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Staff outlines trail funding estimates and the board agrees to help White Lake Friends with an October scavenger hunt
Summary
Town staff reported preliminary engineering cost estimates for multiuse trail phases, recent state trail award figures, and recommended pursuing planning grants; the board voted to assist White Lake Friends with an October 18 scavenger hunt and discussed a year-round "2nd Saturdays" events calendar.
Town representative Sean gave a staff update outlining regional resources, upcoming conferences and preliminary cost estimates for the town's multiuse trail project and recommended grant strategies.
Sean told the board that regional partners have resources and webinars (he cited an events calendar at uplifttourism.com/calendar) and that NC State design work and conversations with engineers could position the town for planning or construction grants. He cited recent trail-funding figures and estimates from partners: "there was... over $2,600,000 awarded recently to Eastern North Carolina Trails," and an amount cited for Western North Carolina and the Piedmont (transcript: "$22,000,000"). He said average awards in a recent round were about $260,000 and that a planning or RTP grant might not fully fund construction of the town's Phase 2/3 project.
On the multiuse trail, Sean summarized engineering feedback that combining Phase 2 and Phase 3 into one construction project could lower costs: "if we move forward with the entire project... generally speaking $400,000 to construct that project," whereas breaking the phases into separate projects could be roughly $250,000 each. He advised the board to consider planning grants, align with NC State design work and contact DOT representatives when appropriate.
The Chair raised a White Lake Friends idea to host a scavenger hunt on October 18; members discussed educational stations about turtles and simple low-cost activities. Carrie moved that the board "engage in assisting the White Lake Friends" to plan the scavenger hunt; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. Members also discussed creating a year-round events calendar ("2nd Saturdays") and using nonprofit partners to carry liability and operations while the town could sponsor or support programming.
Sean said he will follow up with materials and links and share any grant opportunities the board should track. The board directed staff to return with more information and to continue informal planning sessions for an events calendar so long as formal decisions are made in an open meeting.
