Buffalo Trails Board Minutes For 11/18/09
Jan 13, 2010
Author: Lois Petersen

Buffalo Trails Board
Minutes for the meeting on Nov. 18, 2009
Submitted by Lois Petersen

Meeting was attended by: Bill Cooley, Mary Fowlkes, and Lois Petersen. Also attending the meeting was City Planner, Brian Grubb and Bill Mentock and Theo Hirschfeld.


Item 1: Approve agenda
Item 2: Approve Oct. minutes
Item 3: Pelloux Bridge
Item 4: Update for friends of Eva Knepper Trail.
Item 5: Volunteers.
Item 6: Trail work days calendar.
Item 7: Tie Hack Trail update.
Item 8: Trail Map Distribution
Item 9: Dog Waste Stations
Item 10: Correspondence.
Item 11: Comments/questions.
Item 12: Set next meeting date.


1) Approved agenda.
2) Approval of minutes of the Oct meeting was tabled since there was no quorum at this meeting. (Bill will check bylaws for procedure to follow for approving action items when there is no quorum. I.e. Can votes be taken via email?)
3) Theo Hirschfeld would like to purchase and post a sign on the Pelloux walking bridge, near the playground across from the Children’s Center. He is researching the history of the bridge and notes that surviving relatives of Mr. Pelloux are still living in Buffalo. Theo will look into the possibility of contracting with Sign Pro regarding a sign with historical info included.
4) A meeting related Eva Knepper trail is set for Monday, Nov. 23, at 9 am at the City Hall. Issues raised in the Trails Master Plan will be addressed in an effort to consider EK Trail part of the Clear Creek Trail System. Also, to be discussed trail damage incurred during the removal of downed Russian olives and storm branches. The meeting will be attended by Phil Gonzales, Nikki Lohse, Don DeVore, Lois Petersen, Brian Grubb and perhaps Les Hook. Work requests noted at the last meeting were turned in to the City by Bill Cooley.
5) Volunteer recruitment will be a springtime effort; Lois and Courtney will work together on this. The hope is to find people who regularly walk certain trails to monitor that trail once per month for trash, noxious weeds, erosion issues, etc. We will try to gather contact info for trail users in hopes of recruiting some help in maintaining the trails both on a regular basis and as drop in help on trail work days.
6) We will try to set up “trail work days” calendar this spring that can be advertised and depended on by those who would like to help maintain trails.
7) A meeting related to the Tie Hack Extension took place Nov. 17. Craig Cope, Allison Ginn, Lois Petersen, Bill Cooley and Dave Palmerlee were in attendance. A decision needs to be made on whether to make the trail suitable for foot traffic only or for bikes as well. The latter will take more engineering time and money, but it would increase the number of users and be easier to maintain in the long run. If we choose to make it a bike trail as well, the project would be scoped this year but constructed in 2011. The Conservation Corp will still be available for construction at that time. Bill Mentock cautioned the BTB to make sure the proposed trail is not too near live stock tanks. Dave will put together a schedule and timeline related to this project.
8) Trail maps have been placed for distribution at the Family Health Clinic. We need to replace old maps at the Occidental Hotel.
9) Reminder to check dog waste stations.
10) Received recreation district letters authorizing grant money to purchase a shed and tools, to repair Centennial Trail, and to fund the seasonal trail maintenance position. Discussed the merits of purchasing a chipper/mulcher and the use of purchased tools on trails such as the Klondike Trail. Also received a thank you from Alicia Bankston for the BTB gift certificate given in thanks for her work on behalf of trails.
11) Comments/questions – Bill Mentock mentioned that it was probably the City that took care of branches along Centennial Trail. It’s great to have that trail clear.
12) Next meeting Dec. 16, 4:30 at the City Hall.