A sign for Happy Trails

By Rick Yencer
YORKTOWN - Town residents were not singing Happy Trails Again when the town council decided on a route for the latest walking trail along River Road. "I am not sure we are set in stone about this," said Rick Glaub, town council resident, amid objections over the proposed $1 million trail along the road between Nebo and Morrison roads. The council decided Monday to put the trail on the north side of River Road, allowing it to cross south near Heritage Hall School, allowing consulting engineers to design a plan. Yorktown, like other communities,  sought millions in federal transportation money to extend trails for walkers, bikers and other outdoor folks. The only problem is this trail goes nowhere to nowhere, according to some residents. It stops short of the White River Trail in Muncie, and is a couple miles short of the trail that circles the Yorktown Sports Park. The council had limited discussion about the route and allowed no public reaction until the end of the meeting. We the people have repeatedly called for council to change its ways and allow people to speak when an issue is discussed and voted upon instead of allowing the public to speak later when the decision already has been made. That means the public is not considered in any action taken by council. Well plenty of property owners and  representatives of Heritage Hall had some concerns and objections. Among them were Michele Heritage who said her daughter, Meredith, and a friend, where struck by a car along River Road years ago. "I hope you don't have to witness what I did," said Heritage. Dennis Ice of Heritage Hall, said the work would impact the school greatly, including parking and soccer fields. Another resident, Bruce Orlosky said the project was just discussed last spring and many people knew little about it. "We don't know who is pushing this," he said. Other residents were concerned the trail crossed the road, making it dangerous of youth and walkers. And others certainly did not want to see River Road widened to include a bike or walking trail similar to those in other cities. Town Manager Pete Olson estimated the cost at $1 million, based on federal standards, saying there were no specific plans or cost estimates. For all the objection, the council declined to reconsider their action, as council member Bob Ratchford described the improvement as "a glorified sidewalk."  "I am for trails and for the growth of Yorktown," he said. The town still plans to get some public reaction when their consultants, Butlter, Fairman and Seyfert, Indianapolis, conduct a hearing. Well if a $1 million trail did not get the people's attention, a $61,833 sign that welcome visitors to Yorktown did. Again the council agreed to buy the sign without hearing any public comment until the end of the meeting. Westbrook resident Sharon Cheslik thought the cost was exorbitant. Well the sign, that will be located at Ind. 332 and County Road 600-W, has a video flat screen mounted on a brick wall. Glaub thought the town could have been more creative to say "This is Yorktown and who we are." The sign was proposed because people still don't know there's a $5 million sports park on 600-W that is sometimes confused with the Muncie Sportsplex on east side of Muncie. Yorktown recently consolidated its government to include the entire township, making its new boundaries nearer to Interstate 69. However, the town still considers Ind. 332 its new Main Street although its downtown remains on Ind. 32. Ratchford had the most amusing comment, saying, "It marks our territory." That sports park got some more attention from Yorktown activist John Mogush who help draft the consolidation. He wanted a final accounting of all the money spent on the park that he referred to as a fiasco that now stands under water during heavy rain. And he, like others wondered if drainage problems would be fixed. Ratchford said he did not like all the deals that were done on the project that was started before he was elected. As Glaub said, "It is ready to go. Play ball."