Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Trail Maintenance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Snowmobile club seeks town permission and grant-signature to clear groomed trail edges
Summary
Members of a local snowmobile club asked the Conservation Commission for permission to cut back brush and perform limited clearing along the Mileslip trail to restore grooming access; the club expects to apply for state grant aid from registration fees and requested a signed town permission form.
A representative of a local snowmobile club addressed the Conservation Commission to request permission to perform limited edge clearing and brush removal along a section of the Mileslip trail so the club’s grooming machine can pass. The speaker said the club grooms the trail from Foster's Field through Mileslip and that groomers were unable to operate for several recent winters, resulting in significant regrowth.
The club representative said the work is intended to be limited — clearing “leaners” and small brush to restore the existing trail corridor, not creating new trails — and described using a mini excavator with a rotary head for the smaller material and chainsaws for larger pieces. He said the club would take care to avoid pulling stumps or otherwise disturbing the tread and would wait for dry conditions; the club expects to complete work in the fall to meet grant-reimbursement timelines.
The Snowmobile Club organizer said the work would be funded from snowmobile registration fees administered through a county grant-aid program. He asked that the commission sign the permission form the club needs for the grant application; the commission agreed to sign and to include the authorization in meeting minutes so the form can be submitted. A commission member agreed to view the trail with club volunteers before work begins to mark boundaries and confirm the scope.
The commission discussed concerns about erosion, proximity to stone walls and culverts, and the potential for ATVs to widen access around any gate installations. Club representatives said gates and welded repairs could help but acknowledged that enforcement remains the most effective deterrent to illegal ATV use. The club leader also proposed including gate hardware in the grant application, noting that some grant cycles now fund gate materials and similar measures to reduce trespass.
No formal vote was required; commission members agreed to sign the permission/documentation the club needs for the grant application and to inspect the trail with club volunteers before clearing.
