commissioners discussed the proposal, along with an application for a state grant-in-aid, during their regular meeting Thursday. But commissioners still had questions, especially about insurance liabilities, and opted to table the application until they could get more information from the county’s insurer.

A proposal to open ATV trails on land owned by Gary Thooft, of rural Russell, for public use came to county commissioners earlier this year. With partnership from the county and an area ATV club, the trail system could be eligible for grant-in-aid cost sharing through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Over the summer, the ATV park proposal had a 30-day public comment period and a public hearing. On Thursday, Lyon County Environmental Administrator Roger Schroeder asked commissioners for permission to apply for the grant-in-aid program. Granting the request would allow the county to become a sponsor for the ATV trail system, he said.

“As the sponsor, the county would enter into a lease agreement with Mr. Thooft,” for use of the trails, Schroeder said. The county could also develop a memorandum of understating with the Minnesota Valley ATV Club for trail maintenance.

However, before any of that can happen, Schroeder said, the DNR would have to approve the grant-in-aid application. It could take some time for the application to be reviewed.

The grant-in-aid would have to be applied for annually, Schroeder said.

Schroeder also presented commissioners with some estimated costs for the project, including administration, maintenance and liability insurance. The total estimated costs for the trail project were about $9,000 a year, of which about $6,500 would be reimbursable from the DNR. That would leave about $2,500 a year in costs to the county.

Commissioner Gary Crowley said the proposed ATV park could still be a positive thing for the county.

“It’s a small price to pay to bring a new type of recreation into Lyon County,” Crowley said. “If we try it one year, we’re not out a lot.”

Commissioner Steve Ritter asked what the county’s insurer, the Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust, thought about potential liabilities. In the spring, MCIT representatives had some concerns about the trail project, but Lyon County Administrator Loren Stomberg said they haven’t gotten updated information since then.

“We need to get some things clarified here,” Ritter said.

Commissioners opted to table the grant-in-aid application until they could hear back from MCIT. Commissioner Rick Anderson said the county should decide on the application by January, to avoid potentially missing the window to open the trails to the public in spring and summer.

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