VICTOR HIKING TRAILS
MEETING AT VICTOR TOWN HALL
February 21, 2019
ATTENDANCE: Dave Wright, Lisa Roberts, Chauncy Young, Jeff Miller, Denni Harbaugh, Jamie Clayfield
Meeting was called to order at 7:03 pm by Dave
MINUTES:
Motion to approve the January minutes by Chauncy seconded by Denni – Approved.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Chauncy reported for Ruth
Assets as of January 31, 2019:
Checking $5243.12
Savings $1003.37
Wepay $20.00
Paypal $151.00
Total $6417.49
Ruth developed a budget for 2019. Chauncy suggested the trail work line item be increased to $7000 and total office expense to $2000 because of the need to print brochures in 2019. Projected income is $12,500 equaling projected expenses.
Chauncy made a motion to approve the financials, Jeff seconded - Approved. Thanks to Ruth for her work.
MEMBERSHIP: Denni Harbaugh
Membership is at 235 with 63 due to renew.
Meetup is at 941, up from 939 members.
The new approval process for adding Meetup members seems to be working well, there has been no more suspicious activity.
PUBLICITY & NEWSLETTER: Dave Wright
Next newsletter will go out in March. The Town of Victor newsletter will go out at the same time; the article about the new ramp on the Auburn Trail that was in the VHT winter newsletter will be in the Town newsletter.
Dave updated the phone message and sent out a news release for the March 9th hike at Indian Hills in Perinton.
EDUCATION: Ralph Weber, absent
Denni has confirmed the visit to the Ionia Observatory on Saturday April 20th. Dave will include information that the group size is limited to 30 and people need to sign up on Meetup on the phone message and press release. The event will begin at 6:00pm with a hike until 7:30, followed by a group dinner and presentation from observatory staff at 7:30. Sunset will be at 8pm, tours of the buildings will be at 8:30 and moonrise is at 9:20pm.
Jeff Miller discussed the programming on the WYSL radio station (AM 1040 / FM 92.1 / FM 95.5). Michael Thomas hosts various talk shows on the weekends. Jeff suggested people call in to the ‘Discover the Finger Lakes” show, to publicize local events. The show airs every Saturday from 11:00am to noon. Michael Thomas is also knowledgeable on monarch butterflies and Jeff suggested VHT do a butterfly spotting hike with Michael. The proposed date is Sunday July 21st at 2:00 at Ganondagan.
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR: Jeff Miller
This year’s Arbor Day event is April 27th on Rothbury Circle at 10:00. Jeff will be sending out event information and requesting volunteers for the event.
Chauncy traditionally makes tree saplings available to all Arbor Day event volunteers. He and Dave will be out of town on the tree sapling pickup date of April 26th. Jeff will also send out a request for volunteer(s) to pick up and distribute the saplings.
TRAILMASTER: Dave and Chauncy reported for Carol MacInnes
Carol received a call from the landlord of the New-Tech building on Victor Heights regarding a permanent access point to the Auburn Trail. Dave will contact the business.
A call was received from Linda Schrader. Helen Schrader is selling her property adjacent to the Monkey Run trails, specifically where the red and yellow trails are located. The current revocable permit will end with the sale of the property. The new owner is Howard Van Bortel. He also owns additional property adjacent to the Schrader land. Dave will contact Howard Van Bortel to request he sign a revocable permit for the current, and possibly future, trails on his property.
TRAIL BOSS: Chauncy Young
Chauncy sent out emails to the 5 Scouts requesting a status update on their proposed projects on VHT trails.
Equipment is all repaired and ready for spring.
Chauncy will have the 2019 maintenance schedule at next month’s meeting.
Town of Victor Supervisor Jack Marren wrote a thank you email to the Knapps and American Equipment for the permission to build a trail ramp and excavation work that was done near Break of Day Road.
National Trails Day planning. Chauncy will contact Town of Farmington Supervisor Peter Ingalsbe to see if the new Auburn Trail will be open and the availability of the Mertensia Park Lodge.
LAST HIKE:
The February hike was at Mendon Ponds. Two people attended. It was quite cold and windy.
Winterfest had a family of 4 plus 4 others attend the family hike. The hike was 1.75 miles long starting from the Victor Recreation Center.
OLD BUSINESS:
Dave received a shovel from GROC (Genesee Regional Off Road Cyclists) as a thank you for his volunteer efforts with the group.
