Fairfield Heritage Trail Association

Meeting Minutes - June 12, 2002

The regular monthly meeting of the Fairfield Heritage Trail Association was held Wednesday, June 12, 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, Anna Ford, Rick Holt, Ed Pool, Larry Smith, Jeff Vandervoort, Ira Weiss and Bob Williams.

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

Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the May 8, 2002 meeting were moved by Bob Williams, seconded by Larry Smith and approved.

Treasurer's Report

There was no treasurer's report.

Newsletter

A motion to send the newsletter to everyone on the mailing list was made by Rick Holt, seconded by Bob Williams and passed. It was suggested to produce the next newsletter as a self-mailer. For this edition, Ira Weiss is to purchase envelopes and labels and stuff envelopes. Those in attendance folded and counted newsletters for the mailing.

Old Business

Amanda Section

Anna Ford reported that the meeting with coaches and physical education staff went very well with few negative comments. They met with half of the student body at Amanda Clearcreek and only four students disapproved. People were very positive. Midwest Fabricating has had some discussion of the trail at the board level. We will need an official letter from them regarding future trail usage.

Lancaster City Trail

Jeff Vandervoort reported that we have received $30,000 from the Fairfield Foundation as matching funds to the ODNR grant. We can also use in-kind as a match. The City of Lancaster may contribute paving services to the project. We are currently awaiting engineering. The hospital and Kroger may trade spaces and make them available for the trail. A covered bridge is available and could be used as a part of the match. We may try to put the trail in a creek bed for privacy.

Ohio Trails and Greenways Conference 2002

Peggy Mahler, Neil Shaw, Betty Shaw, Rick Holt, Terre Vandervoort and Ira Weiss attended. Peg's report on the marketing track said that trails save green space, bring in business, can be used for biology classes, and brought ideas to promote the trail better. Rick passed out notes and commented that we need to focus on why the trail is good, getting the health community involved. He noted that all reasons not to have a trail can be dealt with in the design process. Neil noted that benches can be donated.

Capital Campaign Committee

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

GOBA (Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure)

GOBA will be in Lancaster Monday, June 17th and in Amanda June 18th. We can take 35% of the income for ice cream. Weldons will do the sales, etc and we collect the money. Weldons has a license. We should be there at 11:30 and two people are needed as cashiers. We will have hot fudge. We will need to create a receipt and a thank you letter for the donation to Weldons as we are a 501-C3 organization. We will distribute the newsletter and display the banner. Other sales there will include chicken and shortcake. Larry, Ed and Rick will help set up. Jeff will be there at lunch. We will also sell t-shirts and trail books.

Anna said 167 bags of trail mix were done and Peggy donated the ingredients. We are also getting 10 boxes of bananas at 40 pounds each. The Methodist Church is selling baked goods. This will be at Wolf Park on Amanda Southern Road Tuesday morning. We have a skid of 1300 bottles of water donated and a beverage trailer with ice. We will also sell a sports drink, orange juice and apple juice. Cashiering is from 6:30 to 11:30 a.m..

We will also put newsletters at the Visitors and Convention Bureau's information booth. Anna may add apple sauce for sale.

New Business

Visitors and Convention Bureau Presentation

Dave Fey and Dave Scheffler need to coordinate. Bob Williams has information from Ronda Border-Boose with economic impact studies of rail trails. Bob will get these to Rick Holt. These could be added to the PowerPoint presentation. Rick will create the slides and get them to Dave Scheffler.

Executive Committee Meeting

Jeff Vandervoort said we will need to have an executive committee meeting about the city trail, including Terre Vandervoort and the officers, in the coming weeks.

Covered Bridge

A covered bridge currently on Pleasantville Road east of 158 is available. It is from 1864. It can be donated to Dave Fey. While it is not long enough to cross Walnut Creek, at 54' in length it will span Baldwin Run. The bridge will need to be moved. A motion to have Bob Williams continue to investigate the bridge was moved by Jeff Vandervoort, seconded by Ira Weiss and passed.

Tour de Cure

Bob Williams noted the interest from riders in Fairfield County who participated in the Tour de Cure. The Tour takes place the first weekend in June. Ira Weiss is to call the American Diabetes Association about coordinating volunteer efforts from the FHTA at this event. We can also bring newsletters.

Contacting ODOT

Jim Barrett said we should contact ODOT about public right-of-way on US 22. Bob Williams had talked to Sharon Todd. The trail is 1/8 mile from Midwest Fabricating. We already have an offer from ODOT to run the trail over the bypass bridge. Jim Barrett will write a letter to Sharon Todd about this.

Clearcreek Clean-up

The clean-up will take place the Saturday following this meeting.

Including Bicycle Lanes and Trails

Rick Holt will create a presentation on Wisconsin's program.

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.

The Meeting adjourned at 8:23 PM.

Next meeting, July 10, 7:00 PM, at Olivedale Recreation Center, Lancaster, Ohio