JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson was less than optimistic on Feb. 23 when questioned about the possibility that either the House or Senate would pass funding for the Rock Island Trail during the new legislative session.

“We’re gonna keep working hard at that,” Parson said. “I think it is a great opportunity for our state. It is something that no other state in the United States has when you start talking about our trails in the state. If we would have got that we would have had the longest continuing trail in the united states of America.”

Parson said he thought last year’s available funding for the trail was a great opportunity to bring more people into Missouri.

“But it didn’t get across the finish line,” Parson continued. “It’s a matter of if we can get it across there again. I am a supporter, I have made no bones about that. But we’ve got to get it through the system. I assume they will still be out there working on that. I had high hopes last year and it didn’t happen.”

Parson has several allies in the House of Representatives, where funding passed last year, that also support the Rock Island Trail expansion.

Missouri’s House Majority Leader Dean Plocher, R-Des Peres, told press members on Feb. 23 that he is unaware of any new funding coming from the House this session.

“I am unaware of anything exactly pressing on that issue,” Plocher said. “I have spoken with Rep. Bruce Sassmann, R-Bland, 61st District, who is a fantastic individual and is a strong advocate for the Rock Island Trail which goes right through his neighborhood. I know there is a lot of advocacy for that by members of the body, but I don’t know where it lies.”

Members of the Senate, such as Sen. Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, 16th District, continue to be opposed to funding the project.

“I know there are some landowners who are not happy with how this state has handled the start of that, improvements and expansion to the trail,” Rowden said. “I don’t know the answer to the question, but our Senate Appropriations chairman spearheaded the removal of the money and getting that taken care of last year and is obviously more determined this year than he was last year. I am assuming the administration and department still has some work to do to get us comfortable with that level of investment on the Rock Island Trail.”

When asked to elaborate, Rowden laid the blame on landowners.

“I just think the interaction with the landowners, some of the folks have come and spoken to us and aren’t really satisfied with how they are being treated within the process,” Rowden said. “I think it is just more communication for now and ultimately Sen. Lincoln Hough (R-Springfield) (Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman) is going to have the final or the biggest say in how it comes out of committee. If I was them, I would work with him. Communication is always good.”

Sassmann, representative of the 61st District which includes Gasconade, Osage and portions of Montgomery and Miller counties, has filed for a $22 million funding request with the house budget chair to develop the Rock Island Trail from Belle to Freeburg. The funding must be approved by both the House and Senate to pass.

The city of Belle is currently seeking an administrator to assist them a $250,000 Federal Highways Administration grant to develop 1.1 miles of trail through the town.