A major focus of the meeting was the presentation on the Hartland Trail study. City Manager Molly introduced Dan Farnsworth from the Metropolitan Council of Governments and Stuart Crosby from SRF Consulting, who outlined the study’s findings and the next steps. The Hartland Trail, a state trail conceptualized in 1976, is set to extend nearly 50 miles across Minnesota. The extension has been in the works since 2006, with the Klay County Hartland Trail Task Force established in 2014 to facilitate the process.

Crosby detailed the study’s comprehensive analysis of potential trail alignments in Klay County, emphasizing the public’s significant involvement in the process. Input was gathered from local jurisdictions and through various public engagement activities, including open houses and stakeholder meetings, resulting in 2,235 website visitors and 354 contributions. The study revealed public concerns over a proposed alignment along Highway 10, deemed too busy to provide the desired outdoor experience. Instead, the preferred “rivers and forests” alignment would follow the 12th Avenue corridor.

The recommended alignment begins at Centennial Park in Moorhead, extending through several segments, including a crossing over Highway 10 and the railroad on 14th Avenue, where a current railroad crossing is absent. An interim alignment is proposed down 34th Avenue to connect to the 12th Avenue corridor, with the public expressing strong interest in connecting Moorhead to Buffalo River State Park.

The presentation also addressed the project’s phasing, adhering to the Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) master plan, with any deviation requiring lengthy amendments. The study’s next steps include finalizing the document and seeking policy board approval in August, alongside cost estimates and a phasing plan for the trail’s development.

Council discussions on the trail’s development highlighted the need for a task force to determine leadership on the project, with considerations on whether the trail would be designated as a state or regional trail impacting funding and logistics. Construction costs were estimated between $750,000 to over a million dollars per mile, necessitating phased execution due to the significant investment required.

Council Member White expressed support for the trail while voicing disappointment over the lack of a downtown trailhead plan. She suggested that a downtown location could boost local business interest and provide access to amenities.

Safety concerns also emerged during the meeting, with resident Terry Theal addressing the council about truck traffic near a bike trail on Oakport Street. Theal proposed rerouting traffic and reducing speed limits due to safety risks posed by high-speed semis near pedestrians and cyclists.

The meeting also included a public hearing on the community development block grant (CDBG), with Tanyukunza outlining the city’s $356,693 allocation for 2025. The draft priorities and projects for the five-year consolidated plan and the annual action plan were open for public comment, although no feedback was received. Efforts to address affordable housing and community needs were discussed.

Further discussions on community development initiatives focused on housing and homelessness. The draft 2025 Annual Action Plan aims to rehabilitate up to 35 homes for low to moderate-income homeowners in collaboration with local organizations. Priorities include supporting local agencies to alleviate housing cost burdens and expanding emergency, transitional, and permanent supportive housing. The council emphasized collaboration on homelessness issues through funding applications, data collection, and technical support.

The meeting transitioned to a second public hearing on a property tax exemption request for a new oil change facility by Pit 30 South LLC. The proposal outlined building dimensions and job creation, with expectations to start construction in June 2025 and complete it by December 2025. The exemption request was approved unanimously.