Trail committee discusses Eli Lilly, Conklin Bay projects

Two major sections of the trail system were discussed at the Syracuse-Wawasee Trails Committee meeting Monday, Aug. 17.Megan McClellan, executive director, presented the preliminary layout for the Conklin Bay project. An additional $80,000 is needed for design and permitting. She has applied for seven grants and decisions should be made by Dec. 4.McClellan has applied for $75,000 in grants and has another three grants, worth $20,000, to apply for in the next two months.The owner of the property between Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation and Grandview Drive is not interested in giving the trails an easement, she noted.She presented two options for a boardwalk. One is 1,820 linear feet of boardwalk and the other is 1,500 linear feet of boardwalk.WACF gave the project an enthusiastic yes, said Sam Leman, a committee member and a WACF liaison.Plans for the Eli Lilly Road trail were discussed. To date, $2,150 has been raised for this section and a total of $537.50 has been spent, so far. The estimated cost of the project is $76,330, including construction and moving phone boxes. Approximately 2,100 feet of trail, or half a mile, will be constructed along the road.A matching grant from one donor was mentioned, as well as a possible second donor. Drainage issues will be addressed, too.Donn Baird gave the treasurer’s report. The committee has an ending balance of $261,715.07. There was $9,651.41 in expenses and $42,174 in donations, for the month ending July 31.The funds report, as of June 30, was also presented. There was $100 donated for the Eli Lilly project and $455 donated to the general fund. There was $9,783 transferred from the Conklin Bay project to the general fund and $1,974 was spent for a Broom machine. There is $66,111 available in the fund, a K21 Foundation grant has been completed, and $25,000 remains from the KCCRVB. The funds report is earmarked for specific projects.The Tour de Lakes event garnered the committee a $2,500 check from the chamber, noted McClellan.Summer trail counts were noted. The weekend is the most used time. The actual number of users is 480 and weekday users was between 210 to 240, per weekday. The weekend count was 387 users. The most used section is by the community center. The next count is next month.McClellan gave the year in review. A total of 15,613 linear feet of trail has been built. Total donations for 2014-15 was $172,863, an increase from $65,200 in 2013-14.In other news:• noted six signs need to be installed along Harkless Drive.• named Sam Leman as Volunteer of the Month.• the committee received a $10,000 donation from Wawasee Property Owners Association. Funds came from the Cottage Tour fund and sale of art prints.• McClellan was given permission to attend two conferences: one in Muncie this Thursday, Aug. 20, and one in Des Moines, Iowa, Oct. 25-28.Tickets for The Gatlins concert, a fundraiser, are available at the trail’s office, Todd Realty and Sleepy Owl. The concert is at 5 p.m. Aug. 29 in North Webster and includes dinner.The next meeting is at 6 p.m. Sept. 21.