Butler County is seeking a state grant to pay for the development of a trail in Alameda Park.

The county commissioners on Wednesday approved submitting an application to the state Department of Community & Economic Development for $250,000.

The county would be obligated to spend $50,000 to receive the grant.

The West Penn Street Trail will be 2.5 miles including a loop.

Gary Pinkerton, director of county parks and recreation, said the trail is part of the master site plan for the park.

Commissioners Bill McCarrier and Dale Pinkerton, no relation to Gary Pinkerton, supported the application while Commissioner Jim Eckstein dissented.

He said the cost of the project was too high for even state funding.

“We’re going for the gusto,” Eckstein said.

He said the state is in poor financial shape, so the county should keep the cost of the trail down.

Eckstein, the liaison to the county parks and recreation commission, said he was the only person at the last meeting to question the price tag.

“Do they do more than come for lunch?” he asked about park commission members. “The system is not working. These are outlandish expenses.”

Dale Pinkerton said Eckstein was unfair for suggesting the commission members don’t put any effort into reviewing projects.

“I’m really ashamed of you, Jim,” Dale Pinkerton said.

Eckstein responded by saying Pinkerton embarrasses the county by wearing bright sport coats at places such as the University of Pittsburgh in Oakland.

Gary Pinkerton explained the commissioner spent a year-and-a-half reviewing the master site plan, which includes the trail.

Eckstein was not swayed.

“These costs are outlandish and unreasonable,” he said.

Firefighter training

The county commissioners committed $130,000 of the county’s natural gas drilling impact fee revenue to buy a fire emergency training trailer for Butler County Community College’s fire academy.

The money would be given over two years in $65,000 payments.

Funds for 2 projects

The county commissioners approved seeking bids for two municipal projects using state grant money for funding.

The projects are paving Church Road in Penn Township and doing a sidewalk/curb cut project in Eau Claire.