Kristin Cozza, Trails and Greenways Coordinator for Conserving Carolina (CC), reported on CC’s preparations and publicity for the October Ecusta Trail (ET) groundbreaking ceremony. She also reported that CC hosted a kickoff meeting with the Saluda Grade Stakeholders on the feasibility study being done. 

Friends of Ecusta Trail (FOET) President Mark Tooley reported that FOET has been working with a group of individuals that include Henderson County and the City of Brevard on updating the branding of the trail. He showed a draft of images to the group and requested feedback from the RTAC. FOET is also working with Henderson County in planning the October groundbreaking.

Ken Shelton thanked Henderson County for the proclamation for North Carolina’s Year of the Trail that the Board of Commissioners approved. 

Henderson County Business and Community Development Director Chris Todd reported that the groundbreaking event for the Ecusta Trail was scheduled for a Saturday in October at the Veterans Healing Farm. The event will begin around 10:00 and will include a 30–40 minute program with various speakers, including the actual groundbreaking of the trail. 

Marcus Jones, Henderson County engineer, reported that the county is working closely with NCDOT with record speed on proceeding with the construction of Ecusta Trail East, the 5.7 miles from Hendersonville to Horse Shoe. He reminded the RTAC that the county received 5 bids on the trail construction and 2 of those were not completed and were rejected. The award will go to NHM Constructors, and the bid was within $100,000 of the engineers’ estimate. Ecusta Trail East is expected to be completed by the end of calendar year 2024. He also stated that the Board authorized the county engineer to select JMT for the engineering of Ecusta Trail West, pending all needed documents with NCDOT. 

Chris Todd reported that the county is still working with the jurisdictions and organizations on the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the level of service, ongoing maintenance and event management of the trail. Staff has received comments from Conserving Carolina and FOET and is incorporating all of those requested changes. The goal is to have the MOU finalized by the end of the year. 

Henderson County Senior Planner Janna Bianculli reported that planning staff, with assistance from Joe Sanders of FOET, hosted two public meetings for business owners adjacent to the trail to primarily discuss the Trail Partners & Supporters Program. She explained the purpose of the program to the RTAC and explained that the program is not in effect until the first phase of the trail is completed. She also asked the RTAC for their input and feedback on program operations as well as how to connect with the business community. A recorded presentation from the public meeting is on the Planning Department’s website at https://vimeo.com/874059658?share=copy.