May 2022 Meeting Minutes
Minutes from Regular Quarterly Meeting on May 2, 2022 Big Canoe Trails Committee
Minutes by S. Johnson
Mtg took place in person at The Villages; Commenced at 4:00 p.m.; ended approx. 4:45.
Members in attendance = approx. 30 (51 total members).
NEXT MEETING is August 1, 2022 - Venue TBD
FYI: Meetings are scheduled for the 1st Monday of 2nd month of each quarter
(i.e. first Monday of Feb/May/Aug/Nov)
NEXT WORK DAY: tbd
NEWS:
Guest Speaker: Lydell Mack (Director of Operations for Big Canoe)
Lydell introduced himself and expressed his appreciation for all that the Trail Committee does for Big Canoe. He commented on the “can do” spirit of the group. He and Big Canoe especially appreciate the partnership between Big Canoe staff and the Trail Committee, acknowledging that BC lacks sufficient staff to do many of the projects that the Trail Committee manages to do.
Big Canoe Amenity Satisfaction Survey Results: The results are in: The BC Trails once again received the highest satisfaction rating among all BC amenities from BC residents. The trails received a satisfaction rating of 9.3 out of 10. Way to go, team!
Comments at BC POA Board Mtg of 4/28/22; Reporting Structure: The Trail Committee received additional kudos from the POA Board. Additionally, based on recent advice from BC attorneys, all committees are reminded to report directly to the POA. The Trail Committee will continue to do so using the General Manager as its reporting conduit to the POA.
New Members:
Dion Golden & his wife Kimberly Hoffman – oversee the Lake Petit Trail
Welcome!
New Brochures Printed: 10,000 brochures have been printed and can be picked up from the Trail Committee alpha box; keep your brochure boxes filled at your trail kiosks, folks!
BCTC ACCOMPLISHMENTS ON THE TRAILS
Choctaw Trail - The old timber steps on Isi Run were removed with the assistance of Dion Golden and his bobcat equipment; Big Canoe made a truck available to haul away the old timbers. The trail was reworked to give it a gradual incline/decline that could be walked without steps.
Choctaw Trail & Newly Rediscovered Grist Mill Ruins– New sign describing the newly rediscovered grist mill ruins was fabricated and installed; it was fabricated using a section of the gear from the mill found at the site.
Choctaw Trail & Newly Rediscovered Grist Mill Ruins: The stacked-stone pillars comprising the bulk of the ruins located near the creek edge were stabilized; ongoing.
Choctaw Trail & Newly Rediscovered Grist Mill Ruins – the daffodils in the trail leading to the grist mill ruins were relocated to various locations. This will be an ongoing project.
Meadows – filled in the deep channel that erosion had cut down the middle of one of the trails near the access to Gadalutsee Pass; channels were cut and water bars installed at appropriate intervals to prevent future erosion.
Blackwell Creek Trail – Huge beams that washed down from an old bridge were in the creek. The beams were cut up into manageable pieces and removed.
Nancy Womack Trail – Cleanup of multiple tree blow down
Jeep Trail & Cabin – clean up of old logs at cabin and on Jeep Trail; corrected drainage to prevent water erosion at various sections of Jeep Trail.
Water Wheel at Cabin near Jeep Trail – The water wheel needed constant maintenance and was scheduled for removal. BCTC members installed new 300’ pipe that was secured to prevent the pipe from “walking away”, cut a trough in black locust lumber, and got the wheel working again. A 9’ single-plank footbridge was cut and installed across boggy areas.
BCTC NON-TRAIL VOLUNTEER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
BC Community Garden - BCTC members helped to assemble and place the garden beds in the new community garden near the borrow pit on Hubbard Road. A total of 98 beds. Also helped place numerous benches and tables. Approx. 24 volunteer hours.
Hemlock Tree Treatment – BCTC members assisted BC employees in treating the 4400 hemlock trees in BC against woolly adelgid. Approx. 76 volunteer hours.
PRESENTATION: How to Rejuvenate Aging Trails (John Williams Trail & Covered Bridge Trail) - by John and Jim Hansen
John and Jim presented before and after photos showing the different sections of the trails they have rejuvenated. Examples of work they have done includes:
Widen trails that had narrowed due to erosion;
Relocate trails that had “moved” due to erosion or hikers creating their own paths;
Reinforce retaining walls and steps
Cover roots and rocks that had become tripping hazards (they hauled a LOT of dirt, folks!)
UPCOMING / NEEDED PROJECTS
Address serious erosion on Nancy Womack Trail just past the falls.
Re-position pontoon bridge on the Lake Trail once Lake Disharoon is refilled.
Address the covered bridge walkway
Replace old timber steps at lower falls at Wilderness Pkwy
Replace/fix steps at Yellow Root access trail.
NEW TRAIL SIGNAGE:
Joe Tipton will be fabricating new signs for the trails which will then be available for painting and installation by BCTC members. Walk your trail with Liz to determine what signage is needed; a protocol on how to describe the signage has been worked out between Joe and Liz.
TOOLS & EQUIPMENT
Liz has wasp spray and concentrated Round Up for poison ivy with a sprayer. Treat your trails. NOTE: to treat poison ivy, you must use a version of Round Up that specifically states it is for poison ivy.
Lydell Mack said BC can provide safety equipment – eye protection, chainsaw chaps, hearing protection muffs.
REMINDER
Walk your trails at least once a month.
Log your time using the online reporting system OR email your time to Liz at info@bctrails.info