Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
3 <br /> <br />expended considerable effort to recruit skilled volunteers for that session in order to establish a 1 <br />positive working relationship. A couple of days before the session, we were notified that due to 2 <br />an administrative glitch, the materials would not be available to undertake the planned work and 3 <br />the work session was cancelled. That was the last communication we've had with DEAPR. 4 <br /> 5 <br />According to your 2018 Capital Investment Plan, “"The second phase of the [MST] project is 6 <br />proposed for Year 2 and would address the segment of the MST from Buckhorn Road around 7 <br />and on the OWASA-owned lands at Cane Creek Reservoir, continuing to the Alamance County 8 <br />line." However, we did not find any specific action items laid out for meeting this goal. 9 <br /> 10 <br />We did, however, find the following in the Parks and Recreation Council plan of action for 2018, 11 <br /> 12 <br />• "Continue to participate in the Mountains to the Sea project as way station and trailhead 13 <br />locations are identified in the coming at Seven Mile Creek and potentially other 14 <br />locations." (p. 47-48 of May 3 BOCC agenda). 15 <br />• In that same document we also found reference to the need for assessing the proposed 16 <br />multimodal trail. 17 <br /> 18 <br />There are at least two significant reasons not to continue delaying action on the Cane Creek 19 <br />section of the trail. First, land is turning over in that area and more and more smaller tracts are 20 <br />being sold. The more residents who move in out there, the harder it is going to be to get the trail 21 <br />sited and built. Second, as we have said before, some of those who are willing to give free 22 <br />easements are older and not only do they want to be assured that the easements are codified 23 <br />but they also want to be able to hike the trail while they are still able. 24 <br /> 25 <br />We completely understand that DEAPR is a small department with a significant work load. 26 <br />That's why we have made so many efforts to help move the MST project forward. We don't 27 <br />want to wait another 3-4 years. If the county is going to move forward with this project beyond 28 <br />the Hillsborough area, it's time to do it, instead of dragging it out while undertaking new 29 <br />competing projects. 30 <br /> 31 <br />What we want: 32 <br />Year 2 begins in July and we would like to have a concrete plan of action that includes: 33 <br />• A commitment to work with NC DOT to establish a trail head at Hwy 54 and Saxapahaw-34 <br />Bethlehem Church Rd. We’d like this commitment made tonight. 35 <br />• A commitment to finalize the freely-offered easements in the Cane Creek area by the 36 <br />end of August. 37 <br />• Establishment of a joint oversight committee between the Friends of the MST, county 38 <br />staff, the BOCC and OWASA before your summer break. The goal of this committee 39 <br />would be to develop an action plan for the Cane Creek section of the trail, followed by a 40 <br />similar plan for Cane Creek to Hillsborough, and then to help guide the plan through to 41 <br />implementation. 42 <br /> 43 <br />Commissioner Rich said she would take this as a petition. 44 <br />Bonnie Hammersley said staff will bring back a status report for the Board before the 45 <br />break. 46 <br /> 47 <br />b. Matters on the Printed Agenda 48 <br />(These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda 49 <br />below.) 50