North Bend Rails to Trails Foundation
Mar. 24, 2010 — West End Cafe, Doddridge County
North Bend Rails to Trails Foundation meeting opened by Chairman Mark Abbott with Pledge of
Allegiance. Guest was Floyd Hodge of the Little Kanawha RC&D. Hodge presented the foundation a $500 grant check from the RC&D, for gates along the trail. Abbott expressed his appreciation for the grant award.
Secretary's Report: Mar. 3, 2010 minutes — A motion was made by David Kimball and seconded
by Jim Helmick to approve the minutes of the Mar. 3, 2010 meeting with corrections (under treas.
report, 41,824.25 changed to $1,824.25, and misc. reports: bank pen changed to bank open), motion
approved.
Treasurer's Report: Van Kampen gained $745 since last meeting. Balance in checking: $3,789.51;
Savings, $3,120.04; Van Kampen, $45,566.45; Adams Matching, $2,000.00; Matching Grant Fund,
$7,500. Liabilities: DNR $1,824.25. James Jones moved to approve treasurer’s report, Ken Adams
seconded, approved.
• Trail Funding & Repairs — Mark Abbott reported on the $10,000 grant application to fix project
at Tunnel #6; stated area by railroad bridge is getting worse; and discussed the 1-mile section closer to
Salem. He said Steve Jones reported no surface work will be done unless drainage problems are
addressed. Jesse Ulderich spoke with Jones and they want to do original intent. Grant focus will
change to do resurfacing. We’ll resubmit portion of application to reflect changes. Jesse can’t wait until
grant comes and he needs to get work done. Mark said we need to put in $10,000 for Tunnel #6;
$50,000 for the bad slip; and $40,000 for ditching.
• Trails Day at Legislature — Mark Abbott and Ken Adams represented the foundation at Trails
Day at the Capitol and reported a pretty busy day. DOH officials are pulling for the foundation and the
work accomplished to help the trail.
• Mountwood Connector Trail discussed. Mark suggested recruiting equestrian representative to our
board.
• State Parks Foundation — Mark went to the State Park Foundation meeting at Prickett’s Fort, and
we are only one of nine members of the State Park Foundation. Ken Caplinger of WVDOT/Highways,
said California is bankrupt and is closing state parks. North Carolina was first state to do this. Mark
said legislation needs passed that every time a piece of property is sold in NC taxes generated go to the
state parks. WV budget is cut $1.2 million for next two years. Terrell Ellis did a study that will be
discussed at the next meeting. (WV senior citizen have had a budget cut of 9%, Mark reported.) The
State Park Foundation meeting is June 1st at Stonewall Jackson Resort.
• Mark feels confident that we will get the $5,000 grant from the McDonough Foundation.
• Cairo Lease —A five-year lease with the Town of Cairo for use of the Cairo Bank building was
signed. This was recommended by Cairo Mayor Gary Haugh.
• D. J. Allen will email minutes to James Jones for the website. She also read a letter of thanks from
Scott and Rita Fortney thanking the foundation for their expression of sympathy after the death of their
child.
• Ken Adams presented the foundation with a check for $2,000, which was graciously accepted by
Mark Abbott. If trail surfacing goes well, he said it could be put towards the rest area in Wood County
by Tunnel #22. He also gave the treasurer a copy of the paperwork to Lubrizol for the matching. We
greatly appreciate his contributions, from financial support to the the volunteer work he performs on the
trail.
• James Jones said work has started on trailhead in Pennsboro. Parking area will be made by the
medical center and dirt is being dumped there, with a possibility of paving.
• Ken Adams expressed concerns in Ellenboro from glass factory to Mahaney’s store. The new lot is
crowned going to trail and the ditch is filled with gravel. He’s concerned about drainage problems and
feels it needs checked, may be an encroachment.
• Jesse Ulderich got a call from John Droppleman and more rocks fell at Tunnel #6. James said
Tunnel #7 needs attention. Jesse spent time at Eatons Tunnel cleaning it and then more grafitti
appeared.
• Mark Abbott requested reimbursement for travel to Charleston for Trails Day, 194 miles at 14¢
mile. Dave Kimball moved to reimburse Mark for travel, amended the motion to be $54, D. J. Allen
seconded, Mark abstained from voting, motion approved.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:52 p.m.
Attending: Mark Abbott, Jim Helmick, David Kimball, Frank Glesner, Ken Adams, James Jones,
Mike and Wilma Ring, Floyd Hodge, and D. J. Allen.
Mar. 24, 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