OHV trail project brings in full house

The regular meeting of the Houston City Council on April 12, 2021, brought in a full house of visitors to protest the proposed OHV trail in Houston. Anticipating a crowd, city employees set up as many socially distanced chairs as possible in the community center for the meeting; International Owl Center’s Karla Bloem set up mikes and a sound system to ensure all could hear the discussion.

Sandy Fitting addressed the council first, asking each member individually how many calls, emails and letters they had received from citizens about the trail. She also asked if the city administrator had found a 2013 petition against the trail. Michelle Quinn responded that it had not been located; cities are not required to keep such documents past five years.

Anna Benda spoke next to accuse councilman Tony Schultz of a conflict of interest since his mother Marlene Schultz had received money from the DNR for land to be used as a parking area. After requesting the removal of Schultz, she also asked for a new environmental assessment on the project, saying the 2013 assessment used markedly different machines than are used now and a model of highway noise rather than OHV noise. Benda went on to ask for a more comprehensive noise study, more open meetings regarding the project, and more communication with the public. She suggested broadcasting city meetings on the local channel and posting council minutes at the public library.

Jerry Tippery spoke next, quoting OHV meeting minutes and League of Minnesota City regulations as he repeatedly asked Mayor David Olson and Tony Schultz if they had been involved with the OHV trail. Tippery alluded to the possibility of fines and jail time for them if they were found guilty of conflict of interest.

Frederick Beseler asked if an erosion and runoff study had been done. He also asked if they had considered liability for injuries, ambulance services, fire protection, the effect of the trail on tax valuations, as well as who would maintain the trail. Schultz answered that maintenance would be funded through the grant and volunteers at no additional expense to the city and trail users would pay for any needed emergency services. It was unclear whether an erosion study had been completed at this time. A noise study is planned for later this spring. Beseler closed, declaring, “We can do better to attract people to this town than this!”

Chris Botcher shared he had personally gone to quite a few OHV events, noting they involved “a lot of drinking and pulverizing of the ground.” He went on, “I don’t want to hear those vehicles all day long!”

Russell Williams told the council he had moved to Houston from the Twin Cities to get away from the rat race. He said he had been an avid ATVer from 2003 to 2007 and shared that the trails were always out in the middle of nowhere. According to Williams, the trails started off nice but were soon wrecked. Houston bluffs are composed of sugar sand, which would rapidly wear away and allow water to follow the trails into the city. He noted that he had always packed his food and fuel along and asked where the city would see revenue from the trail. Williams asked if the trail would require decibel checks on the machines; Schultz assured him Houston’s trail would follow the same regulations.

Neil Slifka, DNR Wildlife specialist, informed the council Houston County is one of the most ecologically diverse areas in the state. He said the bluff habitat needed to be maintained to keep the rattlesnakes on the bluff and out of town. He assured the council that the project would be scrutinized by the state.

Resident Russ Smith who teaches marketing and tourism at WSU warned that the economic impact would not be large. He said small cities are often not ready to accommodate the people coming to the city. The biggest impact is when the community is compatible with the people coming in as tourists; Smith warned that the OHV users and Owl Center users were not likely to be too compatible and the city needs to pick one customer to concentrate on.

Karla Bloem thanked the council for planning on another noise study and was given permission to have someone with opposing views present at the study. She also asked for permission (which was granted) to put acoustic monitors in the park now to get some base data.  When she asked for the public to be notified when the noise study would occur, the council hesitated, wondering if it would make the study more subjective then while they did want to have transparency. A decision was not yet made on this. Bloem shared data on the economic impact of the Owl Center. In 2019 the center brought in 12,619 visitors and a gross income of over $325,000.

The OHV opposition group asked to be able to have a citywide vote so everyone’s voice can be heard. Councilwoman Emily Krage shared that the Houston Owlette website had created a survey and sent results to the council. Results of the survey were 50/50 for the OHV trail.

Mayor Olson agreed to look into whether the matter could be presented to citizens for a vote and check with the city attorney whether there was a conflict of interest issue.

Regular business

The council conducted their regular business in addition to the lengthy public comments section of their meeting. The following items were handled:

• Acceptance of the Winona Nursery bid of $6,344.56 for the planting of 10 trees on Lincoln Street; homeowners will be given stakes to mark where they want the trees planted;

• Approval of the sewer rate billing increase;

• Acceptance of the donation of a bench from the Silver Creek Rustlers 4-H group. The bench will be placed at the new community center and will match other metal benches throughout the city with the possibility of a planter to be added nearby in the future;

• Approval of a gambling permit for the Caledonia Wrestling Club (Houston students are included in the Caledonia club);

• Acceptance of a $3,798.00 low quote from Ole’s Excavating for East Spruce Street shaping;

• Approval of an amendment to the Prairie Meadows Covenants to streamline processes;

• Hiring of two seasonal maintenance employees;

• Learning electrical quotes will be solicited to update lighting and the electrical panel at the new community  center.

The next meeting of the Houston City Council will be May 10 at 6 p.m. at the community center. The public is welcome to attend.