Fairfield Heritage Trail Associa

Fairfield Heritage Trail Association

November 20, 2006 Minutes

Recorded by Pat Navin

Attending: Ira Weiss, Jeff Vandervoort, Terre Vandervoort, Brett Navin, Pat Navin, Peggy Portier, Melody Borchers, Linda Raney, Jerry Raney, Jim Barrett and Rick Holt.

1) Meeting called to order at 7:10PM

2) Approval of minutes: Peggy Portier moved to approve, Brett Navin second.

3) Reports

i) President’s will be throughout the meeting

ii) Treasurer’s: Ira reported from Dave Scheffler; $4,551.00 in checking. $1,212 in the Fairfield Foundation account. Linda Raney moved to accept the treasurer’s report, Jerry Raney second. Terre Vandervoort commented that the Foundation grant funds need to be spent down for reporting issues.

iii) Grant report:

(a) CDBG is pending

(b) Recreational trails grant deadline is 2/1/07

4) Old Business

(a) Urban Trail grant report from Terre Vandervoort: (Phase II) About 80% of the paving is completed. A GIS map of Lancaster shows the trail route; Terre explained it to us. Some issues that slowed the paving are bridge construction, RR crossings so paving will continue in the spring. An extension of phase II of the grant was given to 6/30/07. Spring projects also include fencing, signage (both safety and educational), paint, etc. Phase IIA covers from Lanreco Park to Main St. It is collaboration with the city, storm water division and Kroger. Phase III is $420K and will be opened in 2007. These grants require a 25% in-kind match which his provided by the city through labor costs. The Lancaster city gas department has advanced the grant $225K, interest free, for one year to continue work on the grant. This will be repaid when the grant is received in less than a year. Also, 20K of these funds is committed to help with the Fair Ave. bridge. Work with Dave Bogear continues to make sure that urban trail work will receive the attention it needs after Dave’s retirement in March 2007.

(b) Amanda Trail: Village council meeting attended by Ira and Peggy Portier. They will be looking for grant funding. A suggested contact in Amanda is Pat Willard.

(d) Interurban trail update: Ira had discussion with Metro Parks representative about connectivity concept – they were receptive and interested. Terre Vandervoort said she would help with grant writing when idea gets closer to reality. Suggested that clean Ohio funds would be appropriate.

(e) Fox Trail: If this project is moved to phase III of Lancaster urban trail, funding will be available.

5) Action Plan Items

a) FHTA rides: review of 2006 was that the rides were good, sometimes well attended. What were the barriers to going on the rides? Weather and busy schedules were the top answers. Up for discussion whether to change time/day. No decision reached.

b) County map/vision: no update

c) Safe Routes to School: Ira, Peggy Portier, Pat Navin and Terre Vandervoort were at the 11/16 meeting with Julie Walcoff, state coordinator for SRTS. Ira attended another SRTS meeting on 11/17. Pickerington schools and Lancaster schools will probably be applying for funds from the SRTS program. Letters of Intent will be required with a deadline of 1/31/07. Funding will be available for assessment, education and infrastructure. Terre reported that she spoke with Tim Deeds, traffic control contact in Lancaster about this program. Details about the SRTS program on their website – Ira has that link on the Heritage Trail website.

d) Phone tree and meeting signs: no update

e) Healthy & Smart Development: no update

f) 11/9 SE Trail meeting at Pickerington Library: Ira attended. Rails to Trails reported an upcoming focus change to Rails with Trails as most usable trail conversions have happened or are being created. Bernice Cage from MORPC reported on the “complete streets” program and updating the bike trail.

g) Dues and membership: no update

h) Trail cleanups: The LHS Honor Society is responsible for the trail behind OU-L and LHS. Discussion about having some clean up days. Terre talked about some graffiti under the bridge on E. Main – clean up will be necessary as soon as trail opens and weather permits for painting!

i) County Parks funding: no update

6) New Business

a) Future Fox Trail cleanups: discussed need to have overall plan for trail cleanup in spring 2007 for all of Phase II section of urban trail.

b) 11/13 Bremen meeting with Melody Borchers: Melody is economic development director for village of Bremen. Ira met with her to discuss interconnectivity. Melode reported that DiYanni Homes will be building ~ 200 homes in near future; association members gave her advice about working with developers, planners to get sidewalks and trails into the plans right away; asking for it to be platted for future growth.

c) Other new business:

i) Terre talked about plans for lateral trails coming off the urban trail to connect to downtown Lancaster.

ii) Terre asked that the group start thinking about the “fun stuff” for the urban trail; 2007 will be when not only fences and crossing signs will be placed, but to create an educational environment along the trail with educational placards, kiosks, etc. she would like to get started on a capital campaign in 2007 to fund these things. Start thinking about fundraising ideas: a square dance, a fun run, a couples event, promoting sponsorship of benches in honor/memory of loved ones.

iii) Jeff Vandervoort suggested that thank you notes be written and signed by group for folks who’ve worked on the trail and gone “above and beyond” Ira will bring some cards to the next meeting.

iv) Terre spoke with a representative of ODNR, Canal Lands division; they still own about 80% of the original canal lands. Identifying the location of those lands and accessing them for trails will be the focus of a meeting that will take place sometime this winter. Terre will let Ira know when this meeting is planned so Association members can attend.

Motion to adjourn was made by Jerry Raney, seconded by Rick Holt.

Meeting adjourned at 8:20PM