Residents push back against planned bike trail

“We have real strong feelings, protective feelings about that woods,” said Medford local Cathy Mauer to members of the county’s Building, Grounds & Parks Monday morning. Members of the community were given the opportunity to voice their opinions about the prospect of mountain bike trails being installed at the Campus Woods located south of College Street in the city of Medford.

Jorgen Hamann of the Taylor County Cycling Association (TCCA) opened the discussion by stating that he and Buildings, Grounds & Park Maintenance Director Joe Svejda walked the Campus Woods trails together recently and mapped out a possible location for the bike trails. The current trails are open for a multitude of activities, including walking

See BIKE TRAIL on page 3 and biking and are groomed for snowshoeing and cross country skiing in the winter, but they are in need of repair due to erosion and water run-off issues. The proposed bike trails would be separate from the present walking trails but intersect at certain points. The current trails are doubletrack trails, which means they are wide enough for traffic to flow in either direction. The bike trail would be a singletrack trail, taking up only about 18 to 30 inches.

“They’re a little more twisty turny, bob and weave around the trees,” said Hamann. Hamann also stated that carving out the trail would not involve heavy machinery. TCCA would not cut down trees but simply trim lowhanging branches. He said that some areas close their bike trails for certain periods of time to allow for birds and wildlife to migrate or breed without interruption. Hamann reported that most areas make all of their trails multi-use for everyone, meaning that bikes and people walking would share the spaces.

But not everyone is interested in sharing a trail with mountain bikes, let alone installing a new bike trail at all.

“We did used to get occasional complaints from people walking about bikers on the trails because they weren’t careful of the walkers,” stated Mauer. Mauer especially cited concerns about people who are “up in years” walking on the trails safely. “The campus woods is one of the places in Taylor County that’s on the Wisconsin Society of Ornithology’s list of prime birding spots,” she said.

The Campus Woods, are home to several species of migratory songbirds, as well as raptors and woodpeckers who are year-round inhabitants.

Mauer reported that bird watchers frequent the Campus Woods in May and early June during migration and referenced Hamann’s earlier statement about possibly closing the trails to bikes while that event takes place. However, residents remained skeptical.

“I’d like to know what you have planned for the forest floor with all this equipment coming in to make these improvements,” said resident Rose Marie Lefebvre. “This is a unique natural resource for our city,” she continued. “We don’t want to ruin it with bike trails that are going to create erosion.” Lefebrve expressed concern about the bike trails widening with time and bikers going off course, threatening the natural landscape.

Herb Archibald, another area resident, brought up that the existing trail has needed maintenance for many years. “I requested several times for the county to fix that, and they didn’t,” said Archibald. “I’m not convinced at all it’s compatible with mountain bikes,” he continued, discussing the current trail. Archibald further stated that adults may not be satisfied with a new bike trail due to the area’s flat topography.

“It’s something to introduce the community to the sport,” countered Hamann, “Mainly the kids.”

Hamann reiterated that the idea is to keep people on the trail by utilizing natural obstacles to keep bikers interested.

When asked about funds to maintain the bike trail, Hamann reported that TCCA will rely on volunteers to help upkeep the bike trail with Svejda noting that single-track trails are generally small and non-invasive with trailgrooming mostly involving hand rakes. Svejda also reminded the group that the original trail was created with heavy equipment.

When asked why TCCA would get involved fixing the current trail if a bike trail was created and bikes were no longer allowed on the main trail, Hamann said, “Just good nature, good standing.”

TCCA is still looking into opening trails in Perkinstown as well.

There is a power line request for funds which will be discussed at October’s meeting.

The board also discussed:

• Updating the ham radio lease agreement to make certain that the amateur radios are functional in the operation center in the event of an emergency.

• Tower management services and ensuring towers don’t hold more than they’re capable of holding.

• Creating animal policies on county properties. Currently, there aren’t any policies in place dictating which animals are allowed where.

• A request from the Miller Dam Lake Association to place one of their sheds on county property, which was voted down.

• Rejecting a request to donate passes from the Winter Sports Area. It was voted down due to concerns over spending taxpayer dollars.