The Xcel Trail

As some of you know the city has for some time been working with Xcel to establish a trail within the buffer property they own adjacent and north of the Mississippi River in Becker. Funds have been secured from Sherburne County and the City of Becker as well as from the State of Minnesota through an appropriation in legislation known as a bonding request. This request provided 50% of the funds for the project. As the city moved to establish the project we encountered problematic restrictions in the use of these funds dictated by state rules for using bonding resources. These involve land covenants which make the project infeasible to accomplish as the property will remain in Xcel's ownership with the city/county receiving a long term lease on the property to establish and maintain the trail. After a great deal of effort from a number of parties it was recognized that given the present state of requirements for the bonding funds the project can not be constructed. Our remedy seems to be going back to the legislature in 2008 with a project specific bill authorizing the expenditure of state funds in a manner that is acceptable to all parties.