Winneshiek County Conservation Board says its trails should not be plowed in the winter

Every year Winneshiek County Conservation gets a request or two that one of the county recreational trails be plowed during the winter.

Tuesday afternoon the Conservation Board took up the issue of snow removal on the Freeport Trail--and unanimously approved a resolution stating that the county would not do any plowing on any of its trails. 

Board members had several concerns.  Board Chair Nancy Bolson worried about the county's liability if a trail was plowed, the trail would thaw, but then it would freeze and possibly be a danger to people walking on it.

County Conservation Director Barbara Schroeder said her department doesn't have plows on any of its equipment and also has a small staff.  She noted that other county-owned trails, such as the Prairie Farmer Trail, also are not plowed in the winter.  Schroeder also said there are parts of Trout Run Trail that are plowed by the City of Decorah, so if people want to walk on a trail during the winter, they have nearby options.

Schroeder agreed that "each year we get approached" by people asking for plowing, but the Conservation Board unanimously approved a resolution to not remove snow from any of the county-managed trails.