First Posted: 4/6/2015
DELPHOS — A proposal to build a towpath/bicycle/walk path along the Miami-Erie Canal from Lock 24 at the north end of Stadium Park in Delphos to Fifth Street was met with a resounding “no” by city officials during a joint committee meeting Monday.
The Parks and Recreation and Thoroughfares committees met for a joint session to discuss the possibility of the proposal. After discussion for about a half-hour, Councilman Andrew Knueve made a motion to approve that an ordinance be made up to be submitted to the full council for a vote, but the motion did not receive a second, effectively killing the idea. Councilors discussed many concerns they had before ending the meeting.
Councilman Del Kemper pointed out that the canal had some cleanliness issues.
“There is a lot of sludge in it and sometimes there will be just a trickle of water in it with weeds growing in it,” Kemper said. “When you look at Grand Lake St. Marys, they didn’t do anything with it until it was toxic. I am having a hard time seeing that any of these issues will be addressed within the next 20 years.
Councilman Jim Fortener also said the possibility exists that the canal would not be used enough for the village to make the investment. It proved to be a risk that councilors were not willing to take.
Councilman Mark Clement said he felt $12,000 was relatively small investment the council would have to make in a space where there was not a lot of recreational opportunities for residents, but Kemper’s answer seemed to convince and dissuade other council members. The village had the possibility of investing as little as $12,000 for the project. The village would have had to put about $131,000 in up front along with the $12,000 and applied to have the money reimbursed later.
“There is not guarantee that we are getting that $131,000 back,” Kemper said. “If we don’t, we are in for $131,000, plus the $12,000, plus anything else that may come up that we don’t see.”
Delphos Canal Commission president Lou Hohman was disappointed with the council’s decision.
“It was a chance for a reduced price because they will be putting a path in in Spencerville,” Hohman said. “This has been a goal of our group for the last 25 years. We have worked hard taking trees out along the canal to try and save costs.”
Hohman, however, said he is not ready to give up on the idea of the path yet.
“We are going to talk to some others and see if we can’t find a way to get it funded,” Hohman said. “We will see what we come up with.”
Poggemeyer Design Group had said the entire project would have cost about $500,000. The city would not have had any cost other than the $12,000 to conduct a study prior to the building of the canal.
Mayor Mike Gallmeier said it was unfortunate, but he could understand the decision of the committees.
“If we are flush with cash, maybe its a different story,” Gallmeier said. However, things are tight.”
