November 2018: A program that gets Emmet County fourth graders outdoors on bikes on a local trail has received support from the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) of the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation. The Kids Biking Initiative is a program of Top of Michigan Trails Council of Petoskey, and is part of their mission to encourage use of their network of over 300 miles of multi-use trails in Northern Michigan.

The program began in 2017 with financial assistance from a PHSACF grant, and has successfully led over 500 students in class field trips in 2017 and 2018. Over 300 students (from 15 fourth-grade classes) are slated to enjoy field trips in May 2019. Classes meet at Spring Lake Park in Petoskey, and take part in learning experiences before and during their eight-mile round trip ride on the North Western State Trail to the Oden Fish Hatchery.

The program was conceived by Cindy Okerlund, a retired teacher, who is the program director. Okerlund has committed to continuing the program beyond its initial three-year pilot period, and the funds from the Community Foundation will be used to purchase and maintain a fleet of 28 bicycles (previously leased)  for use by students involved in the program through 2022.

This grant was awarded from the Foundation’s Fund for Youth, along with a gift from the Ted and Brenda Frey Donor Advised Fund.

For more information about the Kids Biking program, visit /kids-biking-initiative/, or contact the Trails Council at 231-348-8280.

Photo: Lake to Lake Tour participants cross the Tower Pond on the North Eastern State Trail.

Twenty cyclists braved the hottest, most humid weekend of the year to ride from Alpena on Lake Huron to Petoskey on Lake Michigan. The first “Lake to Lake Tour” took place Friday, September 22 to Sunday, September 24.  The tour, presented by Top of Michigan Trails Council (TOMTC), made use of four of the multi-use trails in the Council’s network.

The completion of the North Western State Trail in 2016 made it possible to travel from lake to lake in on dedicated bicycle trails for the first time in the state of Michigan. After dipping their rear wheels in Lake Huron at the marina in Alpena, the group took the Alpena Bi-Path to the start of the North Eastern State Trail (NEST). After a stop in Metz for lunch (along with a presentation on the devastating Metz Fire of 1908), the group rode to dinner and lodging at Nettie Bay Lodge, a hunting and fishing lodge located two miles from the NEST near Hawks. On Saturday, the group stayed at the Best Western in Cheboygan, and traveled by pontoon boat down the river to Pier 33 where they enjoyed dinner and a presentation on Cheboygan’s history. On Sunday, the group cycled from Cheboygan to Mackinaw City on the North Central State Trail, and then south on the North Western State Trail to the Little Traverse Wheelway, which led them to the Petoskey marina where they dipped their front tires in Lake Michigan.

Reviews were overwhelmingly positive for the tour. One rider from Traverse City wrote, “I want to thank you and the team for making the Lake to Lake tour so pleasurable…. All the support made us very comfortable, knowing we wouldn’t be left in the woods.  You also had little extra side trips, the pontoon rides to see the loons, the pontoon ride on the river to dinner, the historians telling us about Metz and Cheboygan, and the cheering when we arrived at Petoskey with cokes and cookies…. Thanks for a very organized and well-run trip.  It was great fun with great people (even though it was a little warm).”

TOMTC board member Jim Conboy planned the event, with help from committee members Jim Schroeder, Steve Biggs, Anne Belanger, Bill Prall and TOMTC director Jeff Winegard. For more information about upcoming tours, contact the Trails Council at 231-348-8280 or email info@trailscouncil.org.

For photos of the inaugural Lake to Lake tour, click HERE.

There was a large increase in the use of the North Western State Trail (NWST) on one particular day in June, as a bike tour group from the Muskegon area pedaled through northern Michigan.

Our house sits right along the trail and next to Pellston Pioneer Park. Late in the morning of June 19, I saw a group of 10 or so riders leaving the trail and heading into the park. Upon further inspection, I met a few of the 26 adult chaperones and several of the 58 youth riders on a bike trip from Mackinac City to Traverse City and welcomed them to northern Michigan and the Top of Michigan Trails Council system.

