(KAIR)--It's been an idea in the making for sometime, but, with City Commission approval granted this week, the City of Atchison moves forward with developing a walking trail to take users south of the city. 

The issue was discussed in executive session when Commissioners met this week, with City Manager Trey Cocking explaining the closed door session was necessary to finalize the purchase of property from Maur Hill-Mount Academy. “One of the alternatives [of the trail design] is to take the path through Maur Hill-Mount Academy property,” Cocking tells MSC News. “Justin Pregont, our Public Works Director met with their staff and then met with the Maur Hill Board. We went through the uniform land acquisition procedure which dictates you have to have an appraiser come in, and then you have to offer at least what is appraised, and then you have to have that appraisal reviewed by a review appraiser. The property came in at just under $21,000 [and] Maur Hill said that they would sell us that easement for $21,000.”

Cocking says the city has, for sometime, worked to see the walking trail plan become a reality. “Last year the City of Atchison was awarded a $1.1 million-dollar grant by the Kansas Department of Transportation for construction of a bike pedestrian trail that goes from U.S. 59 [near the CVS Pharmacy] to Wal-Mart and the hospital.” 

The Commission approved the purchase of property on a vote of 4 to 1, with Commissioner Charlie Perdue casting the lone no vote. 

Many steps, including state oversight, remain in the process, with no immediate timeline yet set for when construction will begin. 

The design itself is mostly completed.