SYRACUSE — Syracuse-Wawasee Trail Committee met Monday evening, Sept. 21, and heard plans for the Eli Lilly Road trail project are moving forward.

Megan McClellan, executive director, said two bids were submitted for the project. The committee hired Pulver Asphalt Paving as the contractor, at a cost of $83,970, including construction costs and moving phone boxes.

“There have been some tremendous donations in the past few weeks,” McClellan said.

So far, pending donations total $71,895.50. Three private donors have pledged donations. So far, $537.50 has been spent. Construction of the trail is expected to start in the spring.

Design and permitting of the Conklin Bay trail section (from the corner of Harkless and SR 13 to the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation’s property) is underway. However, $66,416 is still needed.

“We received $13,584 from the Dekko Foundation,” said McClellan. “We applied for $25,000. We should find out about our K21 application later this week.”

She also applied for a $5,000 grant from KREMC Round-Up and a $10,000 grant from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation. Responses are expected on those in mid-October and mid-November, respectively.

McClellan and Dan Ernst from Earth Source had a preliminary meeting with Indiana Department of Transportation to discuss permitting along the east and west ends of the proposed trail section. INDOT stated the project is “not unpermitted,” meaning, go ahead and apply for the permit for the crushed stone trail. McClellan will meet with the Department of Natural Resources in the fall.

Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation has voiced some concern about the exact placement of the trail near its sign on SR 13. They would like the trail to be as inconspicuous as possible.

A complaint regarding drainage on Northshore Drive was reiterated, despite new paving. There are flooding and drainage issues on Northshore Drive as a portion of the trail floods at a property owner’s driveway. Mike Thompson has spoken with the homeowner. The cost for Thompson to fix it is $1,600.

McClellan gave the treasurer’s report. As of Aug. 31, there is an ending balance of $209,979.01. Expenses totaled $29,985.44, with the biggest expense being tamper proof tags and cell routers for the Safe Routes to Schools initiative.

Walk to School Day is Oct. 7. Wawasee students will be given tags to scan once they arrive at school.

The second biggest expense is for Earth Source, at a cost of $10,074.62, for Conklin Bay’s design and engineering.

The signs for Harkless Drive and the trailheads are in. Volunteers said they would help with the installation of these signs in early October.

The kiosk at the athletics complex is up, though it still needs a few finishing touches. The other kiosk should be built in the next week or two.

A bench has been donated by KC Recycling Depot and will be installed at a trail location to be determined.

McClellan attended the Indiana Trails Conference in Muncie recently. She gave a full update at the meeting and said she obtained some “good ideas.”

The total profit from a recent fundraiser was $2,573.20. The Gatlins were to perform a concert Aug. 29, but had to back out at the last minute due to an illness. New entertainment, Indy Duo, was found at the last minute.

Volunteer of the Month is Dr. Tom Edington, who recently did a trail count and is the committee’s chairman.

The next meeting is at 6 p.m. Oct. 19.