Despite some concern over project price, the Burleigh County Commission agreed to be the local sponsor of a paved pedestrian path extending from Burleigh Avenue to the University of Mary.

County engineer Jon Mill brought back the proposal to Monday's commission meeting, which was submitted by the North Dakota Department of Transportation to Burleigh County early in January. At that meeting, the commission had asked Mill to provide further information, and Commissioner Mark Armstrong was asked to contact the University of Mary and United Tribes Technical College to see if they were willing to participate.

Armstrong reported that University of Mary officials were surprised that there could be a hangup in construction of the pathway, which will adjoin Highway 1806, a portion of which is scheduled for reconstruction as a five-lane section leading to the university.

"The University of Mary had worked with NDDOT to negotiate right of way and had provided land to accommodate the path," Armstrong said. "They see the path as a valuable asset for the university and intend to use it quite a bit. So do the folks at United Tribes Technical College. They feel a number of their students will use the path to go back and forth between the facilities."

Armstrong had also communicated with residents living in Falconer Estates, which is adjacent to the proposed path, and there is general support for the project. Several residents living near the university took the opportunity to express their support for the path during the commission meeting, including John Paul Martin, Mike Robb, Cindy Thompson, Judy Johnson and Dorothy Christenson.

Safety was the overriding concern of those speaking to the commission. Armstrong said that, when Highway 1806 is reconstructed, many people would likely use the roadway for walking and biking, should a path not be available.

"I've spoken to many of my neighbors in Falconer Estates, and many are in favor," Martin said. "Many people might suggest that it just benefits our subdivision, but it will do much more than that. I'm sure the Army Reserve Center will be a big user of the path."

Commissioner Marlan Haakenson introduced one letter in opposition to the path, from Keith McClean.

Original rough estimates placed the cost of the path at $540,000, with the county's share being $108,000.

But Mill said that the most recent engineer's estimate placed the cost at $630,300, with a county share of $120,200.

Mill said the engineer's estimate was not a guaranteed figure.

Mill said one reason for the high cost of the path was the need for a 130-foot pedestrian bridge to cross Apple Creek.

Commissioner Doug Schonert voiced his objections to the cost, noting that a 21/2-mile road-paving project north of the city would cost Burleigh $540,000 while the 11/2-mile bike path had a much higher price tag.

"We have all these needs and wants, and only so much funding. Every dollar we use on this path could be used for roads. We know there are roads all over Burleigh that need repair, and we have a road budget of about $3.7 million. This will take a sizeable share of that," Schonert said.

"I'm not against walking trails, but it comes down to wants and needs."

The agreement with NDDOT also requires the county to maintain and repair the path upon completion.

Grants will be available through the NDDOT for these purposes, but there are no guarantees.

UTTCand the University of Mary indicated they could perhaps help with snow removal.

Commissioner Jerry Woodcox made the motion to enter into the agreement with the NDDOT and it passed on a 4-to-1 vote.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@;bismarcktri bune.com.)