GET OUT THE CRISCO
BDA MEETS

   Clay County's Business Development Authority (BDA) held their monthly meeting Oct. 14th, beginning at 6:30pm in the old State Road garage building in Two Run. Right at 6 Boardsters were present for duty along with  three visitors.
  There was a time when the BDA was a cash cow. That's not the case now.  Sept. Beginning balance stood at $1202.51. After monthly expenses, the BDA started Oct. 2019 with just $869.89 in the general account. There are other accounts but those figures are not mentioned during public meetings. Office Manager Debora Saulsgiver, "You all can look at the other one."
  According to the BDA Chair, a recent FEMA audit and a regular audit were recently completed with findings A-OK.
  Provided to the Board, FEMA funds can be used to purchase a new puter, printer, ink and supplies; 15 RR ties have been purchased and need installed on the current 6 mile stretch of tracks before the 2020 ride season opens; and, FEMA efforts are moving along while awaiting approval of some kind of  historical and environmental assessment is completed.

   Clay Fire Dept's Mike Scott (above on the left) was on hand to negotiate rental space in the BDA building for a fire truck. Agreement reached to rent the space for $75 per month with the BDA covering the cost of heating the garage during Winter months. The Fire Dept will agree to move the rascal when necessary .. like when the interior gets painted latter this month and when other groups rent the place for events.
  Last year the BDA hosted Halloween train rides as a fundraiser.  This year's event has been canceled due to not enough volunteers available to make it happen. Some other evening runs are being planned but this newspaper has not received notice. Sad.
  Thru out the meeting, much mention was made that the BDA is broke. Much time was spent figuring how to raise $$$. To that end,  the BDA will participate in an indoor yard sale planned for Dec. Suggestions included: host a flea market in the BDA building where table spaces could be rented;  set up a gun show; hold auctions in their digs; or, maybe plan live music shows.

BDA Visitor, Rocky Nutter

   "We can't wait til we're flat broke," said Debora Saulsgiver. Finally getting their attention, the vote was secured, the BDA will raffle off a $500 Rural King Gift Card with a  Dec 20th drawing date planned. Expect a month long rifle, compound bow and cash give away raffle next Spring.
  A few months back the BDA was asked how their pedal car rail ride was going in 2019. Back then, nobody was willing to say how many paying riders had come their way on 2019.
  On Oct. 14th, the BDA Chair volunteered, the train ride had about as many riders, maybe a few more this year as they had in 2018.. Holding their own sounds pretty good doesn't it. Well maybe not.
  Last year the ride opened for business in late June. This year they opened their doors in mid April. Soooo, that means, in 6 months of operation in 2019, they did as many rides as they did in 4 months in 2018.
  Rocky Nutter, nephew to the train ride founder, Roger Nutter, was on hand for the meeting and may have expressed interest in joining the organization in the future.

What a hiking biking horseback riding trail is suppose to look like. All nice and smooth makes for easy grass cutting and monitoring activities by Badges,

Here's the ERTS Trail (Lump Lane) with the ties in place. Lovely?

  Here comes the Crisco part readers.
  From the peanut gallery, an update on the removal of old railroad tracks was requested. The Chair told the group, the rails are being removed, they're moving along at a good pace but as for making their Christmas deadline, DeBoard, "I don't know."
  A follow up question came: What about removing the railroad ties?
  Here it is readers, get out the Crisco, according the Chair, and after prodding,  the railroad ties will NOT be removed. They will be left in place.
  No Boardsters commented. No comments came from around the table. Sure felt like, well, that's the way it's going to be and there's nothing to be done or said about it.
  Think about that. Our chance for a nice usable hiking biking trail... can't you see one of the $2000 bikes trying to  bump over all those rotting ties? How about parents pushing a stroller on the Lump Lane? How do you think that would work? Forgot about riding a horse or pulling a buggy on the dangerous Lane.
  Sure sounds like, the owner of the rights of way just got a wad of $$$ in purchase price of the rights of way followed by substantial bigger $$$ for recycling the old steel. The expense of removing the ties,  don't worry about that costly part of the deal. Just leave em in place.
  Our chance for a new tourism draw, it just got shot down in flames. The rich guy just got richer and we got screwed.
AW