WARWICK TOWNSHIP TO EPHRATA BOROUGH RAIL TRAIL

FEASIBILITY STUDY COMMITTEE MEETING #8 MINUTES

November 9, 2006

ATTENDEES:  Present at the meeting were Rick Jackson (ELA Group), Damian Clawser (ELA Group), Mike Domin (LCPC), Dan Zimmerman (Warwick Township), Bob Thompson (Ephrata Borough), Dan Guers (Akron Borough), David Kratzer (Warwick Township), Curt Strasheim (WRRC), Carl Laws Landis (Akron Borough), John Williamson (Akron Borough), Ellen Rupp (Ephrata Borough), Jim Summers (Ephrata Rec Center), Ed Stone (Warwick Township), Karen Scheffey (Warwick Township), John McBeth (Akron Borough),  Isaac Zimmerman (Warwick Township-resident), Gerald Pfautz (Warwick Township-resident), Gil Lutz (Warwick Township-resident), Amos Hurst Sr. (Warwick Township-resident), Rick Richards (Ephrata Borough-resident)

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  The Study Committee unanimously approved the minutes of the October 12, 2006 meeting as submitted.

LETTER TO LANCASTER COUNTY AG PRESERVE BOARD:  Jackson reviewed a memo from George Cook, attorney for the Lancaster County Ag Preserve Board (APB).  Jackson noted that Matt Knepper, Director of the Lancaster County APB, would summarize the contents of Cook’s memo on APB letterhead for inclusion within the final report.  Jackson noted that he would request clarification on whether the right-of-way was included within the Bollinger farm’s agricultural conservation easement.

REPORT/UPDATE FROM THE CONSULTANT TEAM & QUESTIONS FROM / DISCUSSION WITH THE STUDY COMMITTEE:  Jackson reviewed the Draft Feasibility Study and asked Study Committee for their comments/questions.  Based on the received comments, revisions and additions will be made to the final report.

PUBLIC COMMENT:  Gil Lutz (Warwick Township-resident) again expressed his belief that members of the consultant team illegally trespassed on his land to evaluate the bridge structure over the Cocalico Creek.

Gerald Pfautz (Warwick Township-resident) continued to express his belief that the former railroad right of way is included within his agricultural conservation easement and that the development of the trail on his land would be a violation of Act 149 of 1988. 

ADJOURNMENT:  The meeting was adjourned at approximately 9 p.m.

NEXT MEETING(s):  December 7, 2006 at Ephrata Public Library- Final Public Meeting

Respectfully submitted,

David W. Kratzer, Jr.

Warwick Township

Assistant to the Township Manager