Committee Chair Chris Burns introduced new member Bart Salvaggio, who replaced at-large member Dave Adams after the latter resigned. Salvaggio is an owner/partner in the Lennox Station development.

In response to Burns opening the meeting to public comment, Clifford Meek re-stated his comments from the June meeting requesting the RTAC address how the number of people using the trail will impact the adjacent areas. He suggested moving the flagstops to places where a street crosses the trail to make it a federally defined “multi-mobile transportation center” so that Apple Country bus can service the trail. He also inquired whether the RTAC or the city of Hendersonville will address the need for sidewalks.

Henderson County Engineer Marcus Jones responded that federal funding does not allow money to be used for anything outside the trail right of way, so the city would need to address this issue. Burns committed to raising the sidewalk issues with the city, and that Meeks’ concerns had been heard.

Mark Tooley, president of Friends of Ecusta Trail (FOET), advised that work continues on the website reconstruction. He proposed that the framework for naming opportunities that is in front of the committee be addressed either now or at a future meeting. Burns offered that the topic be included in the discussion later in the meeting as part of the presentation by Watermark. Tooley said once FOET gets specific locations from Watermark, they will be able to match up these opportunities. There are 100 people total in all the donor categories.

On the subject of branding opportunities, Burns said the FOET Board had been asked by the RTAC to review the design submitted by Watermark in comparison to the one initially developed by FOET. The FOET board decided they preferred to retain their initial version, so Burns suggested the RTAC accept that decision.The motion to do so, and for Watermark to incorporate the FOET design colors of light and dark greens, passed unanimously.

Hunter Marks from Watermark then briefly recapped his design presentation from last month’s meeting, and a second motion to authorize the company to move to the 100% design phase was made and passed unanimously.

A construction update was given by Jones. Paving has begun starting at Brevard Road (Highway 64) moving toward Hendersonville. Some areas, such as where 5th Avenue crosses the Ecusta Trail,  need soil density adjustment prior to paving. The final layer will go on last and take just a week total. As an added benefit, the company doing the work, Tarheel Paving, is local. The bridges, six of them on the eastern section of the trail, should arrive by the end of July and will be placed very quickly since they are pre-constructed. One other area being addressed is at Allen Street where the angle of the stream creates the potential for erosion. Construction is still on track for a December completion.

Burns initiated a discussion about whether the paved sections are open to the public, with the consensus being that they are; however, people need to stay away from construction areas. So, the best message to the public is to stay off the trail until it is finished. Henderson County Assistant Manager Chis Todd said this is a good opportunity to send a message that it is impractical for the public to use it right now, and ask for the public’s help in doing that to avoid delaying the project. He will get specific wording on the topic to Lynn Huffman, FOET board member, to post on the FOET website.

An additional question period included a suggestion from Burns to Jones to keep a record of the dollars that were kept local in construction. Ken Shelton, FOET board member, asked about how potential tree root growth was being addressed. Jones responded that he doesn’t expect much given the amount of clearing done along the trail, but that any that is needed would be done under maintenance.

Burns said the next meeting of August 14 would need to be rescheduled as both he and the Vice Chair will be out of the country.

Shelton, in response to the comments made by Weeks, suggested that the specific professional roles of the RTAC members be listed on the RTAC website.

A member of the public inquired if anyone had an update on the Saluda Trail. Kristin Cozza of Conserving Carolina said there might be some news next week.

By Cindy Ruzak