Approximately 14 people, representing service clubs and local groups, attended the Syracuse-Wawasee Trail Committee meeting Tuesday night. Mike Buhrt, who has taken over leadership of the committee, explained this was the first official meeting of the committee after undergoing a restructuring.

Sandy Buhrt has agreed to take over the trail project’s website. Donn Baird, treasurer, reported on the trail projects finances. Baird only had February’s numbers, but the trail committee has $81,358 available to it. There is also an additional $15,000 in a maintenance CD.

Buhrt asked if there were any questions about what has been accomplished by the trail committee or what is in the works. Referring to a map of the trail system, he explained sidewalks within the town limits count as part of the trail system. To date, walkers and bike riders can take the trail from Wawasee Golf Course all the way to Wawasee High School and almost completely around Syracuse Lake.

The committee is looking to take the trails south. One area of interest is a section between Harkless Drive and The Sleepy Owl. Buhrt explained this is the most desired area for trail, but it is also the most complicated and most expensive area.

It was also mentioned that residents have donated funds to the trail project specifically for southern sections of the trail. One area being discussed is to put in a short section of trail by the fish hatchery and then branch out from there. A nice donation was also received by residents living in the Vawter Park area. Buhrt mentioned installing a trail there would be complicated as there is a narrow right of way and lots of utility poles to contend with.

As for the future of the committee, Buhrt said those who have served on the committee for a while would like to see at least 12 active members. He explained volunteers are needed to help organize grant writing and maintaining the trails already in place . Some service organizations have sponsored work days in the past to clean the trails of brush.

Bob Trame of Wawasee Kiwanis and Eric Leffler of Syracuse Rotary indicated their clubs would be willing to help maintain the trail. Trame said Wawasee Kiwanis is holding a work day on Saturday, April 20, with a crew of nine already signed up. They will be working from the railroad tracks at Eastshore and Pickwick Drives moving south along the trail removing brush.

Bob McDonald, a local resident, asked if there were financial goals the committee tried tor each annually. Buhrt explained there needs to be more emphasis on finances and grant writing.

Buhrt asked local grant writer Marsha Carey if she could come up with a proposal of what it would cost to hire her part-time. Carey said before making such a proposal she would want to see which grants the committee has already applied for and which ones are available.

McDonald asked about the trail section between Gran View and Wawasee Slip (SR 13 section). Smith explained the section would take about $1.2 million with a board walk. The Indiana Department of Transportation at first wanted the trail at least 10 feet off its right of way, which would place the trail behind the utility poles and possibly into wetlands.

The next meeting of the Syracuse-Wawasee Trail Committee will be 6 p.m. Monday, May 20, at the Syracuse Community Center.

(For a more in-depth account of the meeting, see today’s issue of The Mail-Journal.)