Rail Trail

Price-Taylor Rail Trail Corridor Commission Westboro Community Center Town Hall October 17th, 2023 Minutes 1. Call meeting to order. Meeting of the Price -Taylor Rail Trail Commission was called to order by President Dan Roiger on October 17th, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. at the Westboro Community Center Town Hall. Commission Members present: Bob Meyer, Marvin Kuenne, Dan Roiger, Sue Swiantek, Steve Thums, Jeff Hallstrand, Troy Larson, Greg Foltz, and Marjory Brzeskiewicz. Ex-Officio Members: Jake Walcisak and Joe Grapa. Members absent: Ron Kendziera. Others present: Buzz Meyer 2. Approve minutes of the April 25th, 2023 meeting. Motion by Sue Swiantek, seconded by Jeff Hallstrand to approve minutes as read by Jake Walcisak. Motion carried. 3. Approve the agenda. Motion made by Greg Foltz, seconded by Marvin Kuenne to approve agenda as presented. Motion carried. 4. Treasurer’s report. Motion to approve made by Troy Larson, seconded by Sue Swiantek. Motion carried. 5. Trail Condition and Maintenance. -Steve checked last week for signage and tread condition. -Beaver dam between Alfalfa and Cemetery. - Marge Brzeskiewicz had a question about gravel size on trail south of Ogema. Joe Grapa explained that it is fresh and needs time to settle and pack down. This segment was completed in Summer 2023. - Jake Walcisak provided update on spraying and grading. -Lucas Bacholl will be brushing this week. -Steve Thums reported first mile has many overhanging limbs. Brushing near bridges does not need attention. NE railing of a bridge south of Westboro needs to be repaired. -Benches installed. -Access north of Westboro surveyed and improved. -French Drain did not need to be installed. 6. Informational and Directional Signs between Morner Road and Prentice. 7. Additional items needed to be presented to Committee (no action to be taken at this time). -Westboro sanitary was losing water. A leak was repaired. -Jake Walcisak updated on Monte Dassow Timber sale. -Jake Walcisak updated on memorial kiosk. -Bob Meyer presented a request for a bench install near Medford. There is an opportunity at about 1.75 miles. Bob will let them know. -Public comments submitted by Jake Walcisak and Marge Brzeskiewicz for state trails plan to include future expansion of the Pine Line north and south. -Discussion about requirements or limitations to motorized special use permits. 8. Set next meeting date. Next meeting April 16th, or April 23rd 2024, 7:00pm, Westboro Town Hall. 9. Adjourn. Motion made by Sue Swiantek, seconded by Greg Foltz. Motion carried at 7:49pm. Price-Taylor Rail Trail Corridor Commission Westboro Community Center Town Hall April 25th, 2023 Minutes 1. Call Meeting to Order Meeting of the Price -Taylor Rail Trail Commission was called to order by President Dan Roiger on April 25th, 2023, at 7:02 p.m. at the Westboro Community Center Town Hall. Commission Members present: Bob Meyer, Marvin Kuenne, Dan Roiger, Sue Swiantek, Steve Thums, Jeff Hallstrand, Troy Larson, Ron Kendziera, Greg Foltz, and Marjory Brzeskiewicz. Ex - Officio Members: Jake Walcisak and Joe Grapa. Members absent: None. Others present: Buzz Meyer and Rhonda Jensen. 2. Approve Minutes of the October 25th, 2022 meeting Motion by Bob Meyer, seconded by Marv Kuenne to approve minutes as read by Walcisak. Motion carried. 3. Approve the Agenda Motion by Marv Kuenne, seconded by Sue Swiantek to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried. 4. Treasurer’s Report The treasurer’s report was presented by Bob Meyer. October 1 st, 2022, report beginning balance of $20,571.64. Revenue included special permit donations and Price County timber sale revenue. Expenses included the Morner Road Trailhead signage for $651.20. March 31 st, 2023, ending balance of $22,171.40. Motion by Troy Larson, seconded by Greg Foltz to approve treasurer’s report as presented. Motion carried. 