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Macomb Orchard Trail News Published By: Friends of the Macomb Orchard Trail Volume # 3 Issue #3 Fall 2002 Chairman's Column by Lee Sorensen Progress on the trail Things are heating up in a new direction for us. As mentioned elsewhere, the planning consultants will prepare a Master Plan for the trail. The important thing for you in the planning process is workshops to get community input on trail use and development. This will be your opportunity to shape the trail in the way you want it. Stay tuned for an announcement about dates and times for these workshops, which will occur before the end of the year, and plan to participate. A fundraising consultant is in process of studying the level of available financial support for the trail within our community. To complete the purchase and development of the trail will require approximately $500,000 in local matching funds in order to collect the expected grants. If the consultant finds that the necessary funds are likely to be available, we (the Friends) are a likely candidate to be the conduit for the contributions. We may also be asked to participate in fund raising activities. Let’s hope results of the preliminary study are favorable, because the lack of available funds would mean that much of the trail would remain undeveloped for some time to come. The following words were written for the April newsletter, but they need to be repeated: Our work as trail advocates is only half done, because the boards of Romeo, Bruce Township, Armada Township, Armada Village and Richmond Township have not yet voted to join the Trail Commission. If you live in one of these communities, you can help by continuing to encourage your elected representatives to join. The five original signers of the interlocal agreement have made it clear that they very much want these other five communities to join the commission and are willing to work out a deferred funding plan in exchange for participation now. Signing the interlocal agreement will not obligate them to costs beyond the $25,000 entry fee and $5,000 annual maintenance charges. If all communities are members of the commission, it will improve the ability to obtain grants. It will also give the communities voting rights on local issues concerning development and use.
Trail Commission Status Report The Trail Commission has met four times and appears to be moving forward well. The commission has already received a surprisingly large number of requests from adjacent property owners regarding accommodations — land swaps, trail rerouting, trail crossing, etc.
Trail Opening The first section of the trail (from Dequindre to 29-Mile Road) has been purchased using MDOT and Southeast Michigan GreenWays Initiative grants. These funds will also pay for development. This means that, as soon as the planning and engineering work have been completed, construction can begin. The Trail Commission has suggested that construction could begin in the spring of 2003. Opening of the remainder of the trail depends on the availability of purchase and development funds, and the willingness of the commission to open these portions before they are fully developed.
Dates for Future Meetings The next meetings will be on 4th Tuesday: October 22nd and November 26th but the December meeting has been canceled. The January 28 2003 meeting has the election of board members. We will continue meeting at Camp Rotary, 20505 29 Mile Road (east of Wolcott) starting at 7:00 p.m. unless otherwise notified.
Election Of Officers Volunteers needed Four executive board members will be elected at the January meeting. These positions are currently held by Christine Hamilton, Chuck Mabley, Rich Platz, and Dave Rumohr, who are all eligible for reelection. If you are interested in running election or know someone who is interested, please come to the October meeting, call any of the current officers listed elsewhere in this newsletter, or call our voicemail line: 586-997-7271.
White Pine Award State Senator Alan Sanborn from Richmond has nominated the Friends of the Macomb Orchard Trail for the annual White Pine Award, sponsored by the Michigan State Senate. The award recognizes a person or group for local environmental and conservation initiatives that help keep Michigan clean and prosperous. Recipients of this award are recognized with a special legislative tribute, a white pine suitable for planting, and a special certificate. Don’t know when the announcement is made. Stay tuned.
Thank You By the time you read this, our booth will have appeared at four events since the last newsletter: Bill’s Run/Richmond Run, Romeo Peach Festival, Richmond Good Old Days, and the Armada Applefest. Many thanks to the workers at these events and to board members John Tarantino and Christine Hamilton for scheduling the workers. John, especially, called on members of the Clinton River Riders to staff the booth and filled almost all of the spots that way.
Storage Space Wanted We have accumulated a lot of equipment for use in our traveling booth, such as boxes of shirts, maps, tables and our Easy-Up tent. We would like to find a central location where we could store this equipment without paying rent. The storage area would have to be clean and dry, and should be accessible at any time. If you have such a location or know someone who does, please call our Voicemail number at (586)997-7271 to leave a message.
News Notes Shirt Sales: As always we have official MOT T-shirts and sweat shirts available. Pick some up at the next meeting or call our Voicemail number (586)997-7271 to place an order
Congressman’s Bonior’s Book: We still have copies of Walking to Mackinac, Congressman’s David Bonior’s tale of the backpacking trip he and his wife, Judy, made form their Mt. Clemens home to the straits of Mackinac. The books are $18.95 each, with proceeds from the sale to help the Macomb Orchard Trail.
Board of Directors Chairman:
Lee Sorensen Vice-Chairman:
Dennis Tipsword Secretary:
Christine Hamilton Treasurer:
Chuck Mabley Director:
Rich Platz Director: John
Tarantino Director: Dave
Rumohr Newsletter Editor:
Ted Gondert
Thank you to our supporters
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Friends of the Macomb Orchard Trail Inc. P. O. Box 385 Richmond, Michigan 48062-0385 www.orchardtrail.org |
