smalllogo2.gif (1743 bytes)Fairfield Heritage Trail Association

Meeting Minutes - April 10, 2002

The regular monthly meeting of the Fairfield Heritage Trail Association was held Wednesday, April 10, 2002, at the Olivedale Recreation Center, Lancaster, Ohio. Meetings are always on the second Wednesday of the month at 7:00 PM.

In attendance were Jim Barrett, Donald Claffey, Dave Fey, Anna Ford, Claude Ford, Rick Holt, Peggy Mahler, Ed Pool, David Scheffler, Larry Smith, Jeff Vandervoort, Ira Weiss and Bob Williams.

President Jeff Vandervoort opened the meeting at 7:05 PM.

County Landowners Meeting

Bob Williams felt that the meeting went really well. A small minority of people fight anything. There are people who feel the trail is a good idea. Coach Hinton said to do a presentation in school. We need to take advantage of Neil Shaw's skills. A response should be written to the Voss letter. A draft was prepared and is being edited to be presented by the next meeting. It was noted that Jenny Voss used the trail in Granville with her family. Dave Scheffler thought the meeting went very well. Bob Williams had lunch with Nancy Lokai Baldwin, Wes Beery, Annemarie Kuhn and Sharon Todd at the Simon Kenton Trail opening.

Jim Barrett said we should build the trail by Midwest Fabricating first. It would be from School St. to Main St. Following up on an earlier remark, we need to make a presentation at Amanda School - the impetus has to come from Amanda. We could do an assembly in Amanda High School. We should create grass roots support from kids up. The Pastor of the Methodist Church would be supportive. Support for the trail must be built in Amanda and we need to take Coach Hinton's tip and find key people in Amanda for support before July 15. Claude Ford can work with rest of Amanda Council as the City will do to the water plant. We should ask Coach Hinton what to do. We need something tangible. We need to get a sign up for City of Amanda and Midwest Fabricating and start in Amanda and then go to Stoutsville.

Claude Ford and Jim Barrett will coordinate the Amanda effort. They'll call Coach Hinton, schedule and do the presentation. 4H and the Boy Scouts should also be involved. The Amanda trail section would be about 1.5 miles. Claude will contact Midwest Fabricating. We need a model letter of agreement to sign things over and ask Rhonda Border Boose about a form to use. Jeff Vandervoort can prepare a deed. We will need to ask Amanda and Midwest Fabricating for an easement. The easements should then be deeded to Amanda.The bike trail is a part of the Amanda revitalization plan.  Outside of Amanda the trail would be managed by Historical Parks. The plan order:

  1. Dave Scheffler will call Coach Hinton to set up the presentation
  2. Claude Ford will work with the Amanda Village Council to pass a resolution and accept easements from Midwest Fabricating
  3. Jim Barrett will ask Midwest Fabricating to transfer the easement to the Village of Amanda
  4. Claude Ford will speak to the Davis family and Ron Hinton

Old Business

Lancaster City section

Jeff Vandervoort said EDG (engineering firm) is under contract. They will have suggested routes. They will set budget and fundraising goals. Meetings are needed with the adjacent landowners along Baldwin's Run near Lanreco Park / Kroger section. He noted that there were 81 applications to the Clean Ohio Fund requesting $23.7M with $6.7M available.

Responses from ODOT

Bob Williams talked to Sharon Todd at ODOT at the Simon Kenton Trail opening. Sharon Todd said that we could probably put the trail on US 22 right-of-way.

Capital Campaign Committee

The committee is currently on hold as grants are being pursued instead.

Upcoming Presentations

Dave Scheffler will do a presentation on the Stan Robinson Show.

Fox Trail Cleanup

To be rescheduled.

New Business

GOBA (Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure)

A breakfast is planned from 6:00 - 11:00 on June 18th in Amanda. We will make and bag trail mix. Peggy Mahler will obtain the materials at the food co-op. This will be coordinated with Phil and Marilyn Walker. The work on the breakfast could be shared with the church youth group. As water refills are needed, Amanda Springs bottled water could be used. A motion was made to participate by Anna Ford and seconded by Peg Mahler and passed. Organization for the event will take place at the next meeting. We should break up the list of people on our mailing list for a phone tree to get people to work.

Newsletter

Rick Holt asked for ideas for the newsletter. This would be produced in mid to late May and include a report on the land owners meeting and GOBA.

Ohio Trails and Greenways Conference 2002

Peggy Mahler, Terre Vandervoort, Rick Holt and Ira Weiss will attend and report afterwards.

Other Reports

  1. Larry Smith reported on and was thanked for improvements made to the Fox Trail
  2. Hobby Day at Olivedale will take place on the 30th with set up on the 29th. Peggy Mahler will work with Larry Smith on set-up.
  3. The Upper Hocking River clean up will take place June 1st along the route for the bike trail
  4. People were reminded to attend to the County Parks meetings

Everyone is encouraged to check the Website for next month's agenda. Items may be added by members by emailing Ira at  iweiss@insight.rr.com.

Meeting adjourned at 8:55 PM.

Next meeting, May 8, 7:00 PM, at Olivedale Recreation Center, Lancaster, Ohio