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Lindstrom City Council, (with Mayor Keith Carlson absent last week) lent official support to the City of Scandia, sending along Lindstrom’s official blessing for MN House File 3127.  The measure, authored by Rep. Bob Dettmer, R-Forest Lake,  addresses land tax classifications that could impact extending  Gateway Trail from Pine Point to Scandia.  The language regarding agricultural preserve parcels was reviewed in the House Property Tax Committee.  The Agricultural Preserve designation normally has an eight year termination period. The bill allows for early expiration for parks and trails purposes.

Rep. Dettmer’s bill also seeks to authorize the sale of bonds (to appropriate $500,000 to the commissioner of Natural Resources), and a portion would go for pre-design to continue the Gateway Trail out of William O’Brien State Park to downtown Scandia.  

Dettmer told the Press this part of the bill was directed to the Capital Investment Committee as a funding request.  He hopes the whole thing comes together in the end but there are no guarantees. He added, “As author I will be promoting the request for Scandia, along with city officials.”

Lindstrom city council members expressed enthusiasm for having Gateway continue north along Olinda Trail. The Gateway Trail is shown on the county’s comprehensive park plan as connecting with the Swedish Immigrant Trail, and Lindstrom would become a crossroads in the regional bike trail world.






 

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