A Race Against Winter - Part 2
After three consecutive days of progress on the Trail 17 boardwalk, we took Thursday off. This allowed me to focus on Chassell related activities starting with a meeting that morning at Centennial Park with DPW staff member Craig Austin. He pointed out the need to replace the structure holding the Centennial Park sign within the park. The sign itself was funded back in 2019 in large part with a Regional Prosperity Initiative Community Marketing Mini-Grant that I had secured through the Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region (WUPPDR). The structure holds the medallions for grants the township has received from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR). I asked Craig if he could provide an estimate for the materials costs for them to construct a new structure so the planning commission could recommend that the board fund this from the recreation millage. We then looked over the pavilion curtains which are currently part of the program within our MDNR Spark Grant. If funding still remains after our restroom and adjustable boat ramp dock projects within the grant, Craig suggested that we look at a particular vendor’s solution that would provide for a motorized rolling up of the curtains. We also went over to the Chassell Bark Park (the township’s fenced off-leash dog park) to look over some areas where gaps are forming under the fence, either due to the sawdust settling or possibly seasonal heaving. We discussed the possibility of moving material with the skid-steer or possibly moving field rock into these locations. I would share all three of these matters at that evening’s Recreation Committee meeting.
After meeting with Craig, I met up with Ben Garbacz from the Daily Mining Gazette to discuss the Waterfront Boardwalk project being carried out by MJO.
The crew was measuring steel that would support the viewing platform, so they were too busy to talk. This coverage will be a nice opportunity to create greater awareness about the $495,000 Spark Grant awarded to Chassell Township by the MDNR and the significant impact its projects will have on the accessibility of Centennial Park. I will be sure to share Ben’s story once it is published.
I would then reach out to Chris Nault with the MDNR’s Baraga Office about meeting with the Chassell Township Planning Commission and Casey Huckins from Michigan Technological University about our proposed project to clean the sand and silt out of Hamar Creek to improve the brook trout habitat. The Fathers Day Flood in 2018 has clearly impacted on the creek. I had recently discussed what permitting would be required with Cassie Abrams from Environment Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) and she indicated that if Chris would verify this need, we would need to secure a dredging permit for this purpose. Chris indicated that he would come out as soon as we could get a meeting coordinated with Casey.
I would also reach out to a few of our area’s remote workers to find additional candidates for upcoming remote worker vignettes on social media.
The Recreation Committee would meet that evening and we would continue our discussions regarding the upcoming ski season on the Chassell Trails. Maxx from the Sigma Rho Fraternity was there and indicated that there members would be willing to volunteer to help out with the trails. We have trees that will need to be removed from the trails so we will coordinate with them on helping us with their removal. We also discussed the possibility of them helping out with the grooming which is something Maxx will bring up at their Sunday meeting.
Friday morning (the first day of firearm deer season) Julie and I would go swimming at MTU. We had a late start so I was only able to put in 2,300 yards. Afterwards I would head over to Maasto Hiihto to continue working on the Trail 17 boardwalk for four more hours with Mark, Wolf, Doug, and Jim. We would get the rest of the posts installed and nearly all of the side frames.
The post installation went a lot faster on this day as we had a planer to shave down the moisture swollen 6 x 6s so we could fit the brackets over them.
We would also get the next leg of joists installed up through to cedar where the boardwalk will jog left in order to avoid the big pine farther up the trail.
This is even more labor intensive than it appears in the photos as a larger number of fasteners (both screws and nails) need to go into the joist hangers to anchor the joists into the side frames. The work on this day would position us well for the significant amount of decking work that would take place on Saturday.
After wrapping up, I would spend the rest of the afternoon cutting and splitting firewood at home.
Saturday morning would find me back at Maasto Hiihto for a 9:00 a.m. start to continue work on the Trail 17 boardwalk. We would have the support of a tremendous group of volunteers over the course of five and half hours, including: Mark, Wolf, Carl, Stan, Nick, Dave, Ken, Doug, Jim, John, Jason, and Connie! One group of volunteers would extend the installation of joists and applying the needed fasteners.
Another group would continue the decking process.
Other volunteers would stage the remaining deck lumber.
By 2:30 that afternoon the joist work would be completed as far as the materials would allow as we were short one 2 x 12 and three joist hangers, as well as having driven all the available nails.
The decking work would be completed to the cedar where the boardwalk jogs left.
We have excellent weather in the forecast for Monday as we will continue decking then. We just may win this race against winter and have this project completed for the upcoming ski season!
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