The Syracuse-Wawasee Trails Committee installed 27 signs recently along portions of the trail, it was mentioned at Monday night’s meeting.

The signs were installed starting at Eastshore Drive, going down Pickwick Drive to Cornelius, Harkless Drive up to the high school and to the tracks at Main Street.

Ten more signs are needed. Each sign costs $65 a piece. The extra signs were approved at a cost of $650.

In addition, “Share the Road” signs will cost $110 a piece and 26 signs are needed. The signs will go on either side of the road. The committee will install the signs sometime in the spring and will discuss purchasing the signs at the next meeting.

The Gatlins concert over the weekend in North Webster was well received. The committee fundraiser brought out 140 people and another concert is slated for August.
Tammy Cotton, chamber director, gave the committee a $1,500 check from proceeds from the Tour of Lakes bike ride in July.

The committee is seeking a Safe Routes to School Grant, which is a national grant, said Executive Director Megan McClellan. The grant is anywhere from $20,000 to $40,000. She will find out if the trail committee received the grant Oct. 1.

McClellan was given permission to attend a free training session Sept. 26 in Indianapolis. She will stay one night in a hotel and get mileage reimbursement. Attending the session improves the likelihood of getting the grant, she said.

McClellan gave an update on the organization’s Facebook page and website. While there was no new news, she suggested adding construction updates to the website. Committee member Mike Buhrt suggested posting a list of donors.

The donation of three benches from a company was discussed. McClellan will look into the matter further before the next meeting, as the committee wants its logo on the benches.

The establishment of designated trailheads was suggested. These would consist of kiosks on several trails, including near the athletic complex, and some parking spaces. McClellan said she will contact a local Eagle Scout group and the high school to see if they’d be interested in building the kiosks.

The addition of eight cement bollards on four bridges along the trail was discussed. The bollards will cost $3,200 and would deter snowmobilers from using the trail’s bridges. The bollards could be either removable or permanent. The committee hopes to install them before winter.

Office space for McClellan at the chamber was approved. The committee approved renting the office space for her for $200 on a month-by-month basis. She will have regular office hours that have yet to be determined.

The committee also approved joining the chamber at $85 a year, a nonprofit rate.

The deadline to apply for a grant for part of the trail through the K21 Foundation is Nov. 1. That portion of the trail, from Harkless Drive to S.R. 13, would start next year.

Regarding that potential trail section, “we are hoping to move as quickly as we can,” said Buhrt.

Donn Baird gave the treasurer’s report. There is a $173,189 balance and, so far, $44,000 has been spent. Last month $6,838.63 was spent, including the director’s pay.

The next meeting is at 6 p.m. Oct. 17.