This is a letter we received from Chad Anderson. We are sharing it with his permission. Chad is running to fill Ann Lenczewski's recently vacated Minnesota House 50B seat which serves Bloomington. Representative Lenczewski has retired after a long career in the House to become a paid lobbyist. We think it is refreshing to see someone willing to run for election to represent the people of Bloomington who understands protecting our natural resources and fiscal responsibility. It is our understanding that his opponent for this seat would follow very closely in Representative Lenczewski's foot steps in being for a proposed paved Minnesota River Trail. The election to fill this seat will be held on February 9th. We are not telling you how to vote. We are suggesting you do your research then vote for the candidate who you feel will best represent you. Save the River Bottoms "Dear Dennis, Thank you for sharing information from Save the River Bottoms organization. I have taken time to read your website as well as the news articles linked within the change.org petition. You raise a number of compelling questions that deserve further discussion and scrutiny. As I analyze the trail issue, one question I have is if there is a demonstrated need for all trails to be asphalt. While there are some areas where asphalt is warranted such as the Midtown Greenway and the Hiawatha or Kenilworth Trails in Minneapolis, clearly some trails can and should remain in a near natural state with accommodations to enhance access and to minimize environmental damage in sensitive areas. Even the Luce Line trail -- which serves as a major trail link between the western suburbs and Minneapolis -- has a large section that is unpaved and natural surface. Secondly, does the fact that a trail exists in a popular area automatically require the DNR to make it a paved trail? What criteria does the DNR use to determine the need for pavement versus natural surface? Is public input requested or required before such a decision is made? To be sure, even city of Bloomington Senior City Planner Ms. Julie Farnham stated " there hasn’t really been an opportunity for public input at the state level." That's just wrong. Additionally, has a user study been done? Who is currently using the trail? In what numbers? When? For what purposes? The one-size-fits-all "build it and they will come" approach of the DNR certainly appears to be both premature and shortsighted without the benefit of further study. Merely suggesting, as some have done, that paving is necessary because the trail will link to other trails certainly seems to ignore geographical and ecological limitations present in this flood plain/river bottom location, and likely in other future trail locations in other parts of Minnesota. Equally important is the long term cost of paved trail maintenance. As the state (and large counties such as Hennepin) build more and more paved trails, the cost of ongoing maintenance becomes a significant financial burden and raises a host of additional questions. Who maintains? To what standards? Who pays? There are many, many unanswered questions with regard to this trail, and in the event I am honored to be elected as the State Representative in Bloomington's House District 50B Special Election on February 9, I will work to seek answers to the questions outlined above. Additionally, I will convene a meeting between the DNR and all interested parties in Bloomington where public input can be secured. Also, my understanding is that if bonding was the funding method passed last session, the project is not officially a "go" until the bonds have been let. I will try and find out the answer to that issue. Thanks again Dennis for providing a much needed perspective on this project which has a direct impact on the residents of Bloomington. Thanks as well for the fat bike ride invitation. I would very much like to get a tour of the area from the perspective of a rider. What days/times work well for you? Chad"