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City Council Minutes <br />September 21, 2020 <br />Council consensus was for the city to enter into a licensing agreement with the <br />adjacent landowners. <br />9.6 Orono Park Plans <br />Mr. Hecker presented the staff report and updated park plans. <br />9.7 Great Northern Trail Hunting Closure <br />Mr. Hecker presented the staff report. <br />Page 14 <br />Tom Bodnar, 217Ih Avenue, indicated he is the property owner adjacent to the <br />Great Northern Trail and he has safety concerns with the trail being open during <br />hunting season and requested the trail be closed. He explained the trail has been <br />closed in previous years by having volunteers post signs stating the trail was closed <br />by order of the police chief. He indicated Chief Nierenhausen does not believe <br />posting this way is legally enforceable and would prefer an ordinance change. <br />Mr. Hecker stated consensus of the Parks and Recreation Commission was to <br />recommend closing of the trail by ordinance amendment to the City Council. <br />Mr. Bodnar indicated the trail has been closed for at least the last 10 years. He <br />explained his family took care of posting the signs, posts, snow fence, and barricades. <br />He stated the city received a complaint on the trail closure and the chief had some <br />concerns about the sign language. He believes without a closure there could be over <br />200 people walking by when they are hunting which he does not believe is safe. <br />Mr. Portner stated the public works director asked him to point out people <br />bypassing the trail closure could be an issue as it was during construction. He also <br />noted it is illegal by state statute to shoot across a trail crossing. He stated staff <br />doesn't have a problem closing the trail but for it to be by order of the police chief, <br />they would prefer an ordinance amendment so it will be legally enforceable. <br />Mr. Bodnar noted they hunt from the outside parameters of the property inwards <br />and do not shoot towards the trail. <br />Council consensus was for staff to bring an ordinance back to the next meeting. <br />10. Adjournment <br />There being no further business, Mayor Dietz adjourned the meeting of the Elk <br />River City Council at 10:19 p.m. <br />Minutes prepared by Jessica Miller. <br />