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The Elk River Vision A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity. Updated: August 2020 Request for Action To Parks and Recreation Commission Item Number 7.1 Agenda Section Action Item Meeting Date November 4, 2020 Prepared by Michael Hecker, Parks and Recreation Director Item Description Mississippi Oaks Trail Update Reviewed by Cal Portner, City Administrator Reviewed by Action Requested Discuss the request to deed a section of trail to the city. Recommend, by motion, the section of trail to transfer ownership of a segment of the Mississippi River Oaks Trail with the intention to pursue the other portions of the trail when they become available. Background/Discussion At the October 5 City Council Work Session, the Council requested the Commission review a request from the owner of a parcel to deed the Mississippi Oaks Trail to the city. The Commission discussed this at the October 7 meeting and had questions regarding the request. The following are the questions with answers provided by city staff: 1. What is the ownership of each section of trail? The other two lots are owned by Jean and Richard Kincanon and they have a mailing address in Orange Beach Alabama. It also looks like they have not paid their taxes the past few years and the property could move to the tax forfeiture list next spring. If that happens, the city could acquire them at that time. The current owners of the trail also appear to be the same individuals that platted the parcel in 1993. 2. What is the easement of the trail? There are no easements on two lots owned by the Kincanon’s, but they are outlots which means they are non-buildable. The same goes for the subject lot owned by Gwen Smith – no easements but platted as an outlot. 3. Are the trail owners interested in transferring trail to the city? Based on the lack of taxes paid, staff suspects they may be interested in selling but contacting them in Alabama and getting them to pay the delinquent taxes may be challenging. Alternatively, we could wait for the properties to go tax forfeiture and acquire them at that time. Acquire the one being offered now – and get the other two then. 4. Why does the city maintain a trail it does not own? In 1993, the City Council and the Commission discussed and agreed the city should maintain the trail until such time as a park is developed on the Mississippi River. Oxbow Park was added in 2012.