North Country Trail
Association
Brule-St. Croix Chapter
M I N U T E S
Spring Chapter Meeting
April 22nd, 2006
1. Call to Order
Chair Dave Zosel
called the meeting to order at 9 AM.
In attendance: Jim Antonson, Sue Breskin, Paul Johnson, Debbie King, Tom King, Peter
Nordgren, Atley Oswald, Scott Peterson, Paul Schoch, Rolf
Swanson, Mark VanHornweder, Chuck Zosel,
Dave Zosel.
2. Approval of Minutes
Motion
(Sue Breskin, Atley Oswald)
to approve the minutes of the November 3rd, 2005 fall meeting
passed.
3. Treasurer's Report
In
the absence of Treasurer Peter Nason, Secretary Peter
Nordgren reported that the chapter has a balance of $1650 in its account at
NCTA headquarters. We have 46 members in
the chapter.
4. Informational
Rovers schedule - the Rovers will be working on trail
construction May 18-22 near Gordon Flowage, June 12-17 on the Brule Bog
Boardwalk, July 17-21 in the
Volunteer
hours - Dave reminded all members to report their volunteer hours to NCTA. Hours may be reported through the NCTA
website at www.northcountrytrail.org or to Mark VanHornweder by phone at 608-628-7102.
Chapter
boundary changes - NCTA has requested Brule-St. Croix and Chequamegon
adjust boundaries to take care of a 6/10 mile overlap east of
4. Old Business
Progress on Development
Projects:
Highland
Well - Chuck Zosel reported that the Town of
Brule
Bog Puncheon - we have verbal confirmation from NPS that funding for the
boardwalk from the walking trail to Highway P will be provided. We previously received funding for the east
bank to the hunter walking trail from NPS and the Cornelius family. The Rovers will start this project in
June. It was suggested the Gordon Prison
Camp might provide some labor for this project.
Others thought the camp was limited by budget cuts and doing much less
public work. Peter Nordgren has also
requested help from the Gitche Gumee
District Boy Scouts.
Westward
from Solon - Bill Menke has flagged new trail route
south and west from
Other old business:
New
equipment - Mower: the chapter purchased a new DR mower in 2005. The mower is in the chapter's maintenance
trailer at Peter Edmunds's wood yard near Solon Springs, and available to all
trail adopters. Contact Peter Edmunds to
schedule. Rolf and Atley
discussed problems with the limited slip differential design used by the
mower. DR has discontinued this design
and gone back to their previous design.
Rolf did not think it worthwhile to trade in this mower for a different
model. The chapter's old mower is stored
by Peter Edmunds as a backup.
Chain
saw certification - all volunteers using chain saws should be certified to be
covered by NPS liability. Several
certification programs have been offered in the area, particularly through
Superior Hiking Trail Assn. It was noted
that first aid training is also needed in the chapter. This can be arranged through Debbie King and
WITC.
New Business
Adopt
a Highway - Dave suggested participating in the Adopt a Highway program for
publicity. Motion (Chuck Zosel, Paul Johnson) to participate in Adopt a Highway if
the section including the Highway 53 trailhead is available passed.
Public
Relations - Dave and Scott Peterson shared information about placing an insert
in the Northwoods Shopper. The cost is 10 cents per shopper plus the
cost of copying the insert, which must be supplied to the shopper in
quantity. Peter Nordgren volunteered to
design an insert, with the goal of placing it in the shopper mid-May. Tom King suggested including a recipe to give
the insert some lasting value. Motion
(Peter Nordgren, Tom King) to fund insert from chapter funds passed.
Gold
Star inspection - we discussed blazing updates and other needs to prepare our
trail for Gold Star inspection, now scheduled for May 10-12.
Plans
for National Trails Day at Bird Sanctuary, June 3rd
, in conjunction with Friends of the Bird Sanctuary - we agreed on
holding an earlier morning birding hike starting at the Highway 53
trailhead. We discussed the possibility
of other events later in the season at the
Plans
for workdays:
April
22nd - brushing at Portage Trail
May
20th - we will check with Peter Edmunds about reblazing
and brushing between
September
9th - work in Brule Bog on boardwalk
October
7th - Peter Nordgren volunteered to organize this workday for new
trail construction north of the Gordon Flowage.
Chapter
hike - we discussed holding this event at
Trail
maintenance program plan - Mark VanHornweder
introduced the maintenance program plan he developed following the chapter's
appointment as trail adopter coordinator.
Members discussed the plan. Some
concern was expressed about the supervisory language used in the plan, and the
requirement that all adopters use e-mail.
Mark agreed that language could be revised to make it less
employment-like. He confirmed that
e-mail was not mandatory, but encouraged.
Mark will revise the plan based on chapter members' suggestions.
Grants
- Peter Nordgren discussed the grant proposals submitted for the NPS Challenge
Cost Share Program. The Brule Bog
Boardwalk Phase II grant is described above.
Proposals were also submitted for new highway signs and updated kiosk at
the Nelson Portal, and for destination and campsite signs to be made by Chris
Sutherland. NCTA informed us that no
grant programs were available for ongoing funding such as the monthly service
for the Hwy 53 latrine. NPS has not
provided official notification of grants to this date.
Landowners
- Peter Nordgren reviewed land/easement acquisition efforts north of Solon
Springs. The newly identified route in
the Sjoberg and Crowshaw
roads area will take the trail across properties owned by the Trent Kjell estate, David Keith, and Bing Hanson. DNR is working with the Kjell
property owners but Keith and Hanson have not responded. Peter encouraged any chapter members who are
acquainted with these landowners to discuss the trail with them.
Maps
- Sue Breskin requested a map with directions to trailhead
locations.
7. Next Meeting
Saturday, November 11, 2006 at 9 AM.
8. Adjournment at 11:30 AM.
Respectfully
submitted,
Peter
Nordgren
Chapter
Secretary