Rice County Commissioners Committee of the Whole October 20,2026
Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance
Present: Underdahl, Purfeerst, Hoisington, Malacha, Peters
Parks: Dennis Luebbe
Shared Use Trail Study: Cannon River Wilderness Area Connector:
Environmental Services (Julie Runkel and team) has completed environmental study: (DRAFT posted online) 2.5 mile stretch, west side Hwy 20, Northfield to trailhead Cannon River Wilderness. November, 2025, project to redesign road, improve safety, etc. Shared use concept brought up at that time. Web page created specific to that project. January, 2026, public hearing with numerous comments about this segment/shared use. In May of 2026, project narrowed in scope to this connector segment. Asked to look at potential use, community value, economic and tourism opportunities, quality of life, as primary focus. To clarify opportunities and challenges of this.
Previous comprehensive plans have looked at creating shared use roads/trails, in 2021,2022,2025. Mission to develop and plan parks and trails. There was significant public engagement in those years, pertinent to those plans.
Developed survey, focus groups, reviewed previous comments; survey to gain an overview/quality of life focus, with over 1100 responses, from a variety of areas in the whole county. Question 19 had over 400 comments, specific to the 2.5 mile stretch. (packet available online). Most supported additional to trails, exercise opportunities, quality of life. Opposition focused on private land, farmer equipment, farming conflict. Safety concerns cited by both supporters and opponents. 57% work in Rice County, most have lived in Rice County for more than 20 yr. Most respondents above age 40 years. 38% felt strongly about adding a connection, about the same opposed strongly.
Focus groups: property owners on west side hwy 20 invited to one of two sessions, or call if unable to attend.
Looked at existing conditions, land use and ownership, safety and sensibility factors. Acquisition: 10.3 acres of land required, right of way. Looked at other concerns such as septic, right of way setbacks (no existing structures in the way on this segment, per arial views). Septic systems should not be affected by either of the proposed right of way.
Farm equipment and driveway concerns: Additional structure into crossings to support heavy vehicles at crossings. Visibility markings commonly done on multiuse trails.
Safety: studies indicate separate trail boosts safety, no increase in crime associated with trail development (one study looked at over 300 rails to trails with no increase in crime). Suspicious activity quickly reported by trail users.
Concerns about drainage: Evaluation will be done as the engineering process proceeds to protect natural resources, same as with road construction
Privacy: acknowledge concern. Screening and buffers can be considered, as design proceeds.
Trail usage: information gleaned from public comment, survey, suggest strong interest in connecting trails, destinations throughout the county.
Funding Sources: Existing local transportation sales tax, MNDot , county grant funding (if not used in Rice Cty will be used elsewhere). No property tax monies being proposed for this. Maintenance can often be done along with road maintenance.
Aligns with long term county goals, is financially feasible, strong community support as well as opposition. Must encourage ongoing engagement with those property owners along proposed route.
Public Comment:
Francis Hahn, landowner: Voices opposition to the development of any trail, stating privacy, septic system, removal of trees.
Paul Detert: Voices opposition, stating the reduced stretch of highway is “the beginning” and states there will be a push to expand the trail. Concerned about the road, fears the cost of the trails.
Emily Detert: Supports the reconstruction of Hwy 20 only. Feels the survey and study was biased against landowners. States average Rice County citizens will not use the trail, just elite athletes.
Spokeswoman, does not identify herself: How much did the study cost? Felt the survey was biased, too broad and general. Requests to see the data.
Mike L: would prefer gravel roads paved
Tina Stadler: Wonders why the trail cannot continue along hwy 3, rather than along hwy 20.
Bruce Anderson: (online) Member of the Board of the Cannon River Wilderness. The Board is supportive of efforts to get safer and easier ways to get to the park. Also speaks as a cyclist; makes it safer and easier to get around with designated trails. Avoids Hwy 20 due to increased traffic. Supports the connector trail.
Ben Bergland: From Northfield. Advocates for safety, trails and any method to get more folks to the Cannon River Wilderness.
Looking at November 24 for a final decision.
Adjourn
