After Chair Chuck McGrady called the meeting to order, reports were given by representatives from Conserving Carolina and Friends of the Ecusta Trail (FOET). Rebekah Robinson, assistant Director of Programs for Conserving Carolina, expressed that they are continuing to work with FOET in fundraising efforts; a statement confirmed in Mark Tooley’s comments as the FOET representative. Rebekah announced that the drafting error that held up state funding for the trail has been resolved, and signed off on by the Governor, so no construction of a dam will be required and all funds will now go toward the Trail. Mark, expressing pleasure that the error had been successfully resolved, also formally thanked the Rhythm & Blues volunteers.

Marcus Jones, Henderson County Engineer, expects construction to begin by next year. The 30% design approval should be accomplished by next month, and he is working on the scope and fee for the second stage to get from the 30% to the 60% submittal, which is then followed by the final construction committal. With costs of numerous components up, he predicts changes to estimates are likely, and may remain fluid until final commitments. This design stage will incorporate consideration for wetlands, parcel encroachments, and creek erosion so that the 12-14 ft. wide plan for the trail can be accomplished.

Chuck verified with Marcus that the design will return to the Advisory Committee for input prior to the County Board consideration. Chris Burns encapsulated several peoples’ comments that all these variables on design and cost of options will relate to what is needed to be done in fundraising. Marcus recommended building as good a design as possible within realistic costs.

The second topic concerned trail user group issues. Chris Todd, Henderson County Director of Business and Community Development, researched the existing County ordinance regarding traffic and stated that a clarification regarding e-bikes is needed. The current ordinance does not allow operation of motorized vehicles in a public park, which the Ecusta Trail will fall under in definition, but it needs to be codified to specifically include the Trail.  In that regard he, and the attorney who writes the new verbiage for the ordinance, will focus on speed, trail etiquette and desired culture, and other use impacts versus listing exact types of vehicles that are or are not permitted. That way the ordinance would not need to be re-codified each time a new method of transportation is invented, and would allow Parks & Recreation to potentially administer enforcement, or by the Sheriff under an existing class 3 misdemeanor.

Chris Burns recommended that it is preferable to have more than one person involved in such an interpretation and suggested the verbiage come before the Advisory Council before going to the County Commission.  Chris Todd confirmed that it would. Ken Shelton further suggested that it be presented to the Ecusta Trail Board for input since their annual meeting is coming up soon. Several persons discussed the necessity of coordinating these ordinance changes and enforcement issues with other communities along the Trail to achieve consistency.

Comments from the public concerning this issue included one from Mark Tooley that Brevard has plans in place to police the trail, and he brought up the idea of removing the rails along the Trail from roads so that buses would no longer have to stop at crossings. Cindy Ruzak suggested that the parameters of noise and environmental pollution or odors be added to the consideration of impact to be expressed in the verbiage.

By Cindy Ruzak