LANDCARE COMMITTEE

WEDNESDAY
9:00AM
April 6, 2011

I. ATTENDANCE: Bob Tuttle, Fred Holder, Joe Standaert, O’Neil Tate, Ron
Nalley, Sam Hope, Lauren Mathews, Mike Sonnenberg

II. WELCOME: Meeting opened with prayer by Rev Bob Tuttle

III. Adoption of the Minutes: Approval of the March minutes.

IV. OLD BUSINESS:

a. Sanctuary Project – Sam Hope update on bridge construction and kiosk and
brought draft of kiosk information display. Bridge materials will be carried to
site by volunteers on Thurs 9AM (4/7) and concrete footers for bridge tol be
poured Thurs afternoon. Steel beams delivered later. Sam thanked 6 students
from Dottie’s class at college for developing the information displays and two
students who will construct the kiosk itself. The Sanctuary Trail to be dedicated
on Sunday, May 29th at 4PM (Kirkin / Memorial Day Weekend).
b. Wilderness Committee – Fred Holder reported on yesterday’s MRA Wilderness
meeting. In particular, noted committee’s formation of a Galax protection task
force. Also, new bill was introduced as a draft to NC House to add protection for
Galax. The bill was introduced by Rep Mitch Gillespie from McDowell County
(see the attached Asheville Citizens Times article). The Landcare Committee
endorses this new bill and hope it goes further with enforcement policies and
penalties. To this end, the Landcare Committee passed the following motion
for consideration by the Montreat Town Council:
MOTION: That the Montreat Town Council should officially endorse
and support the proposed Galax protection bill recently introduced by Rep
Dwight Gillespie to the NC House. A support letter should be sent to Rep
Gillespie and Patsy Keever as a minimum, and possibly other local
concerned communities.
c. Arbor Day Event: O’Neil reported on the great success of the recent NC Arbor
Day event held in Montreat. Around 30 people attended the lecture portion in the
Walkup Building and 20 went on the tree identification walk on the Gate Trail.
Several very positive reviews have been received by attendees. Brian Joyce did
an excellent job on his program and it was enjoyed by all.
d. Landcare Website Review: Ron Nalley reported that the Landcare website is
now back up and running, thanks to Cat Kessler’s work. Cat still needs some
input from members. Also new events should be posted (i.e. Garden Show in
Black Mountain)
e. Black Mountain Garden Show: O'Neil reported that the Black Mountain
Garden Show will be Saturday, May 14th from 9-4. Setup by Landcare for our
booth is from 730AM. Joe will get Cottagers tent and possibly re-contact the NC
 Native Plant Society rep. Ron will arrange for the electric car. Lauren will work
on obtaining seeds and seed packets for handouts.
f. Hemlock trees preservation project: Joe reported that funds collected for the
Hemlocks have exceeded goals. There is enough for both treatments of first
hemlocks, plus an additional $1300 for future treatments. Suggested looking at
hemlocks at Post Office. Landcare will need to determine what to do with the
excess funds (which are still in the Cottagers account). Carolina Hemlock grove
is still a viable option, but no estimate has been received from Will Blozen. May
consider another vendor?
g. Native Plant Garden: No activity

V. NEW BUSINESS:

a. None

VI. REPORTS
a. College – Dottie reported April 16th will be a Student Club cleanup of Flat
Creek (Gate to Cotton Ave) followed by lunch and exhibits at BM campus.
Ribbon cutting for the new Greenway from Cotton Ave to the Primary School
will be April 22nd. Also, her students have developed a Bear Education
brochure, which will be mailed to all residents.
b. Conference Center – None, other than previous discussions
c. Wildlife Habitat – None. Suggested that we have Philip submit the Native
Plant Garden and the Walk Jones Sanctuary as Community Habitats.
d. Wilderness – See above
e. Trail Club – Joe Standaert reported that new Wanderer and hike schedule is
out. Future newsletters will be electronic. MTC hikes have been advertised in
the BM News for the last two months. No increase in hike attendance seen
yet. Don McMahill has a National Trails Day work day scheduled for June
4th. Don proposed cleanup of Lower Graybeard Trail. Landcare suggested
that work could maybe be done on a new connector trail from the end of the
Gate Trail, though the woods, to the Rainbow Mountain Trail? Investigating.
f. Trail Club: A tour of Native Plant Garden and Wildflower hike is scheduled
Sunday morning May 1st for the the NC Native Plant Society. O’Neil and
Joe. Possible 30-45 people (!)
g. Community. None, except previous report on Sanctuary Trail
h. Town of Montreat. Ron Nalley. Reported that student from U Tenn is using
Montreat as a model in his Master’s Thesis on “sustainable” cities.

VII. ADJOURNMENT:

NEXT MEETING:
Wednesday May 4th, at 9:00 in the Moore Center (former Andy Andrews Gallery)