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Wabasha County weighs limited-use permit as state funding for snowmobile clubs hangs in balance
Summary
County staff told commissioners the state is asking counties to sign limited-use permits that transfer liability for snowmobile trails to counties; Wabasha County’s insurer would not cover the risk, and $82,000 in state funding to local clubs could be withheld if the county refuses to sign.
Wabasha County commissioners heard an update on a state request that counties sign limited-use permits for snowmobile trails that would shift liability to the county, and learned their insurer would not cover those risks if they sign.
County Administrator (staff) told the board the state asked counties this year to sign a limited-use permit that would make the county responsible for trails, crossings and related liability. He said Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust (MCIT) has informed the county that it would provide no coverage for incidents arising from those trails if the county signs the agreement. The administrator said the state funding that flows to local snowmobile clubs would be withheld if the county does not sign the permit, leaving roughly $82,000 in state funds that are normally split among the county’s clubs at risk.
The administrator described the county’s typical role as a financial passthrough for clubs and said clubs generally handle trail maintenance and signage. He said most injuries occur at trail crossings and that the county does not own the underlying property for the trails. He raised the dilemma that signing could mean accepting liability without insurance coverage, while not signing would cut off reimbursements to local clubs during a time they are doing spring maintenance and buying signs.
Commissioners and staff discussed options: the administrator noted MCIT’s coverage exclusion for this activity and said counties could pursue an additional insurance rider at additional cost or ask snowmobile clubs to obtain their own liability coverage (he cited limits discussed in the meeting of about $1 million to $1.5 million). He encouraged the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) to take a statewide position because counties are responding differently: some are signing, some are not, and some are requiring clubs to sign instead.
No formal motion to sign or decline the limited-use permit was taken at the meeting. Commissioners were informed that the decision affects reimbursements and that the county must weigh liability exposure, insurance availability and the practical impacts on local snowmobile clubs.