5. Trail Condition and Maintenance • No regular maintenance has occurred yet this year. Late snow and frozen ground have prohibited grading this spring. Steve Thums reported a small hole in the trail north of Westboro. He made a temporary repair and will monitor. The hole is caused by a separating concrete culvert. The Taylor County Grooming Association will repair with their mini excavator if necessary. • Town of Westboro plans to install the French drain as planned near the gazebo this year. The area was flooded most of the winter and didn’t freeze. • Wisco Materials was awarded the gravel bid in Price County to complete resurfacing from the county line to the south edge Ogema. • Four wooden benches donated by a local Boy Scout Troop will be installed this summer in Taylor County. • Walcisak met onsite with realtor Luke Dixon, Steve Thums and Bob Meyer to discuss access to the Silver Creek Ranch property north of Westboro. It was confirmed to be a historic access point which existed when the rail was in service. Walcisak required the access to be surveyed due to its serpentine nature. The permit has been filed and recorded with the Taylor County register of Deeds office. 6. Memorial Kiosk and Map at County Line Rhonda Jensen presented a proposal to donate and install a map/information kiosk on the Price-Taylor County line in memorial for her late husband Kevin R. “Husker” Jensen. Rhonda handed out a written proposal, design, and pictures. The kiosk would be designed the same as the kiosk at the Allman Street trailhead and include a plaque memorializing Kevin. The proposed installation location is at the southwest corner of the intersection of the Pine Line Trail and County snowmobile trail D. Near the location of the existing map mailbox. The kiosk will display both Taylor and Price County snowmobile trail maps and include map holders for each county. Richie and Al Dums have offered to build the kiosk. Buzz Meyer offered to donate map holders he made out of cedar. Motion by Jeff Hallstrand to approve the design and installation of a memorial kiosk honoring Kevin R. “Husker” Jensen as presented by Rhonda Jensen. Seconded by Sue Swiantek. Motion carried. Rhonda will contact Walcisak when she is ready for the installation. Walcisak will contact diggers hotline. Dan Roiger will work with the Taylor County Grooming Association and their gas-powered auger to assist with the installation. 7. Additional Items Needed to be Presented to the Commission • Joe Grapa and Ron Kendziera sat in on a meeting of the Bike Federation to learn more about the TAP grant. The TAP grant is funded by federal transportation aids. Unfortunately, winter ATV or UTV use disqualifies the Pine Line for eligibility of this grant. Winter snowmobile use is allowed. Winter ATV use of the Pine Line is minimal but serves as a connector between Price and Taylor County as well as a connector for side trails in both counties. Closure to ATVs in the winter would lose $100 per mile in maintenance funding. UTV’s are allowed on the Price County portion of the Pine Line in the winter but not in Taylor County. Closure to UTV’s in the winter in Price County would lose an additional $100 per mile in maintenance funding. The total annual loss in funding would be approximately $3,600. No recommendations came from this discussion. • Informational and directional signs between the Morner Road Trailhead and the Village of Prentice were discussed. This item will be placed on the October agenda for action. • The Taylor County Veteran Service Office and the Medford VFW are planning a fund - raising ATV/UTV ride this summer. They may request a special use permit for a portion of the Pine Line. • The resident just north of the Taylor County line has been removing trees on County property between their house and State Highway 13. No action for a future agenda item. • Bob Meyer informed the Commission of CD (certificate of deposit) rates at Royal Credit Union. 6 months for 4.75%. Discussion was had regarding investing versus keeping cash on hand and liquid. No action for a future agenda item. 8. Set Next Meeting Date Tuesday October 17th, 2023, 7:00 p.m. Westboro Community Center Town Hall. 9. Adjourn Motion made by Sue Swiantek, seconded by Marv Kuenne to adjourn at 8:14 p.m. Motion carried. Submitted by Jake Walcisak, Taylor County Forestry and Recreation Administrator