Committee authorizes Saratoga County to apply for New York State snowmobile trail grant

The Saratoga County Trails and Open Space Committee on Aug. 4 authorized county staff to apply for New York State funding to support snowmobile trails and to execute any agreements associated with the grant.

County staffer Jason told the committee the county coordinates each year with local snowmobile clubs to apply for state funding and that the county packet includes a map and distribution chart for the coming season. "So we apply for, New York state funding to supplement our snowmobile trails in the county," Jason said, describing about 177 miles of state-funded trails and noting volunteer clubs do much of the maintenance.

Jason said the grant typically arrives in two installments—an award in the fall followed by a spring payment—and that awards are distributed to clubs according to a mileage chart included in the committee packet. He also said the committee has added a request for an administrative fee to cover county costs for administering the program; the committee was told final award amounts will be known in the fall.

The committee moved and seconded a motion to authorize application and agreement execution; members approved the motion by voice vote. The committee did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript.

Why it matters: the program supplements volunteer club operating expenses and helps maintain a network of groomed trails used for recreation and local tourism. County staff said the funding and distribution information will return to the committee when final award amounts are announced in the fall.