Committee hears warnings about snowmobile‑trail funding shortfalls and considers coordinated emergency‑sign systems

Sawyer County officials and regional trail representatives told the Land, Water and Forest Resources Committee that snowmobile use is high this winter and that long‑standing funding shortfalls threaten trail maintenance and bridge repairs.

Tim Davison told the committee grooming operations are being carefully managed to protect trails and noted a rise in equipment issues and accidents. Don Mirotech, representing a 10‑county Nortek group, summarized regional concerns including canceled Nortek meetings, the need for uniform emergency signage or systems, and proposals for establishing official opening and closing dates for Sawyer County trails to aid enforcement and promotion.

Mirotech described the funding model for snowmobile trails — registration, trail‑pass revenue and a gas‑tax formula — and said recent poor seasons have reduced registrations and trail‑pass revenue, creating a funding gap for maintenance and, notably, bridge repair. He reported that state recreation officials and the governor’s snowmobile recreation council are discussing higher trail‑pass fees to address the shortfall.

Committee members questioned the dependence of suggested phone‑based location systems on internet connectivity. County dispatch already uses a locator system and staff said they will coordinate with the trail alliance to avoid multiple overlapping systems and redundant signage. No formal action or funding commitments were made at the meeting.