Mower County’s decision last week not to participate in a joint powers agreement for the Blazing Star Trail will not be a fatal blow for carrying out the project, but it may affect a $2.5 million bonding proposal being discussed in the legislature.

Mower County commissioners Tuesday voted down the joint powers agreement with Albert Lea, Austin and Freeborn County.

The agreement would require the governments to work together to build the 16-mile extension of the bike trail connecting Albert Lea and Austin.

The Freeborn County board endorsed the project last October. But whether the county would take further steps toward the joint agreement is uncertain.

Board Chairman Dave Mullenbach said the county is willing to help the project secure state grants, but the commissioners were not yet informed of anything about the joint powers agreement.

“The joint powers agreement is not a prerequisite to conduct the project,” Sen. Grace Schwab, R-Albert Lea, emphasized. “It would help speed up the construction process, though.

Schwab understands that Mower County has less incentive to participate because only a small portion of the trail will pass within the county’s boundaries.

But she objects to the board expressing the concerns about a possibility of future financial obligation for jointly governing the trail. “The agreement does not incur a financial obligation,” Schwab said.

The discord among the local governments may affect the effort to get the bonding money approved, Schwab worries.

Both in the House and Senate bonding committee, the $2.5 million request will be scrutinized. Schwab anticipates a hearing calling local trail supporters to the committee.

“It would be a little difficult to persuade other legislators when one of major local actor is not on the team,” Schwab said.

The construction of the Blazing Star Trail has already started between Albert Lea and Hayward using a previous allocation.

The 10-foot-wide asphalt trail will swing northeast under I-90, through a series of interesting features such as the stage coach trail and the Moscow Cemetery, and then swing back southeast to Austin.