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Triangle Greenways Council Board Meeting Minutes |
March 2002
March 28, 2002 The Board of Directors of Triangle Greenways Council met in the offices of Triangle J Council of Governments on March 28, 2002. At 7:15 p.m. Barb Oslund called to state she was caught in traffic and unsure when she might arrive. She asked Bill Bussey to preside and he did. Other members present were Leslie Kennedy, Lorraine Price, Dan Jewell, Jeff Brewer, Dean Kanipe, Allen de Hart, Sig Hutchinson, and Robert Harper. Also attending were Bill Flournoy and Larkin Kirkman. Minutes of the last meeting were reviewed and approved. Barb had prepared an agenda and the meeting followed that agenda to a great extent. Dan and Sig reported on gathering material to report on the adopt-a-trail grants for 1993, 1997, and 1998. Dan was able to get spreadsheet material from Tom Jerdee and other material from Sig. He believes he has the necessary material to report to the State on these grants. This material will go to Darryl McBane. Closing the Gaps Conference for 2002: Sig wants to do this and is looking to May or June. Bill asked for a report at the April meeting. Discussion of the contacts to the Umstead Coalition were set aside pending Barb’s arrival. Bill said he had an e-mail from Barb to Jean Spooner. National Trails Day: This is June 1. Jeff would like for the Council to have its own event. He also wants us to respond to a request for help at Lake Wheeler. Larkin is to consider work at Lake Wheeler. New Business was delayed pending Barb’s arrival. Treasurer’s report:. Jeff reported that the last time checks were cashed was in April, 2001. He has now written letters of thanks. He reported that membership is at 13. The funds are as follows: Sam Wiley Memorial Fund $3,778.50 There was discussion of the definition of the various funds. Several persons present made payment of dues. Committee Reports: Bill and Sig reported on work at Jordan. Billy Totten has shown interest in a bike trail at New Hope on WRC land. Bill has been working at Weaver Creek and will have a work day on April 12, using UNC Business School students. He has a permit to work at Weaver Creek every Sunday. Dan, Bill, and Leslie are working on this and invited others. Totten is interested in back-packing trails. Dean indicated he is over-committed as to his work on Falls Lake . He is looking at a rail line from Black Horse Run to Stagville. Bill Bussey indicated a dream to go up the Haw. As to the Neuse, there was insufficient information. Membership Committee: The committee of one has been very busy. Land Trust: Dan reported that the $25,000 mini-grant has not been frozen. We now have to find ways to spend the granted money. He called attention to the wet lands we surveyed near the St. Ambroise church in Raleigh where we met for our planning retreat. He stated that a parcel of some 22 acres is owned by some 25 heirs who may have an interest in our acquisition. He asked the Board for permission to make a determination as to whether these people are seriously interested in a transaction, and, if there is interest, to spend some of the grant money for an appraisal. All of this land is part of Walnut Creek 2000 and it is bordered approximately by Walnut Creek on the North, I-40 on the South, and State Street on the West.. It is a remnant after the sale of developable land. It is not known at this time what position the heirs may take. The land is across the creek from the trail. Much of the land is under standing water. We do not know how the land will be rolled over and we may have to manage the land. We may find interest in the City of Raleigh or in the Partners for Environmental Justice; and it is nearly impossible to get a prior commitment. Our grant money must be committed before the end of the year. The appraisal needed should cost no more than about $1000. The Board granted permission to proceed with no dissenting votes. Dan also asked for permission to apply for a grant to the Charles S. Mott Foundation which has an April 19 deadline. This is contingent on his having a burst of energy to shape up an application. Lorraine moved and Allen second that we apply for a grant of $5,000. Dan is considering a grant for acquisition costs, but would now leave the object open. This motion was approved without dissent. Dan asked Bill Flournoy to report on a request from the Land Trust Council for a contribution from us as one of the members. Funds would be pooled to cover the cost of a person to help develop plans for a list of things that Council wishes to accomplish: a business plan, statewide legal defense, statewide standards for easements. The Council is meeting next week. Bill indicated that our size is small compared with other members and the suggested annual pledge may be heavy for us. He suggested that some token payment might be called for. A competent person should be hired with a salary in the $30-35,000 range or up; but the job description has not been written. Robert moved that Bill Flournoy approach the Council with on offer on a percentage basis of $25.00 or come back to the Board for a greater offer. This was passed. There were reports for members of the Board on regional interests. Jeff will miss the next meeting and will send the treasurer’s report by e-mail. Robert is looking for sites for the next closing the gaps effort. He indicated that Matt was now doing the numbers. He is looking at connecting the Falls Trail to Raleigh. He indicated the City of Raleigh is buying as fast as it can. He indicated there is a lot of interest in downtown greenways. He indicated the bridge at 440 to the Art Museum is funded and now there is a need to get the land on both sides. The bridge will have a cage. Dean talked about contacts with the Horse Council. Bill Bussey reported on a cleanup effort on the ATT. Also about design of bridges using steel. Also about a loop trail in Chatham’s Southwest County Park. The Coalition for An Active Chatham just got a $4,000 grant. The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m., without taking up the items of new business. Respectfully submitted, Larkin Kirkman
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