Skytrail Trailblazer Committee final report
Dear editor,
At the Council meeting of April 9, we advised Council we would provide them with the plans for the walkway and an updated cost estimate. The plans were submitted on April 17, however, due to difficulty in contacting some of the donors involved, the cost estimates were presented to Mr. Trew on Wednesday, April 23 along with the presentation that we were not allowed to present to Council. On Tuesday Mr. Trew sent us an e-mail stating we would not be allowed to make a presentation at the Council because our Committee had not presented him with details as how risk was to be mitigated. (Council has never stated what they think risk is; they just hide behind the word.)
This is the presentation that our Committee was not allowed to present to Council at their meeting on April 23.
This will be the last meeting that the SkyTrail Trailblazer Committee will have with the Outlook Town Council. It is time to comment on the meetings that were held with the CAO, Mayor, and Council since January of 2023 until the last meeting on October 9, 2024. In a word, every meeting was negative. There was not a positive thing about reopening SkyTrail. The early meetings were always about Liability, Liability, Liability, but once a lawyer was consulted and Council found out they would always be liable as they were the owners, the word then became Risk, Risk, Risk. People that took a risk were those individuals who donated $100,000 to have the deck built. At risk were the volunteers who completed the deck in December of 2023 after the Engineers left the job half completed. All this council has to worry about is if the risk is greater to the Town of Outlook for the people who climb over the fence to walk SkyTrail or the ones who walk the wide open bridge Free of Charge?
At the meeting on April 9, the first positive step was mentioned: "The deck of SkyTrail was going to be repaired by the town carpenter." Wow! What a breakthrough. In light of that information the rest of this meeting on our part will focus on the reopening of SkyTrail.
Included below are the costs that our Committee came up with to build a walkway. Council has been provided with the plans for the walkway that were drawn up, and approved by carpenter Clayton Rause; logistics were also discussed.
As for the SkyTrail Trailblazer Committee is an Ad Hoc group our proposals could not be implemented by Council for various reasons.
Plans for the walkway have been submitted to Council and the proposed costs are listed. Two options for Council are included: Capital; this would be considered as new construction and might be eligible for donations for materials and the quote from LB Welding for moving the gate to the entry building (this was a consultant's proposal). Repairs; this would be like any repair within the Town of Outlook where all costs would be the Town's responsibility.
Construction Details
1. Remove chain link fence. Fit screen into place.
2. Repair SkyTrail deck.
3. Clean up weeds and garbage.
4. Remove old crosswalk (chainsaw). Save planks.
5. Survey for grade (brick work). Earthwork.
6. Remove approx. 150 sq ft of bricks.
7. Excavate soil to grade. (Approx. 5 yds).
8. Cut holes in concrete and bricks for post holes.
9. Clayton to install (20) posts and cross members.
10. Install membrane and replace bricks.
11. Carpenter to build (4) panels (2" x 6" x 12'3").
12. Set panels in place.
13. LB Welding remove gate and install frame in Entry Building.
14. Carpenter installs deck.
The information is all available; it is now up to the will of the Council to proceed. With a co-operative effort a reopening date of May 17 is achievable. How is this possible?
Our SkyTrail Trailblazer Committee proceeds with items 3 through 10. The only person that would be paid is Clayton Rause @ $50/hr to install the posts and cross members. (Volunteer help with cross members). The only problem could be frost which could delay the earthwork and drilling the holes for the posts. If required, we believe every contractor and volunteer would sign a waiver. Building and installing the walkway is up to the town carpenter.
Let's review:
1. Council has approved the repair of the deck by the town's carpenter.
2. Our Committee has presented the plans for the walkway, various methods of construction and the cost of each.
3. In the presentation that we were going to make, the issue of risk was addressed as it is only a word that the Administrator, the Mayor and the Council are hiding behind not to make a decision.
4. Why not call a public meeting and have the Administrator, the Mayor and each Council member stand up and tell the public exactly their reason why SkyTrail should remain closed.
Respectfully submitted by,
SkyTrail Trailblazer Committee
Chairperson, Con Hammer
