Members present: Phil & Natasha Miller, Rich & Deb Krieger, Mary Soule, Ramona Venegas, Scott Haas, Joan Young, Ed Morse, Maureen Evans

Meeting opened at 7:00 pm by President Rich Krieger

LOWER MICHIGAN TRAIL COUNCIL report- Joan Young

Meeting Highlights:
• Lower Michigan will host the 2005 Conference at Northern Michigan Conference, Petoskey. Tittabawassee Chapter is the primary host, but we need to appoint someone from our chapter to help- tabled.
• Arden Johnson Memorial will be a painting of one of his favorite sections of trail which will be displayed in the Lowell office. Each chapter is requested to contribute $50 toward the cost. Ed Morse moved to donate this amount, seconded by Ramona. There was some concern that this will set a precedent, but the motion passed.
• The new NCTA Timber Harvest Policy has been accepted by the DNR with some positive reaction.

TRIAD recap- Joan Young

• Each Forest will establish a Point of Contact person so that the local NCT organization can be in touch with one person on a regular basis. Ramona is the model for what the POC should be!
• The MOU expires this year, we will be working to sign a new one (Bob Papp, Tom Gilbert, John Romanowski)
• Presented draft proposal for amendment #2 to the MOU to address special uses, events, etc.
• Issue papers will be presented for next fall on a shared program of work inventory between the Forests and NCTA, a position paper on shelters, and a separate MOU to finalize the position on chain saw training

There was discussion of the commercial use policy. Ramona does not like the wording at all. John Romanowski will accept comments till December 1.

TRAIL WORK- Ed Morse

• Leitch Bayou- There is deep water still standing past the end of the puncheon built in Leitch Bayou. 26 sections have been completed. We need more puncheon there. Some wood is left over.
• Sterling Marsh- Scott Haas reports that unfinished work there is done with 28 more feet of turnpike built, but it will need to be re-evaluated in the spring.
• CCS funding request needs to be turned in by Dec 7. Need to determine what we need. The Eds will report on this at the December meeting

NCT vs. MRT- Rich Krieger

• Rich has prepared an outstanding report comparing 31 criteria on both sides of the river.
• It was the general feeling of the group that we would not recommend asking the FS to change the NCT route to the east side of the river
• It is the FS responsibility to move the trail toward the DFC, not NCTA's responsibility to just move out of the way
• Joan will try to get Rob Corbett to walk the loop to see for himself.

FOREST SERVICE- Ramona

• They are very happy with the puncheon
• John Hojnowski will be the official POC from the Manistee District
• The trail budget for the coming year will be very small
• There may be a new bridge built on Huff Road which would include a pedestrian lane for the trail. Joan suggested tapping TEA money for this.

FOREST SERVICE- Scott

• Need to look at Sterling Marsh in the spring when it is wet
• There are construction videos available at the Baldwin office
• The district is working toward providing chain saw training
• West Michigan chapter is again providing $1000 for an intern. That person may work on SPW trail some too
• Rob Corbett is discussing the possibility of a spur trail to Idlewild in Yates Township
• The drawings for the Heckman campsites at Bowman Lake were presented. May 24, 2004 is the tentative build date. The district is very happy with this, and it will only use about 2/3 of the money in the Heckman Fund.
• Presentation of a mock-up sticker with both FS and NCTA logos which may be created. As a temporary fix for the wrong carsonite stickers we may be able to cover the portion which says "Closed to all other uses" with the FS shield.

TREASURER- Mary Soule

• $1910.43 in Heckman
• $2953.18 General Fund

Motion to adjourn by Joan Young, seconded Ed Morse. Adjourned 8:35 pm

Program- "High Hopes in Sweaty Socks" Hiking the North Country Trail by Joan Young

minutes taken by Joan Young, secretary