This is the 29^th year that Dan and Peggy Manzer of the Ravenna Baptist Church have organized and overseen a ride for the church’s middle school youth. A few years ago, the Sparta Baptist Church joined the group rides. This was the second of a three-year cycle of cycling. The first year, the group rode from Tahquamenon Falls State Park to St. Ignace. This year’s ride takes the group from the Mighty Mac to Traverse City. Next year, they’ll ride from the T.C. area to their church in Ravenna. The youth members and adult chaperones who pedal all three years, then, will have completed a ride from Tahquamenon to their home church.

The first day of this year’s ride was from Mack City to Petoskey. In previous years, the group rode almost entirely on roads, taking the Tunnel of Trees along Lake Michigan. With the recent improvement of the NWST, they opted to do a safer and more direct trail ride, stopping at Pellston Pioneer Park for lunch.

The large tour rides in smaller groups of about 8 to 11 kids, along with 2 or 3 adults. Boys and girls ride in separate groups and, as Dan Manzer told me, “the girls are kickin’ butt right now”!

The group camps at State parks, or sometimes on school grounds. The last group to leave in the morning is responsible for breaking down the camp and getting all their gear loaded onto trucks & trailers. The first group to arrive at the next night’s stop sets up camp. They have their own SAG support van and gear-transport team. Peggy Manzer is responsible for driving ahead with the chow trailer and setting up lunch arrangements.

The bicyclists I spoke with were all having a grand time and loved riding on the NWST. It was a great recreational and bonding experience and they were all eager to continue their ride down the trail. They were to spend the night at Petoskey State Park and ride the Little Traverse Wheelway to Charlevoix the next day. It was wonderful to see such a large, enthusiastic group enjoying the TOMTC trail system!

Patrick Affholter, Pellston

1.0       PURPOSE

Top of Michigan Trails Council (TOMTC) is requesting the submission of proposals from qualified contractors to provide root cutting on both sides of the Little Traverse Wheelway (approximately   23 miles in length) and the paved section the North Western State Trail (approximately 7.5 miles in length). TOMTC is working collaboratively with Charlevoix County, City of Petoskey, and Emmet County to fund and complete the project.

2.0       PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The project requires a vibratory cutting device to safely sever the roots of encroaching trees on both sides of the Little Traverse Wheelway and the North Western State Trail.  The total linear length of the trail is approximately 60 miles (both sides of 30 miles of asphalt trail).  The project will begin before June 27, 2017 or after August 25, 2017.

3.0       SCOPE OF SERVICES

The contractor will:

1. Coordinate and obtain necessary clearances from Miss Dig to locate and avoid utilities along the trail
2. Use a vibratory plow set to a depth of 12 – 16 inches to sever roots along the trail
3. Remediate the disturbed soil upon completion of the trenching

4.0       SELECTION PROCESS

The selection process and schedule will be as follows:

4.1        Advertisement – An advertisement for the Request for Proposals (RFP) will be published in the Petoskey News Review, and posted on the following websites: www.trailscouncil.org

All questions regarding this project should be directed to Jeff Winegard or his designee in writing or by email. In order to maintain equal access to information, firm representatives are not to contact anyone other than the individual named above.

Jeff Winegard, Executive Director, TOMTC 1687 M-119, Petoskey, MI 49770. Phone: 231.348.8280  Email: ed@trailscouncil.org

4.2       Inquiries/Questions – All inquiries/questions regarding this RFP must be directed to Jeff Winegard, by mail or email (see 4.1) and must reach the office by Thursday 12:00 PM on April 20, 2017.

4.3       Proposal Submittal – Written submittals must be received by TOMTC no later than Thursday 12:00 PM on April 27, 2017. Submittals received after this deadline will not be considered.   Proposal shall be submitted either by letter or email.

4.5       Contract Agreements – A contract agreement with the selected firm will be negotiated and executed at the time the project is started.

