Friends of Webster Trails

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FWT Board Meeting Minutes

May 12, 2025 7:00 pm

Author:

Sarah White
Attendees
Denise Bilsback, Pat Fulkerson, Ron Happ, Hal Harris, Chris Peterson, Norma Platt, Linda Siple, Pat Smally, Anna Taylor, Sarah White, Ben Wisniewski
Adimistrative Reports
  1. Approve/Change Agenda: Approved
  2. Approve Minutes of April 2025 Meeting: Approved
  3. Membership Status- Denise B:
    • 243 total members, 5 new
    • $1080 donations
    • 192 work hours
  4. Review of Treasurer Report – Chris
    • CD renewed
    • ~$3000 in income YTD
    • Discussion of upcoming expenses for signs, kiosks, and scout projects. At June meeting, plan to discuss priority projects remaining.
  5. Website Inquiry Summary – Norma
    • Report of mulch on trail at FMCP.
    • Question about partnering with Helping Heroes.
    • Inquiry about Chiyoda surface on town’s section.
    • Request to use Big Field for paragliders.
    • Memorial bench request.
    • Reports of trees down.
  6. Communication Director – TBD/Sarah: No update
  7. Social Media – Sarah: Slow follower growth on Facebook
  8. Habitat Committee Update – Norma:
    • First scheduled date is 5/16 to pull garlic mustard.

Trail Planning and Maintenance

  1. Trail Steward Report – Linda
    • Gosnell steward identified drainage issue that Jonathon and Craig will address.
    • WRNP Red trail benches have been sealed by stewards, and they will tackle the rest of the WRNP benches.
    • Bird Sanctuary trail near the Passport post might have someone living there. ACTION ITEM: Anna and Linda to follow up with the authorities.
  2. Kiosk information project – Denise/Linda:
    • 12 Kiosks need signage updated.
    • Design from town includes information from Parks and Rec, maps, and history (limited to 298 words). QR code will go to the FWT website for trail page and interactive map.
    • Town to pay for the main panels with their information. FWT to pay for the maps signage and to install as they are ready.
    • During sign creation, temporary signs to be installed.
    • Total cost = $4640, spread over two years. Concerns that this is a high percentage of our resources.
      ACTION ITEM: Anna to revisit cost sharing with the town.
  3. Trail Signs – Denise:
    • 50+ signs installed in Herman Road Forever Wild Forest.
    • Next project is to replace signs at Midnight Trail and to create signs for State Road.
    • Hojack signs to be after that, with 30+ signs needed.
  4. Hojack @ Lake Road kiosk volunteer opportunity – Anna: Scout to build it with our town budget line.

Meeting Notes
  1. Eagle Scout Presentation: RJ, State Road boardwalks.
    • 3 boardwalks to be constructed by the end of June.
    • Cost estimate = $1256, but need to double outside stringers for the 12-foot boardwalk.
    • Approved for not to exceed $1500.
  2. Financial update – Insurance Renewal – Chris
    • Insurance renewal is ~$700 for Director and Officer, and ~$900 for volunteer liability.
    • Request for getting credit cards for FWT, instead of debit cards. Approved.
  3. Girl Scout Presentation: Ava, State Road benches and table – to be rescheduled
  4. Patrick Smally New Board Member-at-large Nomination – Anna T.: Approved
  5. Re-Tree Project: Sarah/Norma
    • RGE donated 20 trees that were planted in April along the Hojack trail between Klem and Hard roads.
    • ReTree and Habitat potted 200+ seedlings for Earth Day.
    • Nursery maintenance is next project.
  6. Promote (RECRUITMENT)/Events/Fundraising:
    • May 17 Workday #2- State Rd Trail Widening
    • May 30-31st – St Rita Fiesta ?
    • June XX Hermann Road Ribbon Cutting – new date in process
    • June 21 Workday #3 – Bird Sanctuary Puncheons
    • xx.xx.25 Passport Challenge Kick Off
    • Willow Running, 10.19.25 Boos & Brew – Willow Running: Running race in Charles Sexton park, with part of proceeds to FWT.
  7. Open Discussion
    • Ralph Wilson Jr Trail Maintenance Fund – Grant Application Status update: No decision yet, but should be by the end of May.
    • Trail Counting – Approved to put report online and to submit an article to the Webster Herald.
    • Volunteer Hours- categories for tracking – Norma: Denise and Norma to create draft proposal for review at June meeting.
    • Kiwanis property now has trails on the private land. Proposal for us to partner in some way if they open the property. ACTION ITEM: Anna to reach out to Kiwanis.
    • Hojack trail – Need to consider options if we don’t get the grant.