The Marshall city council voted Feb. 9 to apply for a federal grant to help fund the Diversion Channel segment of the Camden Regional Trail project.

Additionally, the City will ask for an extension of a $274,680 legacy grant awarded in 2014 for the project. If awarded, the grant will allow the City to extend the project deadline to 2018 and substantially reduce the local cost of the project.

The Diversion Channel segment of the Camden Trail sits adjacent to the Lyon County Fairgrounds and Marshall Golf Club course properties. It is the final section of the 14.5-mile contiguous biking and pedestrian trail extending from the Red Baron Arena & Expo to Camden State Park.

The original 2014 legacy grant had a contingent completion date of June 2016. City Administrator Ben Martig said design issues have challenged the June deadline, leading staff to recommend that the council apply for a renewal of the legacy grant funds in addition to a grant from the Federal Recreational Trail Grant Program.

Safety recommendations from Burlington Northern and the Minnesota Department of Transportation have caused delays in the design approval for final section of the Camden trail, which crosses over Minnesota State Highway 19. The design was changed to follow around the golf course, cross highway 19, and then cross the railroad tracks at an existing rail crossing.

“Both Burlington Northern and MnDOT are certainly more supportive of this concept than the first one,” Marshall Public Works Director Glenn Olson said.

The trail segment’s new design leads to a cost reduction of nearly $200,000, with a $421,000 total cost. After grants, the local match will be $57,201, a reduction from a previous $194,180 tax payer projection in 2014, Martig said.

“This is a great project that we are doing in a cost effective way by applying for substantial grant dollars to bring down the local cost,” Marshall Mayor Bob Byrnes said.

The council also approved 10 change orders to the Southwest Minnesota Regional Amateur Sports Center, which will add a $27,237 to the project’s costs. Several construction projects were also approved including improvements to South 2nd Street, East Lyon Street, Jean Avenue, East Redwood Street, and B Street. Sidewalks will also be replaced on East Main Street.