Buffalo Trails Board Minutes for 07/22/09
July 22, 2009
Author: Lois Petersen

Buffalo Trails Board
Minutes for the meeting on July 22, 2009
Submitted by Lois Petersen


Agenda


1. Fundraiser update.
2. 1880 Bridge update (painting).
3. Seasonal position update
4. Update kiosks.
5. Update on Eva Knepper Trail
6. Rec. Board applications update.

7. Grouse Mountain Trail update.
8. Brochure update and distribution?
9. Thank you letter to DJs
10. Dog Waste Stations
11. Correspondence.
12. Comments/questions.


Meeting was called to order at 4:39 pm with the following members in attendance: Bill Cooley, Jack Tartar, and Lois Petersen. Also present was former BTB Chair Bill Mentock. Approved the minutes of the May meeting and agenda for the July meeting. Due to scheduling problems, there was no June 24th meeting of this Board.

1. Jack Tarter discussed fundraiser information related to purchase of decals. Concern was voiced over the high cost and likelihood of selling enough to turn a profit. Decision about pursuing this fundraiser was tabled until next meeting.
2. Bill Cooley and Robert McCorkle from 3-Way (with some help from Lois Petersen and Ed and Brenda Von Holst) worked on July 17-18 to remove rust and then paint primer on the historic bridge on Upper Clear Creek Rd. Robert plans to finish the painting this upcoming week. A chain link fence will also be installed for safety along the sides. Bill has contacted Les about some final work to be done by the city related to the approach leading to the bridge.
3. Marchelle ___, the person hired this year, is doing well, enjoying the work and hoping to have the same job next year. She has been weed whacking, watering trees, and cleaning-up the trails, keeping a log of her hours on the job. Tasks are assigned by the city – Les Hook and Bill Weber – and the ongoing tasks outlined in the Master Trails Plan are being addressed. Some downed trees will need city personnel and equipment to be removed.
4. Large trail signs have been completed and installation will take place once the city maintenance folks catch up after storms, etc. If Dave Osmundsen needs storage space for the remaining signs, Jack Tarter may be able to store them at the Vets Home, but will need someone to transport the signs.
5. The Trails Advocacy Group (with cooperation from the city) recently did trail maintenance at the parking lot by the Wildlife Habitat Project pond. TAG also weed whacked Shiloh Trailhead, and worked more extensively in Eva Knepper Park, joined by Friends of E.K member, Don DeVore. Russian olive trees have been downed by NRCS, but city has not yet removed the trees. Erosion is also still an issue. Phil Gonzales is still planning to address erosion issues there when ordered materials come in. At trailhead at Comanche, the sidewalk foundation is unstable due to city work on the slope. Downed Russian olives are now off the trail but are still a fire hazard. The trail from the new cemetery building to Sesame St. was torn up to put in a water pipe and then just covered over. The gravel is now buried and the trail is slippery and muddy. The head of the Cemetery Board or director of the cemetery needs to be contacted and asked to re-establish that trail. If that trails is re-worked, permission from the county should be requested in order to move the trailhead down a bit on Sesame St. so the slope is less steep and it will line up better with the newly proposed trail across from it. Since EK Park Trail is not yet adopted as a city trail because of identified deficiencies, the head of Friends of EK should take the lead in getting assistance from NRCS, the city, the cemetery board, etc. related to this trail.
6. Rec. Board grant for shed and the Centennial Trail re-surfacing project will be funded and worked on next year.
7. Grouse Mt/Tie Hack Extension – letter from Mark Booth shows Ranger District is in support of this project and the link between our trails and theirs. Dave Palmerlee’s been talking to the WY Conservation Corp and they will help out with mapping and developing the trails. IMBA makes available couples who help with trail planning, teach trail construction, etc. Rivers and Trails also is a possible source of trail placement information. Dave Palmerlee has also lined up support for doing environmental assessments and impact studies.
8. Trails brochures are being distributed and are well received.
9. Lois will pen a letter to DJs thanking them for their support of the Trails Day Celebration.
10. Dog waste station at Turkey Lane needs to be removed due to damage. Rather than order a new waste station, Bill Cooley will create a new device to stock used grocery bags and provide waste disposal at that site.
11. No correspondence reported.
12. Other
Concern about lack of City Manager, esp after the strong support the BTB received from Colin Betzler and Alicia Bankston. Decided to send a thank you letter to Alicia for her impressive, hands-on support of trails. This will be sent to her by Bill Cooley.
Bill Mentock has summarized all the news articles written about the trails over the years. There are now 70 pages or so of those summaries. Bill Mentock will give a copy of these articles to Bill Cooley and Bill Cooley will continue to cut articles and add them to the BTB Chair’s trails notebook.

Next meeting will be August 26, 4:30 pm.