Woolwich Trails Group

Wednesday, March 31^st, 2004

Meeting Minutes

Chairperson: Gloria Yeung

Those attending: Mark Bauman, Loretta Dunn, Brad Fisher, Eleanor Hrabi, Ann Roberts, John Robinson, Art Woods, Gloria and Emily Yeung.

1. Membership Committee Report:

§ Membership forms were mailed with water bills in March. Will send forms with April mailing as well. Anyone available to help stuff envelopes during daytime hours at the Township sometime between April 23 and 28 please contact Ann (669-1647 x 265 or Schering@look.ca ). Cost is $250 to do the mailing. Need to consider if it is worthwhile for next year.

§ John R. presented his membership report: 56 members to date for 2004. John also showed a piegraph with the distribution of members by residency. 87% of members live in Woolwich. The largest proportion (37%) lives in Elmira.

2. Guidebooks: Since the last meeting Eleanor has delivered 20 guidebooks to Adventure Guide, 20 to the Mercantile at the Crossroads, 5 to KW Tourism. Eleanor has 55 guidebooks left in stock; John R. has 50.

3. March Hike: Murray lead the March hike. Approximately 8 people attended. The group walked from the dam along the Mill Race and Health Valley trail to the expressway bridge. The new sandwich board was used to advertise the hike. Gloria will send a thank you to the students at the St. Jacobs school.

4. April Hike: The April hike will be at RIM Park. Brad will lead a cycling tour and Nancy and Paul will lead a hike.

5. Township of Woolwich Environmental Enhancement Committee (TWEEC) Update: This new committee is a partnership between the Township and Woolwich Healthy Communities. The committee will establish and coordinate a program to improve the environment in the Township. The Committee consists of 11 members: 4 from Woolwich Healthy Communities (Barb Taylor, Inga Rinne, Janet Cox, Steve Racey) 1 council member (Pat McLean), 1 Township staff person (combination of Nancy Thompson, Dave Gosnay and Ann Roberts) and the remainder from Woolwich residents (Susan Bryant, Al Murray, Art Woods, Dennis Martin, Graham Gladwell). The Committee is interested in hearing ideas for environmental enhancement projects in Woolwich. Please send your ideas to Ann at 669-1647 x265 or Schering@look.ca.

6. Home Hardware Donation: In 2000, at the time of the relay, staff at Home Hardware in St. Jacobs raised funds for the TCT. Recently those funds were transferred to the Recreation and Facilities Services Department at the Township to be used for TCT projects in Woolwich Township. Some of the funds will be used to construct kiosks on the Mill Race/TCT in St. Jacobs.

7. Work Parties:

§ Saturday April 24^th ,8 am until noon: The group will work on kiosk construction for Priddle Park and the Mill Race. Ann will contact Ed Dennis of the Grand Valley Trail to confirm a section on which section the group can begin maintenance. If you are available to help on the 24^th please let Ann know at 669-1647 x265 or Schering@look.ca .

§ Wednesday April 14^th and/or Thursday April 15^th, 6:30 pm until 8:30: Mark is organizing some pre-cutting and staining for the kiosks. Please let Ann know if you are interested in helping.

§ Saturday April 17^th 7:45 am: Mark is looking for 2 very strong volunteers to help move the 6 x 6 posts into the holes. Please let Ann know if interested.

§ May 29^th Watershed Clean-up Day: The Grand River Conservation Authority is sponsoring a Heritage River Clean-up Day on May 29^th. This is to help celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the Canadian Heritage River designation of the Grand River. Mark and Ann will be organizing this event. More information will follow when available. Loretta will see if there is an area in Breslau that may need clean-up.

8. Mapping for Kiosks: Gloria noted that the map at the kiosk behind the fire hall in St. Jacobs has experienced some fading. Staff at the Region’s planning department suggests using toner based print rather than ink as toner provides better fade resistance than ordinary dye inks. Suggested that we use Reeve and Company in Kitchener.

9. Memorial Forest: Mark will contact the St. Jacobs Lions Club and others to see about interest in being involved in a memorial forest along the Health Valley Trail near the volunteer rock.

10. Endowment Fund: Inga was not available to discuss.

11. Privacy Act: John M. was not available to discuss.

12. Planned trail developments:

§ Breslau: Two new residential developments (Hopewell Creek and Forwell Creek) are planned for Breslau for a total of approximately 800 new homes. Both developments include plans for trails to be constructed by the developer. Phase one of the Hopewell Creek development began in the fall of 2003. Trail construction will begin in 2004. The trail is planned along the south east perimeter of the development. The Forwell Creek development will begin in 2005. The trail will be constructed in a green space between the river and the edge of development. There will be access from the existing park to the trail. Ann will investigate a link between the Forwell and Hopewell developments.

§ Conestogo: A 21 unit residential development (Florica) is planned on the north side of Sawmill Road just east of Priddle Park. There will be a green space area where an informal locally used trail already exists. A formal trail system is not part of the development plan. However, the existing trail may be enhanced/improved (with wood chips, for example) if the need or desire from the residents or community arises.

§ Elmira Ring Trail: Land was dedicated to the Township as part of the Elmira Industrial Lands development. Art discussed how the Elmira Lions Club has received funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to develop trail from Howard Ave south through the Elmira Industrial Lands.

13. First Aid Course: Jenny Richter, an instructor at Elmira pool, ran the course on Saturdays March 20 and 27^th, 8 am to 4 pm. Four people attended the course.

14. Conestogo/Wintebourne Optimist Club Report: In Peter’s absence, Gloria reported that the club will install the bridge over Spring Creek towards the end of April. Stone dust will happen this summer and fall.

15. Report on bridges on the HVT: There was considerable damage this spring to bridges on the HVT east of the Expressway bridge. Mark reviewed his summary of the bridges and the respective damage. Mark estimates repairs could be in the neighbourhood of $2000.

Upcoming dates to remember…….

Next Trails Group Meeting: Thursday May 6, 2004, 7 pm at the fire hall in St. Jacobs.

Next Trails Group Work Parties: Wednesday April 14^th,6:30 pm; Thursday April 15^th, 6:30 pm; Saturday April 17^th,7:45 am; Saturday April 24^th, 8 am.

Next TWEEC Work Party: Saturday May 15^th, Elmira.

Next Clean Waterways Group Work Party: Saturday May 1^st. For more information, please contact Barb Taylor at barb@thegreaseman.com or 669-3961.

TWEEC Pesticide-Free Lawn Care and Lawn Alternatives: Wednesday May 5^th, 7-9 pm, Woolwich Community Health Centre, 10 Parkside Dr. St. Jacobs. Speakers: Susan Koswan and Anne Morgan. Everyone Welcome, No Cost, No Registration.

Next Sunday Family Hike:

Sunday, April 18^th, 2004, 2pm

Brad Fisher of Green Valley Bicycle Tours will lead a group ride. At the same time, hike leader, Paul Miller, will lead the hikers through the park’s trail system. Meet at the entrance of the parking lot at the front of the Sportsplex at RIM Park.

Trail rating: easy walking ashphalt trail; baby buggies and dogs on a leash welcome.

Minutes prepared by Ann Roberts. Questions? Please call 669-1647 ext 265 or schering@look.ca . Note: If you no longer wish to receive these minutes or other information from the trails group please contact Ann to have your name removed from the mailing list. Please also advise Ann of any changes in your contact information. Thanks.