County will manage trail

Allen County will assume management of the rail trail between Iola and Humboldt — in name only.
County Counselor Alan Weber explained that a group of volunteers wanted to avoid having to incorporate to officially manage the trail, which would entail “a considerable amount of paperwork.”
The county’s agreement comes with the understanding volunteers will continue to do maintenance and that being involved with the trail won’t put the county in any danger of having liability concerns for what happens along its six miles, he added.
“Our insurance company said there wouldn’t be a problem,” Weber said.
A provision of the county’s agreement is that commissioners may terminate the agreement “if the volunteers fail to uphold their end of the deal,” he added.
 
“WE’VE HAD amazing response from walkers,” said Don Burns, one of the volunteers.
Several bicycle publications have mentioned the new trail, he added, “which can’t help but bring people here to use it. We’ve had several say it’s the prettiest trail in Kansas.”
The old railroad right of way, which starts at the south Iola city limit, includes an imposing iron bridge over Elm Creek and a laid-up stone arch bridge about a mile farther south.
“I remember driving a tractor under the railroad through the rock bridge,” Burns said.
Work to clear the right of way started last year, with as many as 50 volunteers chipping in at one time or another. Also, Monarch Cement Company and B & W Trailer Beds, Humboldt’s flagship industries, have given assistance.
“Monarch will provide 1,000-pound boulders that we’re going to use in place of bollards along the trail,” Burns said.
Iola Rotary Club members have helped clear brush and prep ballast on the trail’s surface.
“I’ve been spending about 30 hours a week working on the trail, as well as weekends with other volunteers,” said David Fontaine, an avid bicyclist. “We’ve accomplished a lot with very little equipment.”
He and Burns noted many adjacent property owners who had been detractors have changed their attitude about the trail as it has been developed.
“I’ve also had people tell me they’re eager to use the trail (when weather warms) to bicycle from Humboldt to work in Iola, and vice versa,” Burns said.
“You see a lot of walkers and runners, including some of the college (Allen Community College) runners on the trail,” Fontaine said.