Thursday, April 24, 2014

History of Flint Hills Nature Trail development in Osage City

A compilation of news articles regarding the development of the Flint Hills Nature Trail as it pertains mainly to Osage City, but also some Osage County:

2001

December

Osage City Council meeting minutes: Citizens request the city to consider working with the reorganized Horsemans Foundation to construct a trail on the former Mo-Pac railway right of way. (Scroll down to December 26, 2001):
http://www.osagecity.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/101


2004

October

Osage City Council meeting minutes document 45 minutes devoted to slide presentation by trail project engineers, as well as public comments. (Scroll down to October 12, 2004):
http://www.osagecity.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/12


Osage City Council meeting minutes: City Council unanimously passes resolution of support for the "MOPAC Trails Project." (Scroll down to October 26, 2004):
http://www.osagecity.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/12

Court case that also gives "factual background" of City Council approval of trail project (Scroll down to page 3):
http://www.kscourts.org/cases-and-opinions/opinions/CtApp/2012/20120907/106906.pdf


2005

May 

KDOT letter accepting Osage City's proposed project to develop trail: 
http://www.osagecity.com/documentcenter/view/217

August

Osage City Parks and Recreation Board minutes: "The Hike and Bike Trail" is listed as #3 on a list of priorities the Park Board recommends for Capital Improvements. (Scroll down to August 18, 2005):
http://www.osagecity.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/109

(Interesting observation: As of 04/24/2014, the date this blog post was written, both #1 (a new shelter house in Lincoln Park) and #2 (a public sign board) on this list of priorities from 2005 have come to pass. The trail has not.)



2006

January

Osage City Council meeting minutes: Council authorizes to begin trail project:
http://www.osagecity.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/14

June

Osage City Parks and Recreation Board meeting minutes documents "trail project on schedule, estimated date of completion Fall 2007." (Scroll down to June 22, 2006):
http://www.osagecity.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/67

 

 

2007

January

Osage City Council meeting minutes: Trail project manager and engineer address Osage City Council regarding proposed trail routes: 
http://www.osagecity.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/48

February

Osage City Council meeting minutes: Discussed route of proposed bike/hike trail:
http://www.osagecity.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/46

April 

Osage City Council meeting minutes: City Council member motioned to discontinue trail project and put it to vote by residents. Motion retracted due to lack of a second. A public hearing regarding the trail scheduled:
http://www.osagecity.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/42

May

Osage City Council meeting minutes documenting 1-1/2 hours of public comments and discussion:
http://www.osagecity.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/57


2008

June

Flint Hills Nature Trail at Vassar opened, to be extended to Osage City. (Scroll down to 9 June 2008): http://www.sunflowertrails.org/srt_news_2008.htm  

July

Cross county hikers using the Flint Hills Nature Trail as part of the American Discovery Trail stop in Osage City:
http://www.och-c.com/topstories/2008/073108/073108hikers.html

October

Flint Hills Nature Trail bridge over Hwy 75: KDOT completes study. Commissioners put off plans to remove bridge:
http://www.och-c.com/topstories/2008/100908/100908kdot.html
 
New pedestrian bridge over Hwy 75 in Osage County in the works. (Scroll down to 24 October 2008):
http://www.sunflowertrails.org/srt_news_2008.htm



2009

February

Bidding process, contract negotiations to begin for Osage City trail construction: 
http://www.och-c.com/topstories/2009/0219/021909osage.html

Osage City to develop trail within city limits:

May 

Osage City Council meeting minutes: City Council approves $120,000 for trail project:
http://www.osagecity.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/193


2010

February

Osage County Flint Hills Nature Trail could serve as Army training grounds:
http://www.och-c.com/topstories/2010/0204/020410trail.html

April 

Bid approved for Hwy 75 pedestrian bridge:
http://www.och-c.com/topstories/2010/0415/041510bridge.html

June

Hwy 75 bridge project begins:
http://www.och-c.com/topstories/2010/0603/060310bridge.html

July

Hwy 75 pedestrian bridge project underway:
http://www.och-c.com/topstories/2010/0729/072910bridge.html

November

Hwy 75 pedestrian bridge in place:
http://www.och-c.com/topstories/2010/1125/112510bridge.html


2011

June

New pedestrian bridge over Hwy 75 opens route of Flint Hills Nature Trail through Osage County:
http://www.och-c.com/topstories/2011/0616/061611trail.html
 

(And then, just 2 weeks later................)  

 

Osage City Council kills trail project, throws away $289,000 already spent:

July

Osage City Chamber of Commence requests City Council to put the trail project to public vote before making the final decision to discard trail project:
http://www.osagecity.com/documentcenter/view/1243

Pictures of trail and bridge over Hwy 75:
 http://ochc.zenfolio.com/p558902985

August

Volunteers clean up trail in Osage City:

November

Trail conditions as of November 2011:
Click here


2012

A blogger's impression of the state of the trail within the Osage City limits (Hint: It's not a favorable one): http://alloutattack.com/bryanjackson/2012/01/nobody-walks-in-osage.html

 

 

2013

March

Osage County Commissioners hear from trail opponent:
http://www.osagecountyonline.com/archives/748

 

June

Federal grant sparks $2.4 million investment into Flint Hills Nature Trail:
http://www.osagecountyonline.com/archives/2981 

July

Hwy K-268 bridge to be replaced with box culvert for trail:
http://www.och-c.com/?q=article/construction-projects-begin-us-75-k-268

November

Hwy K-268 reopened to traffic, trail box culvert completed:

Kanza Rail-Trail Conservancy annual meeting held in Osage City:

2014

April

Trail design workshop to be held in Osage City:

Letter to the Editor in support of developing the trail through Osage City:
http://www.osagecountyonline.com/archives/9020#more-9020

Coverage of trail design workshop held in Osage City:
http://www.osagecountyonline.com/archives/9262
 

June

Osage City Council contemplates Safe Routes to School program funding, which dredges up discussion of the rejected trail project: 
http://www.och-c.com/?q=article%2Fsafe-routes-discussion-recalls-trail-rejection 

July 

Trail users volunteer time to clean up trail within city limits:
http://just-keep-pedaling.blogspot.com/2014/07/cleaning-up-flint-hills-nature-trail.html

Osage City Council pounds the final nail in the coffin for paving trail within city limits and also rejects Safe Routes to School program, tells the state "No, we don't want your free money":
http://www.och-c.com/?q=article%2Fosage-city-shuts-down-trail-safe-routes


$1.9 million federal grant plots route for Flint Hills Nature Trail’s completion: http://www.osagecountyonline.com/archives/10890

December

Osage County Commissioners discuss litigation against Flint Hills Nature Trail conservancy: http://www.osagecountyonline.com/archives/13532#idc-container


 

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