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Janesville City Council agrees to maintain bike trail

JANESVILLE — Several Janesville City Council members on Monday called a proposed bike trail to Milton “a rare opportunity,” and the council unanimously accepted responsibility to maintain the corridor.

Staff figures the city might pay about $600 a year to mow the one-mile segment along Highway 26. The city also will be responsible for any future repairs.

The state will build the off-road trail as it improves Highway 26.

Residents have long hoped for a trail to connect Janesville to Milton and beyond. The trial would follow the bypass to County N, where it will hook to the Jefferson County Glacial River Trail. Hopes are that the trail will eventually go to Watertown and beyond.

Funding became available because of low bids for state Department of Transportation projects in other areas. The state will pay all the costs to build the trail.

Milton and Rock County also must agree to maintain the trail sections running through their jurisdictions.

Other business

The Janesville City Council on Monday:

-- Heard from councilman Bill Truman, who wanted to make it clear the Rock Aqua Jays Water Ski Show Team did not ask for $1,500 from the council to use toward the city’s Fourth of July fireworks program.

Truman said he told club members last year the group would get some city money. Staff told the group this year to put the request in writing. The group also was asking to charge $2 per car to park in Traxler Park. The Aqua Jays withdrew both requests after some negative public reaction.

-- Accepted $5,000 from the Monterey Questers and the International Questers to be used to renovate four doors at the Lincoln Tallman House.