Snowmobile trail permits proposed to benefit clubs

LOWVILLE — Lewis County's primary rationale for selling snowmobile permits would be to benefit snowmobile clubs, not pad county coffers, according to the idea's main proponent.

"They certainly shouldn't have to go out and do raffles and chicken barbecues just to pay the bills," said Legislator Richard C. Lucas, R-Barnes Corners, chairman of the legislative Economic Development Committee. "Maybe it will never happen. But it's certainly worth looking at."

He brought up the idea of initiating a permit-based snowmobile trail system during a committee meeting last month and continues to advocate for further study on its feasibility.

"We depend solely on our clubs," said Mr. Lucas, an original member of the Barnes Corners Sno Pals.

Lewis County this year is due to receive $297,290 in state snowmobile trail maintenance funding, according to county Trail Coordinator Robert C. Diehl. That money, funded by snowmobile registration fees, is then disbursed to the county's snowmobile clubs based on trail mileage as reimbursement for their grooming and maintenance work.

"It helps to cover our grooming, but it doesn't cover it all," Mr. Diehl said.

The governor has proposed to move $1 million of the $5 million snowmobile fund into the general fund, Mr. Lucas said.

"What happens next year if they say they want to take all of that fund?" he said. "We need to get away from that."

The Herkimer County towns of Webb and Inlet have long operated a permit-based system and annually collect $1 million to $1.2 million in fees that cover operational costs, Mr. Diehl said. While those towns own much of the land on which trails are located, that system, like the one on Tug Hill, includes public roads that may be used without a permit, he said.

Lewis County's snowmobile clubs now enter simple permission agreements with landowners to put trails on their land, but formal contracts between property owners and the county would be needed if a permit system were implemented, Mr. Diehl said.

"The biggest thing is the landowners," he said. "If they're OK with it, the system could work."

However, many other issues would have to be resolved first, Mr. Diehl said.