I'm kind of surprised that grooming is still done by volunteers. How much longer do you think that is going to work? Aren't groomers paid up in Michigan? If so, what is the rate? I think it's very hard to know the true economic impact to Wisconsin, but let me tell you this, when I drive up and back from Illinois, there are hundreds of trailers making their way up and back 39/51. The impact is huge. Is there money in the pot to pay groomers?
Groomer Pay?
- Thread starter blkhwkbob
- Start date
In the U.P. groomer operators getting paid is on a club-by-club basis....Schoolcraft County Motorized Trails Assoc. is all volunteers; I'm reasonably certain Trenary North Trails is volunteers also; Alger SORVA pays their operators with funds received from the local visitor's bureau who collects a bed tax on each room rented....I can't comment first hand on the other clubs in the central U.P. but Alger is the only one I've heard of paying the operators...
ICT Sledder
Active member
Not as perfect of a resolution as it sounds. Keweenaw Trail Services pays their groomers, but someone mentioned this year they've not been at full strength because of a lack of warm bodies interested in the work. I saw the help wanted ad in the fall on one of the FB groups I follow, and I think I recall the pay was $12/hr? It was somewhere between $10/hr and $15/hr. Not gonna get rich doing that, but if you work seasonal jobs there are worse ways to make a few extra bucks in the down season.
snolover55
Member
Big Bay groomers are also paid.
sweeperguy
Active member
I was told by guys from Cherma Hills snowmobile club (River Falls area) the county grooms trails there. Sounded like county employees.
You will likely never see paid groomers in the Southern Counties that only open a few weeks a year. However, in the snowbelts its much bigger business with a lot of money on the line if the trails are not being taken care of the way the should be. Those northern counties are competing against each other for a lot of dollars. For the most part they all do a pretty good job. But when they don't, word tends to spread. This is more common in the UP over the lst 5 years when we have seen areas struggle to find volunteers. I believe both munising and Lake Gogebic have had issues.
POLARISDAN
New member
Chatted with a watersmeet groomer the other day..he gets $1 mile..for 10 hour shift..works out to about $6 hour..
So it's basically volunteer..which is not sustainable..
200$ trail passes..50$ 3 day passes..and dedicated funds are the only way this sport will survive 20 years..
Pd
So it's basically volunteer..which is not sustainable..
200$ trail passes..50$ 3 day passes..and dedicated funds are the only way this sport will survive 20 years..
Pd
So a 200% increase in trail passes is the only way to come up with about another $9 hour to pay groomers operators? I’m sorry but I disagree. I know Wisconsin better then Michigan but I’m pretty certain the money is there to pay operators. Change is hard, but this just needs to be put in the budget and funds reallocated.
state groomer operators here get paid
most all clubs here still work with volunteer's
and of the clubs HERE I know of, there is NO shortage of folks willing to run a groomer, the bigger problem here, is too many MAIN groomer operators will NOT let anyone else groom,
its like a MOB deal, if your in the CLICK< you can, if NOT< they rather NO one run things, sad, but I feel this happens in more places than you think!
you folks in better snow belts , maybe have larger issues with more demand for needed grooming
but here?
NO shortage of folks willing to do it , if allowed to!
most all clubs here still work with volunteer's
and of the clubs HERE I know of, there is NO shortage of folks willing to run a groomer, the bigger problem here, is too many MAIN groomer operators will NOT let anyone else groom,
its like a MOB deal, if your in the CLICK< you can, if NOT< they rather NO one run things, sad, but I feel this happens in more places than you think!
you folks in better snow belts , maybe have larger issues with more demand for needed grooming
but here?
NO shortage of folks willing to do it , if allowed to!
Munising's problems were 4+ yrs ago....the former operator was a for-profit business who only ran the groomers when it was economically feasible....since the formation of Alger SORVA 3+ yrs ago things have improved DRAMATICALLY...
I have heard that as well. Was just referencing both areas have had issues that hurt local business at some point in the last 5 years.
snobuilder
Well-known member
$15 cash and I'm in for 10 hours a night.
T
Tracker
Guest
Dude.... they are not talking about your days at the .......FRONTIER INN.......ROTFLMAO
snobuilder
Well-known member
HUH?....you and sasquatch still a thing?
Cash Money floating around a Club is a huge problem. Payroll is the only option.
It sounds like you have never spent 10 hours in a Groomer?