5.0       SELECTION CRITERIA

The selection of a firm will be based on the qualification information exhibited in both written and graphic form in the Contractor’s Submittal and reference checks. TOMTC may require interviews and reserves the right to interview or not interview firms as it determines to be necessary.

6.0        GENERAL PROVISIONS

6.1        Non-Warranty of Request for Qualifications – Due care and diligence has been used in preparing this RFP. However, TOMTC shall not be responsible for any error or omission in this RFP, nor for the failure on the part of the Contractor to ensure that they have all information necessary to effect their submittals.

6.2       Request for Clarification – TOMTC reserves the right to request clarification of information submitted and to request additional information of one or more Contractors, either orally or in writing.

6.3       Acceptance/Rejection of Submittals – TOMTC reserves the right to accept or reject any or all submittals in whole or in part, with or without cause, to waive technicalities, or to accept submittals or portions thereof which, in TOMTC’s judgment, best serve the interest of TOMTC. TOMTC reserves the right to allow alterations, modifications, or revisions to individual elements of the Scope of Services any time during the period of contracts which result from this RFP.

6.4       Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance – TOMTC will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which prohibits discrimination on the basis of a disability. TOMTC will make reasonable accommodations in all programs to enable participation by an individual with a disability who meets essential eligibility requirements.  If any accommodations are necessary, participants are encouraged to notify TOMTC staff.

6.5      Minority/Women/Small Business Enterprise – TOMTC does not discriminate against any person or business in pursuit of these opportunities on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, or veteran’s status.

6.6       Insurance and Indemnity Requirements – To the extent permitted by law the Contractor shall indemnify and save harmless TOMTC, its agents and employees and assigns, its board, employees and agents, County of Charlevoix, County of Emmet, and City of Petoskey s from and against all loss, cost damages, expense and liability caused by sickness and disease to any person; or damage or destruction to property, real or personal; arising from the negligent acts, errors, or omissions of the Contractor  in the performance of professional services provided to TOMTC.

The Contractor further agrees to purchase and maintain during the life of any contracts entered into with TOMTC the following insurance with an insurance company acceptable to TOMTC and authorized to do business in the State of Michigan:

Automobile:  Bodily injury and property damage liability covering all owned, non-owned, and hired automobiles for limits of not less than $1,000,000 each person/ $1,000,000 each occurrence.

Comprehensive General Liability: Bodily injury and property damage liability insurance as shall protect the Consultant from claim of bodily injury or property damage which arises from operations of this contract.  The amounts of such insurance shall not be less than $1,000,000 bodily injury and property damage liability each occurrence/aggregate.  This insurance shall include coverage for product/completed operations and contractual liability assumed under the indemnity provision of this contract.  TOMTC, its board, employees and agents, the County of Charlevoix, County of Emmet, and City of Petoskey shall be listed as an “Additional Insured”

Consultant’s Professional Liability: In a limit of not less than $1,000,000.

Workers’ Compensation and Occupational Disease Insurance:

Coverage A – Worker’s Compensation: Meeting the statutory requirements of the State of Michigan

Coverage B – Employer’s Liability: $100,000 each accident / $100,000 disease – each employee / $500,000 disease – policy limits.

Certificates of such insurance will be furnished to TOMTC and shall contain the provision that TOMTC be given thirty days written notice of any intent to amend or terminate by either the Consultant or the insuring company.

END OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Emily Meyerson, MDNR Northern Michigan Trails Coordinator, noted, “You can now go from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron–140 miles–on interconnected multi-use trails. This new trail allows a user to travel from Charlevoix to Petoskey, on to Mackinaw City, to Cheboygan and then to Alpena.”

Pellston Village Park was the scene of a ribbon cutting for the trail withpresentations by state and local officials and a picnic lunch courtesy of the Village of Pellston. Attendees were encouraged to ride their bikes from points north and south to the celebration of the new trail.