Buffalo Trails Board
Jun 23, 2008
Author: Norb Lyle

Minutes for June 2, 2008

A regular meeting of the Buffalo Trails Board was brought to order at 12:04 on June 2, 2008, at Buffalo’s City Hall
Those in attendance were: Bill Mentock, Fred Grey, Jerry Gladson, Jack Tarter, Assistant City Planner Alicia Bankston, City Planner Colin Betzler, and Norb Lyle
Absent members: Ed VonHolst, Bill Cooley, Don Vogel
The public who attended were: John and Cyd Long, Rob and Shirley Lueders, Ken and Regina Kottke, Bill and Darleen Huddleston. The City attorney Ben Kirven was also in attendance.
Chairman Bill Mentock brought the meeting to order at 12: 04 pm.
The first item was to approve the minutes from the May 9th and May 12th meetings. The minutes were approved with all members voting aye.
Colin Betzler welcomed the residents attending the meeting, and wanted to stress how the city is very interested in resolving the conflict the residents have regarding turkey lane easement and the mentock trailhead situated off of turkey lane. At the public comment item of past few board meeting agendas, some of the residents along turkey lane have announced their concerns over the above issues. The residents have issued a” turkey lane proposal “ to the board on May 21st, 2008. The trail board meeting was never held on May 21 due to lack of a quorum, so it was decided to have the next board meeting on June 1st, 2008 at 12:00 noon. Since May 21st, the City of Buffalo has issued a response letter to the county residents of turkey lane regarding their proposal. The residents then added a response letter to the Citys’ response letter of May 30th. This was presented and issued at the meeting today.
Speaking for the residents attending, Rob Lueders brought up that their biggest concern is of the access of turkey lane road. They feel the 17% of the required maintenance the city of buffalo needs to make in regards to the wording in the easement itself is not enough. The city of buffalo’s attorney Ben Kirven brought up an “easement in gross” issue that could be evaluated in regards to the stated easement. Rob Lueders believed that this “easement in gross” should be evaluated with the city council and that they will seek their own legal counsel regarding this. Colin Betzler brought up that a liability issue on the easement should be of a concern to the city. A “prescriptive easement” was also brought up by Colin and discussed with Ben Kirven and the residents.


Alicia Bankston reiterated again to the residents that the city wants to resolve this easement issue, the concerns of the mentock trail, and have an agreement regarding the residents’ proposal which would tie into the master trail plan as soon as possible – so we don’t have similar conversations regarding these issues years from now.
Some of the residents at the meeting were interested in the history of how the easement was ever conceived. It was discussed that the only “trails history book” would be loaned to the residents to copy and for them to return it as soon as they are finished with it. Another copy of the exact written easement of turkey lane was also given to the residents at that time.
The residents have decided to seek additional legal counseling before talks will proceed. Colin Betzler stated it would be greatly appreciated if they could have their response in one week.
In the discussions regarding the easement, turkey lane resident Rob Lueders informed Bill Mentock and the board that the City of Buffalo did have a great need to access City property off of turkey lane when the easement was first written, but they had to cross private land to get there. This then makes sense that the City of Buffalo initiated the easement for the City of Buffalo’s benefit and not the private landowners benefit. In past discussions of this issue, the private landowners have been trying to convince the board just the reverse. The City of Buffalo was the first signer of the easement document.
In other business, the city council has approved at second reading a 2000.00 budget for 2008. There are three readings total and therefore changes may be made to the final budget. This budget includes an annual 500.00 and another 1500.00 to use for logo and brand development, redesigning the brochure, sign replacement, and a camera at the power plant. The 2000.00 approved will not be enough to start most of these projects. A decision will have to be made on how to proceed.
Colin stated that Don Vogel could hopefully help to generate more funding in the future for our budget needs at the City Council meetings. It would be worth asking him if he has voiced all of his opinions at past meetings.
The next board meeting was set to take place on June 9th, 2008 at 12:00 noon.
Having no further business, the Chairman Bill Mentock adjourned the meeting at 1:25 pm.


Norb Lyle
Secretary of the Meeting