At a special meeting last Thursday, the Gerald Board of Aldermen decided to pursue a Recreational Trail Program (RTP) grant. The board had considered applying for a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant, but decided they would not be prepared to meet the February application deadline.

Plans are to use the grant funds to extend the Rock Island Trail west to the Franklin/Gasconade county line.

The RTP is a federal grant program administered by the Federal Highway Department. Funding comes from the portion of the federal motor fuel excise tax set aside for non-highway recreational use .

Missouri receives between $1 and $1.5 million per fiscal year for RTP to disperse for the program. The maximum amount awarded per project is $250,000 and the minimum award is $25,000. The grant is administered through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources

The RTP grants require a 20 percent match from the applicant.

Ward 2 Alderman Cary Parker said he has a third-party donor willing to pledge the 20 percent matching funds.

The RTP is a reimbursement grant, meaning the city would need to pay costs up front and would then be compensated for 80 percent of the costs.

It is roughly one and half miles from the western edge of the completed trail to the county line. Once final numbers are in on the actual cost to complete that section of the trail, the amount requested for the grant will be determined.

City officials also discussed working with the Missouri Department of Transportation and the Gasconade County R-2 School District to create safe ways to cross U.S. Highway 50 at Main Street and Devine Drive.

Gerald, Owensville, Belle and Bland have or will soon complete the section of trail that runs through their towns. Gasconade County is currently working on the trail from Owensville to the Soap Creek Bridge on Route 28, west of Rosebud. By summer’s end, large sections of the east portion of the trail should be complete. Then all that will remain is to connect the pieces.