Resolution Authorizing Sauk County to Enter into an Agreement with the Town of Merrimac for Construction and Maintenance of the Great Sauk State Trail Goette Road Parking Lot.

BACKGROUND: The Town of Merrimac approved the allocation of American Rescue Plan Act Funding (a.k.a. ARPA) for the construction of a parking lot within the town road right-of-way of Goette Road.  Once constructed, the parking lot will provide for safe and efficient parking away from the traveled road right-of-way for users of the Great Sauk State Trail (GSST). The construction of the parking lot will coincide with the construction of a one-half mile trail segment, which will run parallel to the existing active rail corridor to connect the currently built GSST to a public right-of-way to provide through access for trail users.

Sauk County contracted with the University of Wisconsin - Platteville Student Senior Design class to produce Civil Engineered Plans for the one-half mile trail segment and parking lot, which will be utilized for construction of both the trail and parking lot by the Sauk County Highway Department. Prior to construction commencement, a construction and maintenance agreement between Sauk County and the Town of Merrimac is needed to establish roles and responsibilities and to establish that once the parking lot is constructed all future maintenance will be the responsibility of the Town of Merrimac (Exhibit A). The agreement also establishes that the Town of Merrimac as the responsible party for all costs associated with the parking lot to include but not be limited to labor and materials and that at the completion of the project Sauk County will be reimbursed for all costs not to exceed $60,000.