The question permit owners and MI residents should be asking is how did the trail grooming go up 80% in the last two years or where is the money going that use to pay for it that you are not receiving anymore.
It is actually very transparent where the money is going, just not marketed well at all by the MSA or MI DNR. The fee increase was set in place for two reasons:
1)The state is now paying 100% of the cost of a new groomer and drag as well as major repairs. They also are increasing the amount of new groomers available to clubs when the funds permit (the fluctuation in available funds is due to the amount of major repair costs they have to dole out on existing grooming equipment).
2) The state is setting up a fund that will be used to purchase land to be then used as permanent snowmobile trails. Many areas in MI (and I suspect other states) are constantly facing issues with landowners no longer wanting a trail to go over their land or even worse the tree huggers buying a small section to cut the throat of that trail in a small spot and shut down the entire trail.
So MI is actually being pro-active in trying to create a situation where the land we use to snowmobile on will forever be there for snowmobilers. We as a group are always taking about fighting those that are trying to close areas down to snowmobilers. Well, this is part of that "fight". The process is a much smarter method though. Rather than fighting in the sad system we call the US Courts, they are just going to buy the land and then not have to ever worry about it again. I know that here in the Keweenaw, someone wanting to shut down nearly have the trail system would only need to persuade the current landowner to sell a few hundred acres. Pretty scary when you think about it.
This has been a great discussion. For the most part, very respectful on both sides. I can totally see the side of those that have decided they are priced out of the market. Everyone has a point that the amount paid is not worth what they get and I find it rude that anyone should tell that person that their point is wrong or cheap or anything like that. To me, paying 50 cents to attend a musical or poetry reading is way too much. There are lots that would differ with me on those thoughts.
I guess the point I am trying to make here is I think the MSA and DNR has dropped the ball big time on the reasons for the increase. It is equally mind boggling as to why the MSA would not want to jump into a forum like this and explain things. So I really wanted to get these points across so that folks would be able to see where this increase in funds will be going. I know the first time I heard the increase was going to happen and did not know the reasons, I thought it was a bad idea. Once I was told where the money would be going, I was all for it. By the way, the fund was created by a law and the money in it cannot be stolen by the bureaucrats in Lansing to fund pet project they have. So perhaps some folks will change their mind as to the merits of this increase, perhaps not, but I did want to get this info out there for everyone to make their own analysis with.
-John
