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"The project is, for all intents and purposes complete," Russ LaRowe, Kalkaska County Conservation District manager, said. "This has been a good group to work with. Of all of my projects, I've had the most fun with this one."

LaRowe reviewed the map of all the donor island locations. The map depicts which donor's rock is going on which landscape island. LaRowe said that because the landscaping went in so late, all of the rocks were not in place. All but two of the landscape islands are in place.

There are 617 perennials on the welcome sign island, donated by Rotary and Kiwanis.

"There are going to be a lot of lilies out there," LaRowe said. He also said that in the spring, water fountains, safety signs, trail benches and bike racks will be installed along the trail.

Kevin Hughes, from the District Health Department, reviewed results of a trail usage survey that includes results from a counter and daily weather conditions. The study began on July 12 - just a few weeks before the ribbon cutting ceremony on Aug. 12.

"It is part of our healthy communities program," Hughes said. "We do this as part of our evaluation of grant communities where there are new trails."

The counter is a device that shoots an infra red beam across the trail to a reflector. Whenever someone (or something) breaks the beam, it is counted.

Hughes said some of the data is thrown out, especially when there are unusually high counts at unlikely hours.

"One day, there were 20 uses at 4 a.m.," he said. "It was some type of anomaly - maybe animals or branches. It's hard to believe someone was walking the trail then."

Hughes said the goal was to continue the usage study through the end of the year.

"This is baseline data that you'll have," Hughes told the group. LaRowe said that the KART Trail is getting recognition. On the statewide trail of hubs, it now is listed.

During the winter months, the trail will be cleared from the high school sidewalk through the woods to the Kaliseum. For now, the rest will not be plowed. LaRowe said that Kalkaska Village Department of Public Works, Kalkaska County DPW and school maintenance personnel all had concerns about black ice.

"Either we'd perpetually be applying salt or create a black ice situation by just clearing the snow," he said. "None had equipment to keep it ice-free."

There also were concerns about the weight of the snow on the landscape beds and salt damage to plant life.

There was discussion about the next phase of the trail, including finding someone to spearhead the project to Rugg Pond.

"I've seen people of all ages on the Trial," Jack Kelly, zoning administrator for the County of Kalkaska, said. "You all should feel proud. It's a beautiful trail."