November 2 2020 Quarterly Meeting
Zoom meeting, with about 15 or so attendees. 3 members were not able to join for technical reasons.
Overview of the massive cleanup effort from Friday 10/30 to Monday 11/2 from Zeta’s aftermath. All trails passable if not completely open by Monday. Nice work, everyone! Way to pull together and team up with determination, cooperation and chainsaws! See more.
Reviewed what still needs to get worked on from the storm.
Tools that need to be replaced or fixed due to trail work: submit the expenses to Liz for POA reimbursement. Remember to include the cost of new chains, chain sharpening and such.
Since the last meeting on August 3rd:
New brochure created, printed distributed and ran out. New printing arriving tomorrow with small updates
The Nature Valley has all updated posters at all the kiosks. Posters for the other parks are almost done and likely will be sent to the printer this week or next.
The signs below Wilderness Pkwy have been updated to the new style by Joe.
Indian Rocks Park has all new signage too.
Multiple wasp nests killed.
Multiple big clearing jobs due to downed trees.
Lots of improvements to trails and repairs, both visual and practical.
Hours and hours of weedwacking, trimming back vegetation, cleaning steps, fixing erosion, dealing with muddy areas and such.
Completed our new website, bigcanoetrails.com.
Mike Davis Trail name change approved(was Toad’s Pond Trail)
Waterford Park name change approved (was Waterford Trails)
Waterford Park will change name again at November Board meet to Ken & Billie Ann Rice Park
Trail blazes in place for the most part
Non-skid installed in most places needing it. Mike Martin organizing
New Members:
Vic Shannon - Indian Mounds, Loop
Lin Crouse - Indian Mounds, Loop
Ignacio León - Wildflower Trail
Kay Davis - Mike Davis Trail
Jonathan Powell - Perimeter Trail
Other Business
1- Liz’s conversation with GM Scott Auer on Friday:
Scott says trails are the #1 amenity and must be in tip top shape
Mentioned Meadows, Meadows Connector, Wildcat paved paths and Choctaw as examples of places that need improvement.
I pointed out that we inherited those, but there is not much we can do about pavement or areas that require machinery to fix. These areas are reported by us but they are outside the scope of the BCTC’s abilities.
I assured him that the trails that we built we are maintaining in top shape, and he agreed.
He mentioned Maintenance is overwhelmed with work. But the budget is there, and in some cases outside contractors can be used.
The trail Clardy and I had suggested we build to connect the Marina to the Playfield, that would go along the shore, cross the road and then go along the spillway is no longer on the agenda. The people that are walking on the road to get to the marina are not starting from the Playfield. They are driving and can’t find parking at the Marina so they park anywhere they can and walk. There is a plan to revamp the marina and also some other work to be done at the dam and spillway. When all that is in place, and we still need a trail there, then we can consider building one.
2- We discussed the erosion on Choctaw. Mike Permenter has an erosion control assessment from several years ago for Choctaw.
3- The Committee agreed that we should not be the ones dealing with contractors. Things outside our scope of work are up to Maintenance to implement. We’re happy to assist, but they make the decisions and contractor hiring.
4- As the years have passed the importance of the trails has increased. Newcomers frequently mention the trails as one of the main reasons they move to Big Canoe. We must all be diligent about regular inspections and reporting.
5- Members who would like a break, an easier trail, or for whom life’s circumstances make it hard to be engaged, please don’t hesitate to ask for a different trail or to be put on inactive status. We have new folks who are eager to join the committee and take on a trail. We’re running out of trails to assign.
6- Big news: Clardy is leaving, for now. He is no longer a full-time resident of BC and is primarily living in Asheville. He has resigned as Co-Chair:Operations. He had spoken to other potential candidates for the position but no one wants it. So that means we won’t have 2 co-chairs, and instead there will be now one Chair. Liz is the official chair now. With such a large committee (40+ members) she will appreciate any help she can get from members to make sure all works smoothly.
7- Clardy did a demo this morning on cutting down a massive tree mess at Indian Rocks Park, on the Indian Mounds Loop. The tree, a huge oak, fell and got hung up on several other trees, some of which were bent down. That poses a dangerous situation due to the tension. Liz took video of his work. It’s a lot of footage and after she edits it she’ll upload it on YouTube for us to look at.