Snowmobile clubs have some suggestions
To the editor:
I have read with interest the recent columns in the Bangor Daily News, dated Dec. 31 “Lots of fresh snow lures snowmobilers north,” Jan. 2, “Snowmobile clubs to push for higher registration fees,” and Jan. 3 “Groups to present competing snowmobile fee-increase proposals.” As a club member, president (for 25-plus years) and groomer (35 yrs.) I have a few suggestions to aid in the funding for snowmobile clubs.
The following is a suggestion to make snowmobiling in Maine more equitable to different groups of people registering their snowmobiles.
• Club members, especially trail workers and active club members, need to know that their efforts don’t go unnoticed. Without these people there would be no trail system. We realize some fishermen, trappers, etc. don’t use snowmobile trails and they shouldn’t be penalized when registering their snowmobiles.
We should incorporate a two-tier system that registers snowmobiles for trail use or non-trail use. For example: a trail use registration would be $80 ($40 increase) per sled, this same permit would be $40 with a valid snowmobile club membership card to show at time of registration. A non-trail use permit ($40) would be given to snowmobilers (fishermen, trappers, sleds used on farms or construction) who do not use the trail system for their activities. Sleds using a non-trail use registration would be considered not registered if caught traveling on any trail within the state snowmobile trail system and subject to such fines. The state would lose no money on this two-tier system. We would need two differently colored stickers.
This would cause more snowmobilers to join clubs, increasing funds into the clubs and maybe adding to the workforce needed to maintain the trail system. This would protect the snowmobilers who claim they don’t travel the Maine snowmobile trail system. The dollar amounts are only an example; any dollar amount will work in this system.
• The December 15 deadline for sled registration (or a $20 penalty being proposed) only drives snowmobilers away and some people, who wait until after the first of the year to register, may not register at all, due to the increase.
In December everyone is scrambling to purchase gifts, fuel and extra groceries. Club members are busy cutting out blowdowns, signing and getting groomers ready for the season; these members may not register their sleds until after the beginning of the New Year. A large number of our volunteers are getting older, tired, and often live on fixed incomes. MSA and the state of Maine need to listen to the clubs.
• Perhaps the legislature needs to review our percentage of the gas tax or sales tax. As president of our club, I understand the reasons for the cuts in state funding but we incur increases in diesel fuel and other rising costs in order to maintain trails. The clubs in Aroostook County were cut the same amount as all other clubs, when we had snow last year and continued to groom. Purchasing diesel fuel and incurring other maintenance costs were not considered before making the decision to cut funds.
• Our club recently spent $13,000 in repairs on our groomer that we purchased new in 2001. When our club asked for help from the Capital Equipment account, we were turned down. It appears the people in charge of these funds would rather spend this money only on new groomers rather than encouraging clubs to keep groomers in good repair and helping with repair costs on the larger parts, thus making groomers last longer.
A new policy that would help with large repairs, would lower overall new equipment costs through out the state and also would lower the great debt clubs have when replacing their groomers.
Please contact me at 764-1236 if you have any questions or ideas. Our 14,500-mile trail system generates $350 million in this state. This money impacts everyone, snowmobiler or not.
Mickey Maynard, president
Chapman Ridge Runners
Snowmobile and ATV Club
