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Funds from Gaylord’s former downtown tax increment financing district may help provide a spark to developing a county-wide trail system.

County Commissioners, Tuesday, designated $55,000 from the anticipated $147,227.10 that Sibley County will receive from the expired district, to provide a portion of the 25% match to develop one and a half miles of trail east of Gaylord. Sibley County’s trail committee will be required to raise the remaining match.

Commissioners supported the designation 4-1, with Commissioner Lee Anderly opposed. Anderly expressed opposition because there was not any support from the Henderson area that was presented.

Tim Dolan, Sibley County Economic Development Director, told commissioners that he will be applying for a $220,000 grant through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the Parks and Trails Legacy Grant Program.

The Legacy Grant Program was created by statewide voter approval last year through funds raised by a 3/8¢ sales tax increase.

Dolan explained part of the sales tax increase is dedicated for parks and trails. A portion will be distributed for metropolitan area program, while a portion is designated for out-state Minnesota, he said.

The proposed Prairie Line Trail in Sibley County has nine phases. If the grant is awarded, the first phase of the project must be completed in 2011.

Two other grants that the trail committee will be applying for are Federal Transportation Enhancement Grants through the minnesota Department of Transportation. The first federal grant would fund a trail from the southeast corner of Arlington to Sportsmen’s Park, about one and one-fourth miles outside of town. A second federal grant would fund a trail connecting Arlington and Gaylord along Highway 5. If awarded, Sibley County would receive the funding in 2013 or 2014. The trail is planned in road right-of-way.

The trail project received support from a variety of sources.

Mary Bachman, Sibley County Health Educator, said that constructing a trail is part of the Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP), to make a community more walkable and bikeable, which would positively impact the level of physical activity in communities. Meeker-McLeod-Sibley Community Health Services were awarded a SHIP grant, which has a goal to help Minnesotans live longer, healthier, better lives by preventing risk factors that lead to chronic disease.

Bachman said that the estimated cost to treat obesity in adults from Sibley County in 2008 was more than $4.5 million. An additional $1.9 million was spent to treat Sibley County adults who were overweight.

In addition to the support from Public Health, Sibley East Superintendent Stephen Jones said he supports initiative to get children outside. He expressed concerns that there is no green space at the Gaylord playground.

Pat Pinske, coordinator for the Gaylord Chamber of Commerce, expressed support for the project. She also stated that trails help provide a boost to the economy.

County Commissioner Bill Pinske of Arlington said that in the past, he was under the impression that the Department of Natural Resources would pay the entire bill of constructing the trail. He was concerned that by providing the matching funds, the County will always be required to pay 25% of the bill.

Dolan said that as the trail project progresses, he believes that Legacy grant funds could be used as matching funds for a federal grant.

Commissioner Jim Swanson expressed support for the project. “This is an opportunity for Sibley County to get it started,” he said. There will be health and economic benefits to a trail, he added.

Catherine Lorenz, who serves on the trail committee, said the group has received some donations already, and that the committee will make a great effort to raise additional funds.