It’s not exactly what some councillors had been expecting, but leaving a local trail in a more natural state is likely most cost effective for now.
Steve Revell was at Erin council on June 21 to provide an update to a proposed trail from behind the Delarmbro subdivision at the south edge of Erin to the water tower hill. The trail would pass northeasterly behind the subdivision parallel to County Road 14, towards the water tower hill access road.
Revell said Bill Dunwoody made an initial presentation on June 7 and the local Rotary Club has expressed interest in assisting with the project.
Following Dunwoody’s presentation, council requested more information on two items about the proposed trail connecting Delarmbro subdivision and the main street. Since the trail is to be on town property, those items are fairly important, Revell agreed.
The first was what needs to be done to make the trail workable. The second question related to the costs.
Revell introduced Colleen Darrell, a resident of Erin.
“She’s been a member of the trails committee for a year, she’s had CVC [Credit Valley Conservation] training just recently and was an active helper planting the trees at Barbour Field. Most importantly, she is a Bruce Trail member, and as a member she’s had lots of experience in designing and building trails and bridges,” he said.
Revell said within the past month, Darrell had done a cost analysis for trail improvements and learned what is needed for the proposal in the town.
He provided council with a copy of that report.
Darrell explained her experience is with the Caledon Hills Bruce Trail. For the past five years, she has been a trail coordinator and volunteer coordinator and helped organize bridge builds.
“Basically, the trail is in really good shape already.”
The group’s intent is to leave the current trail as natural as possible. “There are only two areas in need of some work,” she said.
One is over a small stream; the other is the access to the road at the water tower hill.
Revell said the access point is where the road turns to go up the hill.
“We need the CVC permit first,” Darrell explained.
Her estimate on the bridge costs is dependent on what the CVC requirements are regarding how high the bridge must be above the stream bed.
Her estimate, based on a bridge being two metres above the river bed, was roughly $950 – including all materials – but not labour.
Darrell indicated labour for would be volunteer.
She said while the list included tools required, she stressed most volunteers already have the required tools.
The second estimate is for steps to be installed near the road access to the water tower hill road. The plan is to place cedar logs into the hill to make that stretch easier to climb.
The material cost for that, is $400, depending on the number of logs needed.
Questions from council started with the stairway.
Councillor Barb Tocher said when council originally requested more information, “what I was thinking of was seeing a drawing of the whole section [of trail] that you are talking about.”
She said one concern of leaving the area natural is there were thoughts of having the trail topped with a surface to make it wheelchair accessible or for cyclists – “as much as our other trails are .. to make it as accessible to as many people as possible.”
She said paved would be beautiful because it would be accessible to everyone, but topped would be better than a dirt or natural trail.
Darrell explained the problem with surfacing the trail would be the materials used.
She said cedar mulch is not good for wheelchairs, and right now there is a firm solid earth surface.
Tocher said her intent was not for cedar mulch, but rather a gravel with a limestone screening.
Darrell recommended leaving the trail as natural as possible.
“It’s a beautiful trail right now.”
She said wheelchair accessibility would be an entirely different issue. “Unfortunately, when you get to the place where stairs are … it’s not going to be.”
Darrell said it would be difficult to make the entire section of trail wheelchair accessible. In addition to the trail itself being wider, the bridge would need to be wider as well.
Mayor Lou Maieron said he understood what councillor Tocher was alluding to.
He explained Wellington County is involved in some trails as well. He agreed a gravel and limestone bed is quite expensive.
Maieron suggested contacting the county planning department for information.
“If it was a bigger – this trail connects to another trail – possibly to incorporate it into the county trails system – and therefore be eligible for monies to do some of the additional work.”
He said Darrell had given council some estimates on where they wanted to proceed.
Staff told council the portion of the trail being discussed at the water tower hill is a substantial grade. Its probably a 10- to 15-foot hill from the trail up to the road.
“So it’s not going to be [wheelchair] accessible – period,” Tocher said.
To make it accessible, the trail would have to be regraded and ramped.
Revell said at this point the group is not asking the municipality for funds. “We know that Rotary has stepped up to the plate and wants to assist.”
Tocher asked if members of the committee would fall under the town’s insurance while working on the trail.
Town Manager Lisa Hass said they are already included due to their work on other trails on behalf of the recreation committee.
Maieron agreed if the work is to happen on municipal land, it would still need council’s approval to go forward.
Revell said proponents would love to see the project begin this summer.
Councillor Josie Wintersinger advised caution on the insurance issue.
“When I was at OSUM [Ontario Small Urban Municipalities conference], I talked to someone. That person used to work for the insurance company we deal with.”
She learned, “do not assume on your policy that you are covered for a lot of events that you hold. You will find out that you’re not. I’m not saying that this has not been looked into, I’m only questioning how we can clarify that they would be covered.”
Hass said her understanding was they would be covered providing the town submits a list of all those involved.
“Where do we go from here?” Maieron asked.
Tocher said if a drawing had been provided, she would have realized the steps were part of the proposal from Delarmbro to the roadway.
“Seeing that has been explained to me, I could see moving to allow the trails committee to proceed to make the improvements to the trail.”
Maieron asked Tocher to provide a written resolution to that effect. Tocher said that she had just made a verbal resolution.
Maeiron said he did not want to see any misunderstandings, which is why he ensured blank resolution forms are provided at all councillor desks.
“Please write it out and have someone second it.”
He considered it unfair to staff, if there is a difference of opinion between the verbal motion, and what is written out.
He asked that the motion be written by a councillor, have it seconded, and then it would be discussed.
“If that is your policy for the future, fine Mr. Mayor; at the moment I’ve made a verbal resolution.”
He replied, “Fine, if you want to win that battle, you got it,” the mayor responded, saying he wanted to move forward.
Tocher contended it wasn’t a battle, just that there was a resolution.
Maeiron again stated resolution forms were at the council desks so that the motions could be written out.
“It’s fairer to staff. They try to get the gist of what someone is saying, but no one can do it better than the person who wants to present it,” Maieron said.
In repeating the motion, Tocher said it was that council give permission for the group to do work on the trail.
Maieron told the delegates they had their direction to move forward with the work.
If there is additional information that could be forwarded to council at some point, “it would be very much appreciated,” Maieron said.
Tocher added that if the group encounters any problems with the CVC to let the town know so it can be of assistance.
Maeiron said he is the town’s CVC representative.
Tocher quipped, “So if you have any difficulties with the CVC, contact us, and Lou will take care of it.”
