4.7. SR 11-16-2020 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Great Northern Trail Partners MOU Sherburne and Mille Lacs Counties, Cities of Elk River, Zimmerman and Princeton (collectively known as "Parties") hereby enter into this Memorandum of Understanding: Partners agree to work together on management and development of the Great Northern Trail (GNT) as a Committee in order to enhance recreational opportunities for residents of the eastern Sherburne County and Mille Lacs County region. Through this initiative; partners will seek to define roles and responsibilities of each governing entity to include funding strategies for acquisition and development, define the trail corridor to include local connections, assess current trail conditions and develop a strategy for trail gaps, determine responsibilities for operations and maintenance, define allowable trail uses and seek regional designation from the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission. The Parties understand that any decision -making lies with the Boards or Councils (collectively referred to as "Boards") of the respective parties that have ownership of trail corridor. The Committee will: 1. Include the Parties as well as townships bisected by the GNT as stakeholders on the committee. Townships will be able to participate in discussions and provide feedback to the Parties; 2. The committee will meet quarterly for first year, then move to as needed with regular communication through emails; 3. The committee will develop a Master Plan for GNT system for consideration of adoption by the Parties; 4. The committee will recommend to the Parties' respective boards a cost sharing model per project or a cost allocation of professional services that benefit the entire trail. 5. The committee will provide a framework to pursue Regional Designation through the Greater Minnesota Parks and Trails Commission for consideration by the Parties' Board; 6. The committee will recommend to each Party permitting procedures and conditions for special events; 7. The committee will recommend to each Party guidelines for Trail Closure (such as hunting season, etc.); 8. The committee will recommend maintenance standards to the Parties; and, 9. The committee will make recommendations on the acquisition of easements and fee title interest in real property for each Party's Board consideration. Each party agrees to designate a person(s) to work with the committee. This memorandum of understanding will last for one year from the date of the last signature of a Party to this agreement.