The Oconto County Board remains skeptical about putting an ATV trailhead in the Town of Riverview.
The board voted 16-13 in November to reject a $280,000 bid to build a parking lot at the site on Torsci Lane in the Town of Riverview as the first phase in development of a campground and trailhead off the Nicolet State Trail.
The county land and water resources committee sent three resolutions to the board’s Feb. 20 meeting that would authorize grant applications to fund the so-called Armstrong Trailhead, but all three resolutions were sent back to committee on a unanimous vote.
There was little discussion on the resolutions themselves, but Brenda Carey-Mielke, a candidate for Mountain town chair, appeared to ask that the county consider the northwest corner of the town’s Fireman’s Park as a location for a trailhead.
“Our downtown area has existing businesses that are struggling right now, and this would benefit the community greatly in that area,” Carey-Mielke said. “I know it was offered 10 years ago; I don’t know why the powers that be at that time did not move forward with this viable option for our community, but it wasn’t done, and I’m just here to stand up and say this would help tremendously.”
There was considerable discussion on a fourth resolution, which would authorize the county to proceed with applying to the state’s Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund for a grant to develop improvements to Pioneer Park in the Town of Stiles.
Monty Brink, head of the forestry/park/recreation department, said that Knowles-Nelson grants are available to offset 50% of the county’s total project cost.
Supervisor Jolene Barkhaus made a motion to return the resolution to the committee, because the plan apparently includes a design for a disc golf course. People who enjoy disc golf are concerned, because it appears the course would be split between either side of a proposed campground rather than allowing for continued play.
Supervisor Guy Gooding countered that the issue before the board was whether to apply for the state grant money before some other county gets it.
“The resolution is just to allow Monty to apply for the grant,” Gooding said. “It would go back to committee anyway once he gets the grant approved.”
Corporation Counsel Beth Ellingson agreed, saying the resolution is simply the first step in the process of applying for the funds.
“This resolution … basically allows Monty to submit the paperwork, sign the paperwork, and in the future if there is a project, he would be able to submit an invoice for reimbursement,” Ellingson said. “It does not authorize work at this time.”
Brink said the county’s capital improvement plan for several years has included improvements to Pioneer Park in 2026.
County Administrator Richard Heath said he understands supervisors’ questions about the development plan, but the intent at this stage is simply to get on the list for access to the state funding.
“It’s a very competitive, both pods of money are very competitive, so if some award comes to Oconto County it will certainly benefit the park,” Heath said. “It may not even be funded, but this is just money for starting the process.”
Barkhaus’ motion to send the resolution back to committee failed on a 13-13 tie vote, and the resolution itself then passed 19-7.
bluhm@newmedia-wi.com
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