Hey guys-
I run the website for the development and I noticed the traffic coming from this site (have to say, I'm impressed at any hobby community that can get this much traffic during the off-season...reason number 576,208 the internet is awesome) so I came to check it out. Eagle River Mike's first post had some inaccuracies so I thought I'd address them and some of the other points made on this thread, since I actually have some knowledge of the whole situation and not just the press releases. I don't want to make this into a chest-thumping contest, but I did want to give a little more of the story for whatever that's worth.
ERM said: "He has already closed 2 sections of trail that go across his land"
This is sort of true, but the context should be known. Trail 1 that was "closed" went directly through the lots and only went from the main trail to Weasels. This trail was temporarily re-routed to along HWY 45 because the owner of Weasel's claimed he needed more than a year to find an alternate route. The new trail (closure #2 according to ERM) ran along the edge of the property for a year before being "closed" and moved to the other side of HWY 45 (also land owned by the developer) where it currently resides and there is no intention of it being closed. This temporary access to Weasel's was moved to the other side of the road because it ran within 20 feet of neighboring houses and by moving it to the property on the other side of HWY 45 it kept the trail much further from any homes.
ERM said: "He apparently did a bunch of development work and shoreline work without permits and got a big fine. Now he is black mailing the DNR and all local businesses by threatening to close to main trail unless the fine is dropped."
The real story here is a bit more complicated (go figure). There was no environmental damage done and an environmental firm was hired and paid big bucks to do all the permitting. That company is partners with the DNR in many projects around the state of WI (although now under a different name..hmm, wonder why?). The DNR was offered the trail for free in 2008 and turned it down by saying it had no value to the state and the only ones that would benefit from the trail would be the developers. In 2007 the Three Eagle bike trail was also offered for free to the state in the form of a 100 year easement. The state took the developer up on that offer and then proceeded with actions to collect money based on paper violations since they were unable to find any environmental damage.
ERM said: "Below is a blurb from the Vilas County News web site."
If you believe everything in the paper is true, there's some ocean front property in Arizona I'd like to sell you. I know for a fact that the developers were never contacted about the story and have heard rumors that there may be other reasons for their story almost matching the dnr company line word for word.
Other Points:
Dragon is right, the developer is not from Chicago. He's a farmer from central WI.
to frnash - The developer is not anti-snowmobile in any way. Like I stated earlier, the trail was offered to the state for free in 2008 and the State of Wisconsin claimed it had no value to them (and continues to do so to this day). The local snowmobile clubs were notified at this point that the trail would eventually have to be shifted in some parts because of it's proximity to future home sites. Their response was (I'm paraphrasing here) that they relied on the DNR for money and would not do anything (even write a letter) that would upset the DNR. The local Three Lakes trail that runs to weasels runs through the developers property on the other side of HWY 45 and is not near any homes. There are no plans to shut down this local trail and access across that property has been offered to the local trails.
harvest1121 had it right about the private lake. Technically all water is public, but you need access to get to the water. The lake has no public access (which is the real reason the DNR went after paperwork violations). The monthly fees are capped at $42.
peter - the boating hrs are for every day. Friday is the only day that the boating goes til dusk, otherwise it ends a few hrs before sunset. There are thousands of lakes for boating in Northern Wisconsin, this lake just has quiet time in the afternoon so people who would rather enjoy the quiet tranquility offered by the Northwoods can enjoy the water without having to hear the while of boat engines all day.
I will leave you guys be now, but thought some of you would be interested in knowing that there is a little more to the story than the press releases offered by the state that the local "journalists" have elected to keep out of the press for one reason or another. I'm sure this information won't mean much to some of you, but I'm also sure that if someone just went out of their way to screw you over you wouldn't continue to give them stuff for free either. Just something to consider.
