In 2016, Bluestem posted Detroit Lakes Council member scolds Green for failing to support local trail committee’s efforts.
A recent news item by Shannon Geisen in the Park Rapids Enterprise, Itasca-Heartland Trail Spur receives Utke’s support, suggests that the Fosston Republican will be staying the course in his opposition to trails:
A citizen-led committee met with State Sen. Paul Utke (R-Park Rapids) Monday, seeking his support for a 24-mile, multiple-purpose trail connecting Itasca State Park with the Heartland Trail.
When the Minnesota Legislature meets in February 2020, Utke agreed to sponsor a $10-million state bonding request for the first two phases of construction.
For a decade, the committee has been actively developing a plan for the Itasca-Heartland spur, with input from a variety of stakeholders, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) staff, Hubbard County Land Management staff, two county commissioners and trail users, such as hunters, snowmobilers and bicyclists.
The preferred route primarily crosses state or county public forestland and county highway right-of-way. The need for purchasing easements across private land will be minimal.
Committee member Vic Olson told Utke the project has the support of Park Rapids, Nevis and Akeley city councils, chambers of commerce, snowmobiling clubs, bike clubs and Hubbard County. . . .
Olson said that State Rep. John Percell (DFL-Bemidji) agreed to sponsor the spur’s bonding bill in the Minnesota House. He expects State Representatives Alice Hausman and Leon Lillie will back it. “I hope Rep. (Matt) Grossell will sign on,” Olson said, but he doubted that State Rep. Steve Green would.
Green is nothing if not consistent in his opposition to trails--and public lands projects. In Conservationist's View: 'No net gain' bill just the tip of an anti-public lands push, a February column in the Duluth News Tribune, founder and former chairman of Minnesota Backcountry Hunters & Anglers David Lien used Green as the poster child for the anti-public land push:
. . . The rally was organized in response to anti-public lands legislation being pushed by some state and congressional legislators. For example, as reported Jan. 25 in Outdoor News, "no-net-gain" legislation has been introduced by state Rep. Steve Green, R-Fosston. Is it possible he doesn't realize that out of roughly 51 million acres of land in Minnesota, 76 percent is in private ownership?
Perhaps he isn't aware that in 2008, when times were tough across the country, Minnesotans overwhelmingly passed the Clean Water, Land and Legacy constitutional amendment, the "Legacy Amendment." That's right. Minnesotans voted to increase the state sales tax on themselves to raise nearly $300 million a year for fish and wildlife habitat, parks, trails, and the arts. Unfortunately, our Minnesota Republican Party platform supports repealing the Legacy Amendment, according to a June Outdoor Insights report. . . .
Green is down with that in his own special way, as Bluestem Prairie noted in In town hall & letters sections, constituents sass back to state rep Steve Green about lots of stuff:
. . . Green is pushing for a state Constitutional amendment that replaces the Clean Water, Land and Legacy amendment with funding dedicated to roads and bridges.
Minnesota voters approved the Legacy amendment in 2008. . . .
There's that--and with Green, it's not just Legacy amendment spending that he's against. Bonding for trails is also a no-no, so he's not off the beaten path; he doesn't even want it to exist.
Map: The Heartland Trail Spur, if funded, would connect bikers, hikers and snowmobilers on a 24-mile jaunt from CSAH 4 to Itasca State Park. Map courtesy of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
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