SYRACUSE — Plans continue to move forward for the Syracuse-Webster Road Trail project, Syracuse-Wawasee Trail Committee heard Monday, Oct. 16.

The trail will be less than a mile long and will start at Wawasee High School and end at Brook Pointe Inn. The trail will be on the west side of the road, mostly due to safety reasons.

A meeting with committee members and the engineer will be held this Friday, Oct. 20, to discuss the proposed plans. This is so the committee can answer questions and, Megan McClellan, director, said committee members can better answer people’s questions about this section. Easements are still needed and trees in the right of way may need to be removed.

McClellan submitted an aerial survey for board members to review. A drainage plan will be presented to the county next week.

Commonwealth Engineers has received the topographical survey, she said. McClellan has also been in communication with James Flecker, director of personnel and legal services for the Wawasee Community School Corporation, regarding the right of ways.

An easement for Conklin Bay between Wawasee Property Owners Association and the Syracuse Park Foundation still needs to be completed.

The trail count results were presented by McClellan. The trails were used 200 times per week, according to counts conducted from spring to this fall.

“When you build more trails, you expect more trail users,” said McClellan.

Dr. Tom Edington gave the treasurer’s report. There were $40,207 in donations in September and expenses totaled $5,462.26. McClellan will seek three grants from the Kosciusko County Convention, Recreation and Visitors Commission Wednesday, Nov. 8.

McClellan will met with Eagle Scout Carter Bowman this week to determine locations for the mileage markers around Syracuse Lake. McClellan presented Bowman’s updated budget at the meeting. The signs will cost $550 and will require 100 hours of volunteer labor by Bowman.

Twenty signs will be installed on the trail around the lake. There’s money in the budget for the signs or McClellan can obtain a KCCRVC grant.

The trail crossing signs have been installed by the town on Sycamore Street. McClellan is once again working on a maintenance plan.

McClellan said more volunteers are needed for trail-related events. Several suggestions were made in order to obtain extra volunteers.

The Brooke Point Fall Festival is Sunday, Oct. 22. The trail committee may have a table to answer questions about the Syracuse-Webster Road trail.

Volunteer of the Month is Lauren Leffler, board member Dr. Erick Leffler’s wife, who gave birth Sept. 24. McClellan chose Leffler’s wife because she attended trail meetings during her pregnancy.

The next meeting is at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 27; there is no meeting in December.