After being absent from the Polly Ann Trailway Management Council (PATMC) for over a year, Addison Township was voted back in by a 6-1 vote Nov. 21 at the council’s regular meeting.
Council made a motion to accept the township’s offer of paying $4,787.50 of last year’s dues coupled with $3,838.57 from an equestrian fund to allow them to return to the PATMC.
Oxford Township Trustee Sue Bellairs voted against the motion.
Addison was originally told to pay the full $8,305.27 for the year they were absent from the council, but weren’t able to afford it at the time.
‘We are officially back in and Bob (Supervisor Koski) and I are excited to be on the board,? said Addison Twp. Trustee Ed Brakefield. ‘It’s like a big homecoming.?
Brakefield said the $3,838.57 from local equestrian riders was a portion of money collected from an event he and his wife, Cathy, hosted for three years called the Pony Express.
They would charge a fee and take horse riders down the Polly Ann Trail and entertain with music, food and prizes.
The Pony Express was so successful they raised a little over $6,000 and were able to pay for the installation of paddocks at the trailhead.
Brakefield said after that project was completed, the account was left with the $3,838.57. It was later transferred into the township’s general fund.
The trustee said the equestrian riders had no problem putting the money towards entering back into the PATMC, as long as the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was still creating and funding an ‘equestrian friendly? side path along the 1.2 miles of asphalt trail in the Village of Leonard.
‘The DNR has drawings already,? Brakefield said. ‘It is exactly the way equestrians wanted to see it. The trail surface now is perfect.?
Geno Mallia, Jr., Chairman for the PATMC, said he was ‘very, very pleased? the council accepted Addison’s re-entry.
‘They were an intricate part from the beginning. It’s just a blessing to have the council whole again,? he said. ‘It seems like better business when we’re all at the table.?

After being absent from the Polly Ann Trailway Management Council (PATMC) for over a year, Addison Township was voted back in by a 6-1 vote Nov. 21 at the council’s regular meeting.
Council made a motion to accept the township’s offer of paying $4,787.50 of last year’s dues coupled with $3,838.57 from an equestrian fund to allow them to return to the PATMC.
Oxford Township Trustee Sue Bellairs voted against the motion.
Addison was originally told to pay the full $8,305.27 for the year they were absent from the council, but weren’t able to afford it at the time.
‘We are officially back in and Bob (Supervisor Koski) and I are excited to be on the board,? said Addison Twp. Trustee Ed Brakefield. ‘It’s like a big homecoming.?
Brakefield said the $3,838.57 from local equestrian riders was a portion of money collected from an event he and his wife, Cathy, hosted for three years called the Pony Express.
They would charge a fee and take horse riders down the Polly Ann Trail and entertain with music, food and prizes.
The Pony Express was so successful they raised a little over $6,000 and were able to pay for the installation of paddocks at the trailhead.
Brakefield said after that project was completed, the account was left with the $3,838.57. It was later transferred into the township’s general fund.
The trustee said the equestrian riders had no problem putting the money towards entering back into the PATMC, as long as the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was still creating and funding an ‘equestrian friendly? side path along the 1.2 miles of asphalt trail in the Village of Leonard.
‘The DNR has drawings already,? Brakefield said. ‘It is exactly the way equestrians wanted to see it. The trail surface now is perfect.?
Geno Mallia, Jr., Chairman for the PATMC, said he was ‘very, very pleased? the council accepted Addison’s re-entry.
‘They were an intricate part from the beginning. It’s just a blessing to have the council whole again,? he said. ‘It seems like better business when we’re all at the table.?