Chauncy is planning on attending the International Trails Symposium April 26th – May 1st and attending a training on rigging.
Dave and Chauncy met with Dennis Money from the Seneca White Deer Association at the former Seneca Army Depot to help devise a solution for crossing the ditches on their propsed nature trail, which will run along a creek and cross some roads. Chris Heltz is planning to create the nature trail as his Boy Scout Eagle project.
NEW BUSINESS:
Lisa gave an update regarding the Victor Parks & Rec Master Plan. A draft plan will be released to the Parks and Recreation Citizen’s Advisory Committee in early March.
The ADK Outdoor Expo is Saturday June 8th at Mendon Ponds from 9:30-3:30. Chauncy will do a 2 hour hike at 10:30. The ADK also puts out a newsletter for the date, with an option for an ad, $10 for a business size card ad, or $35 for a larger ad. Chauncy made a motion for purchasing an advertisement for not more than $35. Denni seconded – Approved.
Annual insurance has been purchased for 2019, and was paid for by the Town of Victor.
Carol MacInnes was nominated for the Victor Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Women of Excellence Lantern Award. The winner will be announced at a dinner on Wednesday, March 20th at Ravenwood Golf Course. Tickets can be purchased on the Chamber’s web site. All VHT members are encouraged to attend.
Jeff Hennick is putting all the past VHT meeting minutes on the VHT web site. Larry Fisher is scanning them and converting them to documents that can be searched by key word. Jeff sent out an email with instructions on how to access the documents and would like feedback.
Chauncy received an email from Brian Emelson about possibly doing a joint work day on Saturday April 13th, which is Rails to Trails Conservancy’s opening day for trails. April 13th is VHT’s monthly hike day. Dave will suggest an alternate date of Sunday April 14th or Saturday the 20th to Brian.
Parks & Trails NY sent Dave an email inviting VHT to attend trail advocacy day on March 18th in Albany to ensure the Empire Trail is fully funded.
Victor Garden Club is having their annual fund raiser, selling 11 inch plastic flower pots filled with flowers for $20.
The winter issue of Canalway Trail Times was received.
The winter issue of the Ontario Pathways newsletter was received. They have been doing a lot of erosion control work on their trails.
A group of VHT and GROC members met with Fred Rinalidi, the developer of the High Point property. The next phase of development will include three phases, and eventually contain 188 apartments. Fred would like to build multi-use trails on the land that will surround the apartments. The property is south and east of the Constellation Brands building and accessible from High Point Road off of Valentown Road. Suggestions can be forwarded to Dave. Notes from the meeting will be distributed by Fred, and he will be inviting interested people to walk the property.
NEXT HIKE
March 9th at Indian Hill, if there is snow, snowshoeing is an option. Meet at the parking lot on the south side of Route 31, east of Turk Hill Road.
2019 VHT HIKES:
March 9th Indian Hill – Crescent Trail
April 13th Ganondagan State Historical Site
May 11th Bentley Woods & Domine Trail
June 1st National Trails Day Hikes
June 8th Outdoor Expo at Mendon Ponds Park
July 13th Wesley Hill Nature Preserve
August 10th Grimes Glen and Tanner Falls
Aug 31st Bare Hill Ring of Fire
Sept. 7th Hang Around Victor Day
Sept 14th Fillmore Glen State Park
Sept 29th Challenge Hike
October 12th Finger Lakes Trail
Nov 9th Powder Mills Park
Dec 14th Fishers Park
2019 GVHG HIKES: Mar 10, 10 AM Powder Mills Park, moderate 5 mile hike led by Paul K.
Mar 23, 8 AM Moderate 6 mile hike at Lehigh Crossing Park led by Dave W.
Apr 27, 8 AM Dryer Road Park, moderate 6 mile hike led by Dave W. or a substitute.
May 25, 8 AM MaryFrances Bluebird Haven, 5 mile moderate hike led by Dave W.
You are encouraged to join Genesee Valley Hiking Group and sign up for their Meetup group. Yearly dues start January 1 and are only $8/household. |
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NEXT MEETING:
The next regular meeting will be on Thursday, March 21st 2019, 7:00 p.m. at Victor Town Hall.
Meeting adjourned at 8:44 pm.
Respectfully submitted by Lisa Roberts