North Bend Rails to Trails Foundation
Mar. 3, 2010 — Cottage Corner Restaurant, Harrison County
North Bend Rails to Trails Foundation meeting opened by Chairman Mark Abbott with Pledge ofAllegiance. Guest was Kathleen Panek of WV Rails to Trails Council and Gillum House B&B.
Secretary's Report: Oct. 28, 2009: David Kimball asked about the 5K run reported in the Oct.
minutes. A motion was made by David Kimball and seconded by James Jones to approve the minutes of
the Oct. 28 and Dec. 2, 2009 meetings with any corrections as needed, motion approved.
Treasurer's Report: James Jones asked about high phone bills, Mike Ring said due to 2 lines.
James Jones moved to approve treasurer’s report, Jim Helmick seconded, approved. Deposits from
11/3/09 to 3/2/10 were $2,712.45. Checks totaled $1,597.07 from check #2091 to #2107. Balance in
checking: $4,388.77; Savings, $3,120.04; Van Kampen, $44,780.82; Adams Matching, $2,000.00;
Matching Grant Fund, $7,500. Liabilities: DNR $1,824.25.
Misc. Reports: Mark Abbott recommended we send $50 to Scott Fortney's family in memory of
their daughter, Kameron, who passed away. D. J. Allen moved we send $50 to the Fortney family, Ken
Adams seconded, approved.
• Trail Funding & Repairs — Mark took 15 copies of grant to Charleston. He said FEMA funds to
correct washout in West Union were lost and after that first priority was Tunnel #6. He said the park did
a great job on the tunnel. He and Trail Superintendent Jesse Ulderich were on trail Feb. 5th and ditching
is phenomenal. Estimated cost to surface end of tunnel is around $10,000, and the foundation applied
for $100,000.
He said 2nd priority is west of West Union; with last section Jesse wants to see repaired is one mile
west of Industrial, west of Doddridge Co. line. (Estimated repairs are $50,000-$60,000. and rest for
ditching.) He said an application is pending from the McDonough Foundation for $5,000.
Nancy Droppleman asked where the $10,000 for FEMA repairs went; Mark said the state did not get
an account set up for it and we lost it. She said her husband has called every year for 5 years about the
trail problem. Kathleen Panek spoke of another area that needed a bridge and they were without a trail
for 2 years due to the problem area. Nancy said we may need to go to Harrison Commission and request
funding. David Kimball said Salem applied for $50,000 grant to blacktop Salem to Industrial. Jim
Helmick said project cost at Salem Depot is about $140,000 with another $60,000 to $70,000 needed.
• Trail Day at Legislature — Mark Abbott and Ken Adams are going Mar. 11th to Charleston for
this event. Ken said he used snowshoes on the trail and saw a few skiers on the trail this year.
• ADT — D. J. Allen distributed a letter from the American Discovery Trail chairman about the ADT
being named a National Discovery Trail. She urged others to contact their representatives who may
help push this forward. The ADT does not need money for land or trail building and the National Park
Service has already completed the required study and recommended the ADT be designated as part of
the National Trail System. This would be a boost for the North Bend Rail Trail.
• Volunteer Liability Issues — DNR doesn't want liability of volunteers and requests we get a quote
on insurance. Mark will check rates. Ken said seniors 55 and over in Ohio were covered and work time
could be used as matching for other funding. Officers were also covered.
• WV State Park Foundation — Meeting Mar. 16th. James Jones moved, David Kimball seconded
motion to approve dues to State Park Foundation for $20/year. Motion approved.
• Ritchie Chamber Dues — James Jones moved, Ken Adams seconded motion to approve dues for
Ritchie Chamber for $100/year. Motion approved.
• Youth Environmental Day — May 15th at North Bend. No action taken.
• Misc. Reports — D. J. requested a check for $25 to WV Secretary of State to keep in compliance
with state filings. She will file necessary paperwork so we are not dissolved. Post cards will be given to
North Bend for their gift baskets. They send a 10% discount card to be used at the Park. This was given
to Ken Adams to use as he was Volunteer of Year for 2009. She announced the WV Tourism Grants and
Commission meetings, and Tourism Roundtable Meetings which are scheduled in the state. Membership
dues: Mark said dues will be billed in conjunction with the Commercial Atlas. She announced
events of the Saturdays on the Square group in Cairo with Chocolate on the Square, Coffeehouse Jam,
and more events. David requested D. J. bring 3 rail trail books to the next meeting. Lease with Cairo —
D. J. said the Cairo mayor suggested we do a 5-year lease on the office in Cairo. Mike asked about
encumbering a former council. Kathleen Panek said since the NBRTF is not burdening the town with a
financial obligation that there would be no problem with the lease. James Jones moved to sign a 5-year
lease with the Town of Cairo on the bank building, Ken Adams seconded, approved. Ken said he will be
able to have the old bank open more often and wondered if we could get old bank related materials.
Also announced were the Lawn, Garden & Forestry Expo & Fair at WV Interstate Fairgrounds on Apr.
10th and 11th, and International Sports Jamboree at North Bend the third weekend in July. Newspapers
articles about the Volunteer of the Year were published in local papers, and the Parkersburg News.
• Pennsboro Report — James Jones said the Ritchie County Historical Society got all their grants
and work is starting on the depot and trailhead, and any day now on Stone House. Mark asked him to
check with David Scott about rededication. Ken said completion date is scheduled for May 15th. The
Historical Society is having a spaghetti dinner to raise funds for matching grants.
• Salem Depot — Jim Helmick asked about grants to help restore the Salem Depot, David said to
contact Herk Connor.
• Doddridge Event — David Kimball said the Doddridge Co. Lions pancake breakfast is Saturday
and invited everyone.
• Park Cleanup — Ken said the North Bend cleanup is Apr. 10th, 9 AM to 12 Noon. He's starting to
work on a project for 2013 for the 100th Anniversary of the Jones and Imboden Raid. One tunnel, three
bridges and a sawmill were burned around Cairo. There was a fort at Walker, and bridge at Stillwell and
Toll Gate prior to the raid. He suggested this be designated on signs that could be put up at the Smithton
Depot and Cairo. He said the B&O Museum charges for research and photos, and most Civil War
records were lost in a fire. He said if the historical societies from each county could work together his
company still donates. He has been doing a lot of personal research on the project.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:00.
Attending: Mark Abbott, Jim Helmick, David Kimball, Ken Adams, James Jones, Mike and Wilma
Ring, Nancy Droppleman, Larry Marrs, Kathleen Panek, and D. J. Allen.
Mar. 3, 2010 — D. J. Allen, Secretary
Tentative schedule of meeting locations previously decided upon by the board as follows:
January ........ cancelled (weather makes it difficult)
February ...... Harrison County
March .......... Doddridge County
April ............ Ritchie County - with possibility of meeting with state officials
May .............Wood County
June ............. Harrison County
July .............. Doddridge County
August ......... Ritchie County
September ...Wood County
October ........ Harrison County
Nov./Dec. .... Ritchie - at North Bend State Park