Council to Discuss New Trail

Current plans for a new Columbia trail are more than $500,000 over budget.The proposed Grindstone Creek Trail is located on the southeast side of the city and was approved by voters in 2010.On Tuesday night, the city council will learn more about problems with the plan and discuss what to do next. The council is expected to discuss if the trail will be built at all and if it is built, what are the possible options.The original plan calls for more than $1.5 million for the project, but initial estimates put the project closer to $2.1 million. If it is built, Columbia Parks and Recreation would likely have to change plans to accommodate costs, meaning make the trail gravel instead of concrete.Another option would be to use park staff instead of outside sources to physically build the trail and to take money from the Hominy Trail project to help pay for bridges.Right now, the recommended route includes four or five bridges and would link 5,000 people to areas near the new Battle High School. However, Parks and Recreation says they have had opposition to the plan from people who live near where the trail would be built.Tuesday night’s talk will only be a summary of current problems. No action is expected to be taken and most likely will not until spring.