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EDTA will review US Fish and Wildlife agreement before approving $8,000 barn renovation reimbursement
Summary
Trustees discussed a proposed renovation of a 100-year-old barn at the Giles Park property and directed staff to add the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreement to the next agenda for review before any EDTA expenditure.
Trustees discussed a proposed renovation of a roughly 100-year-old barn on property designated for Giles Park and directed staff to place the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreement on a future agenda for review before spending EDTA funds.
The mayor and other trustees described plans to use the barn as an outdoor classroom to support ecological and biology studies on the donated 170-acre property. Justin Westover, identified in the meeting as a program biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is the USFWS point of contact referenced by staff. The project was described in the meeting as a $16,000 renovation; EDTA’s portion is $8,000, to be reimbursed by USFWS after project completion provided the classroom remains available for at least 10 years.
Meeting discussion and clarifying questions focused on the scope of the work, reimbursement timing and whether the written agreement with USFWS had been shared in the meeting packet. One trustee asked to see the agreement before committing funds; staff agreed to add the agreement to the next EDTA agenda and to make the packet available before that meeting to comply with open meeting procedures.
Funding and timing details discussed in the meeting: staff said EDTA’s Fund 68 holds about $600,000 and the EDTA account about $200,000; trustees were told that construction work should be completed before December 2026 per the draft schedule referenced in discussion. Staff said the renovation will largely preserve the barn’s authenticity while shoring up structural elements, adding electricity and cleaning it for classroom use; the barn currently has an earth floor in the primary area and a concrete floor in the back portion.
Action: No expenditure was approved at the June 16 meeting. Trustees directed staff to include the USFWS agreement in the next agenda packet for review and to bring the item back for formal action.
Why it matters: Converting the barn into an outdoor classroom would support local ecology and engineering studies and formalize a partnership with USFWS. Trustees emphasized the need to review the written agreement and ensure reimbursement terms and any long-term fidelity requirement (the 10-year availability condition) are explicit before authorizing spending.
What’s next: Staff will provide the USFWS written agreement in the next EDTA packet and the item will return to the EDTA for formal consideration and potential approval.
