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Loggers will be clearing trees and brush from the route of the “east end” of the Swedish Immigrant Trail in the coming weeks.  

Besta Logging, of Rock Creek, was unanimously awarded the contract by the County Board January 21.  Work on-site needs to be finished prior to April’s start of oak wilt season and spring thaw.  

The clearing work-zone starts at the northwest edge of Interstate Park in Taylors Falls and travels west, to Tern Avenue.  (See map)

The contract for $63,000 is being covered by Chisago county’s grant from Legacy Amendment (voter approved dedicated sales tax) revenues.  The total grant was just over $1 million.  The final deadline to submit expenses for state reimbursement is June 15, 2016.

Additional property was also approved to be acquired from Karen Grossman.  A recently identified sensitive wetland habitat needs to be avoided, and the commissioners were advised it’s less costly to widen the trail corridor 50 feet to minimize disturbance, avoiding wetland mitigation and the extra costs of a raised boardwalk style trail, etc.  The two acre purchase is approximately $20,000.

Engineering and specs for the trailbed construction, also covered by Legacy monies,  are being created by WSB & Associates and a construction bid is expected to be awarded in May.

County Commissioners heard from Parks Director Laird Mork that the Swedish Immigrant Trail has been accepted into the state’s regional system;  but new rules for dispensing Legacy monies now require a “Master Plan.”  The remaining segments-- all the way to Wyoming’s Sunrise Prairie Trail-- have to be incorporated into a master plan document if the county hopes to apply for additional Legacy Amendment monies.

Commissioner George McMahon said office-holders, trail boosters and businesses are pressing for completion of the county’s trails system, and he asked that finalizing a master plan be made a priority for the parks board and staff.  

The Swedish Immigrant Trail would be the east-west artery from Wyoming’s north-south Sunrise Prairie Trail;  which already connects to Hardwood Creek Trail in Washington County.  The comprehensive state plan is for Sunrise Prairie Trail connections beyond North Branch and Harris to be developed, connecting through Pine County and ultimately to the Willard Munger Trail that goes from Hinckley to Duluth.

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