FSMW Board Meeting (August 21, 2025)

Minutes

Present: Peter Bednekoff, Michael Benham, Pat Frey, Phil Huhn, Autumn Jackson, Bill McNitt, Judy Schmidt, Manfred Schmidt, Julie Steiff, Sarah Redman

1. Hellos / Introductions. Peter Bednekoff introduced himself. 
2. Adoption / Modification of Agenda. Agenda adopted with two additions.
3. Approval of Minutes of Prior Meeting. Minutes of last meeting approved.
4. News, Announcements, and Reports
   • NAP Workday – August 9. Judy S reported that around 20 volunteers showed up. Judy took pictures and made a collage; it’s on our website. PH reported that the volunteers removed a great deal of buckthorn from the western section bordering the co-op. NAP plans to herbicide the cut buckthorn stems in the winter. MB asked if we can solicit NAP volunteers. Judy S said we don’t have their information, but we could request it. PH said we could do a better job with publicity and reaching potential volunteers by advertising in The Ann Arbor Observer and other publications, but we would have to plan our workdays further in advance.
   • New Life Workday. Judy S is trying to communicate with New Life Church to plan the workday.
   • Work Day Reports (if any). None.
   • Mailing List. MB has been maintaining our mailing list. There have been changes, so be sure to use the most recent version (on our Google Drive), rather than the list from a previous email.
   • Fiberoptic Installation. Judy S discovered that fiber optic cable is being installed for Verizon near Old Ellsworth. Workers have downed trees and dug a trench. She talked to the workers and found that the County Road Commission had authorized the work. Judy contacted people at AAPS and NAP about the fiber optic installation. 
   • Treasurer’s Report. PF shared the latest statement. Our current account balance is $4208, thanks to an anonymous donation of $2000! PF asked if she should transfer the $2000 to a CD to earn interest, or if we have an immediate need for the funds. Judy S suggested pricing a burn. MB will get an estimate. 
   • Nature Club update. PF reported that Nature Club will resume in a couple of weeks and meet every week. 
   • Volunteer update. AJ reported we had 56 volunteer hours for the second quarter (not including June hours).
5. Old Business 
   • DTE Energize Your Block Grant Application. MB has found DTE to be disorganized when it comes to this program. He has spent hours on the phone trying to learn the status of our application. One person he talked to said FSMW will receive $1000, but we haven’t yet received any official confirmation of that. 
   • Follow-up on Mitchell PTO Tree Planting. Judy S says the trees planted in the spring are still alive (although one is sharing its cage with a buckthorn). Jessamy, the Mitchell parent who organized the effort, is hoping next year’s tree planting will be more organized next spring. (She will be the president of the Mitchell PTO next year.) MB asked whether it will be an ongoing project. Judy S said she thinks so. 
   • Annual Report to MI LARA. MB hasn’t done it yet, but he will. It’s due at the end of October.
   • US-23 wall – any impacts on SMW? Janet Rieke has followed up on this and shared photos of the design plans with MB. MB said it doesn’t look like the wall will extend to SMW; rather, it will stop at the boundary of Turnberry. Thus, it won’t have much impact on the Woods, except for potential construction noise.
   • Oriental Bittersweet.  Judy S contacted the City about it. The City is doing what it can and provided advice on methods for controlling this invasive plant, primarily by cutting and applying herbicide. Judy S will share a helpful resource on oriental bittersweet control. 
6. New Business 
   • Brush hogging trails.  PH proposes brush hogging the school area on the October 4 workday, especially the south end of the pond, but other areas as well. PH will take the lead on organizing this. MS noted that it will require a team of people, including one to walk in front of the brush hog and point out stumps. PH said someone needs to walk behind as well. PF wondered if we will need to remove a lot of brush afterwards; MS said no, you can go back over the brush and chop it up.
   • September 6 workday (9 a.m.): MB will organize this workday. The main tasks will be to walk the trails, decide where to brush hog, and think about what to do on the New Life Church workday. If we have time, we can remove invasives, clear the benches, and remove stumps in preparation for brush hogging.
   • Pocket forests. In response to PF’s question, MB explained that in pocket forests, trees and shrubs are planted very close together so that their roots intertwine. In addition, the soil is inoculated with certain fungi to encourage mycorrhizal networks.  He encouraged everyone to visit the impressive pocket forest in Buhr Park (just north of the ice rink). Judy S said that the organization of the pocket forest planting at Buhr Park was phenomenal.
   • New Moon Serenade: Judy S asked if anyone wanted to repeat this event. Several people expressed interest. 
   • Bat House: PF still has a bat house we could install to combat mosquitoes. PH said that it would be difficult to find an appropriate place in SMW because of the siting requirements for bat houses (e.g., they need to have a certain amount of open space around them).
7. Next Meeting: September 18, 2025
8. To the delight of the participants, the meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm.

Minutes submitted by Julie Steiff.