Centerville Bike Path Project
6/30/10 by Bill Hansen
We heard this week from the SD Game Fish & Parks that our application for recreational trail at Gunderson Park was denied. Denial was based on our inability to get anything worked out on the Vermillion River Bridge to connect the Gunderson Park Trail to the City.
We are still waiting for funding results from the DOT on our transportation enhancement grant application. The bridge issue may be a problem on this grant also. If denied, we will look at other options and plan to submit an application again next year.
3/28/10 by Bill Hansen
We have not received official word on the status of our Transportation Enhancement Grant that was submitted in late January. I called the Department of Transportation and they told me that the pedestrian path on the north side of the Vermillion River Bridge, by Gunderson Park, is inadequate for biking and walking. I will be in Pierre from April 7th through April 9th and plan to visit with them then about our pending application.
I will also be working with Nancy Surprenant on completing a Recreational Trails grant through the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department. This grant is due on April 30th.
Friday, January 08, 2010 by Bill Hansen
I received word that transportation enhancement grant applications are due February 1st. We have minimal background work complete on the bike path plan, as most of the time has been devoted to SRTS application. SECOG will also be assisting us with this grant application. When we meet, we will discuss whether we have time to gather the info needed to complete this application prior to the due date. I have continued to stay in contact with the Weverstad family, since they have pledged $50,000 toward that project. There are also grants available through Game, Fish & Parks for bike paths.
Inaugural Safe Routes/Bike Path Meetings - Saturday, August 08, 2009
There will be a meeting for all volunteer committee members on the Safe Routes to School and Bike Path projects on Wednesday, August 26 at 6:00 pm at the First Midwest Bank. Since this is a kick-off meeting, your presence is very important. We plan to discuss the latest info about the Safe Routes to School project, develop team roles and responsibilities and physically walk and assess the routes.
There will also be a kick-off meeting for the entire community on Wednesday, September 2 at 6:00 PM at the Centerville School Commons to learn about the Safe Routes to School and Bike Path projects. We will need everyone's support for these projects to be successful.
For more information about either of these meetings, send an e-mail to Bill Hansen at bjhansen@hcinet.net or telephone at 605.201.7593. Jackie Nelson can be contacted at 605.660.1696 or e-mail at wjnelson@hcinet.net
Weverstad Donation Makes Bike Path Possible
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Every now and then something extraordinary happens. One of those exceptional things happened to the community of Centerville last week. The family of the late Walt and Helene Weverstad, Judy (Weverstad) and Wally Evans and Terry and Sheree (Paulson) Weverstad, pledged $50,000 to develop a bike path originating at the site of the former dam in Centerville.
The significance of this gift is much farther reaching than the $50,000. This money can be leveraged as Centerville's local match in obtaining grant funds. Many of the grants through agencies like the Department of Transportation and the Game, Fish and Parks are 80:20 matches, which means that the $50,000 has the potential of yielding up to $250,000 in total funding.
The cash donation is not all that Walt Weverstad did for Centerville. Those of us who are a little older remember him as an active member of Centerville, serving as President of the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club, a member of the Good Samaritan Advisory Board for over 20 years, Director of the Centerville Industrial Development Corporation, serving as city auditor for 11 years and on the volunteer Fire Department for 26 years. He was a 58 year continuous member of the Rotary Clubs in Centerville and Yankton, and in 1983 chaired the Centerville Centennial Book Committee. He served as past Master of Myrtle Lodge No. 91, A.F. & A.M. He was a member of Yankton Scottish Rite Consistory, the Sioux Falls El Riad Shrine and Centerville Ivy Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. He was the owner and editor of the Centerville Journal for over 36 years, and during that time he actively supported the school system attending sport events and other school activities. Walt could always be seen in the stands with his note pad and pen. Walt and Helene also owned and operated the Broadway Theatre. As Rotarian and community leader, he was instrumental in many projects and recruited businesses to become established in Centerville, including the Good Samaritan Center and Fireball Decals. Walt and Helene were members of the United Church of Christ in Centerville.
The Weverstad family could have used this money in many other ways, but as their daughter, Judy, said; "Dad would have wanted it to be used for what would do the most good for Centerville."