NELSONVILLE, Ohio — Three of the four remaining governments represented on the Outdoor Recreation Council of Appalachia Board of Directors met Wednesday night to discuss Baileys Trail System updates and moving forward in the absence of the Ccity of Athens.
Wednesday’s meeting was the first since Athens Mayor Steve Patterson resigned from the ORCA board, and unilaterally withdrew the city from the council of governments. Remaining members are the villages of Buchtel and Chauncey, York Township and the City of Nelsonville, although the Nelsonville seat is currently vacant.
Patterson resigned effective immediately March 31, with the city’s withdrawal effective June 28. But the board Wednesday unanimously voted to move on, waiving the city’s $1,000 membership dues for this year. It also reorganized and appointed York Township Trustee Tim Warren as acting board president, replacing Patterson.
Given Athens’ withdrawal, ORCA is now down two from the five members who formed the council of governments in 2019. The city has given ORCA just under $300,000 since 2021.
Patterson told the Independent he felt it was time for him to leave the organization due to disagreements with the board about using $1.5 million it received through the 2025–2026 state budget for the creation of short-term rentals for revenue generation.
Butchtel Village Council Member Jay Kline addressed the recent membership change at the end of the meeting.
“I’m very confident and very happy with the direction that we’re going,” Kline said. “But I will say this for us three right here, and for the staff, the road’s wide open now for all of us, and we’ve got to really, really work hard to make this successful, because if we don’t, then we know where the fingers will point.”
Warren echoed Kline’s comments, referring to the board’s March 27 meeting.
“I’m not opposed to anything that we [talked] about with Steve,” Warren said. “I’d like to make sure where the money’s going to come and where it’s going to go from before I spend money, so that was my problem.”
According to a recording of the March 27 meeting, Patterson pushed for ORCA to use $1.5 million in state funding to invest in short-term rentals. ORCA Director Jessie Powers repeatedly said that the council of governments should conduct an economic assessment with a third-party before moving forward, and incorporate Patterson’s suggestion into strategic planning.
Patterson also advocated for ORCA to sign a new contract with Sunday Creek Horizons for lobbying and other services. According to draft meeting minutes for March 27, the board approved a motion to terminate its remaining $8,000 contract with Sunday Creek Horizons if the term does not accept a $1,000 monthly lobbying and advocacy contract by March 31.
According to an April 20 email from ORCA Finance Administrator Sarah Ciciora, ORCA made a $24,000 final payment to Sunday Creek Horizons in March. At the meeting Wednesday, Ciciora said, “as far as I know, we don’t have anything pending anymore with [Sunday Creek Horizons].”
Kline also mentioned the previous meeting in additional comments.
“After we left the meeting last time, I probably didn’t sleep much at night at all,” Kline said.
“But it’s funny how sometimes things work out. And like I said, when everything comes to settle down, I come to realize, well, hey, we’re on our own, so let’s get after it.”
Chauncey Mayor Frank Campbell shared the two others’ enthusiasm for moving forward. Campbell became mayor this past January, as he was elected in November 2025.
“I’m excited to learn from you guys,” Campbell said. “I’m catching up, and I’m excited to see what we do.”
In other business, the board heard from Wayne National Forest Athens District Ranger Jason Reed, who said that all 88 miles of the Baileys Trail System are ready for business, “whenever you want to swing the gate.”
The board also voted to waive the participation fee for this year’s National Interscholastic Cycling Association event for high schoolers on the Baileys Trail System.
Following the board meeting, the three board members and ORCA staff held the first of a series of strategic planning sessions.
The Outdoor Recreation Council of Appalachia meets monthly at 294 Harper St., Nelsonville. A regular meeting schedule is yet to be determined.
