Snowmobile trail access process is clarified

Following the approval of a revised snowmobile trail through the township at its last meeting - and subsequent complaints - the Thomson Township board invited people to discuss the action at the regular board meeting Sept. 16. Although the board already granted permission for a preliminary trail, residents were invited to give their input so that the board and the snowmobile club could answer questions and address concerns.

Wood City Riders president Chris Rokke gave a presentation to the more than 60 people in attendance about the volunteer snowmobile club and the approved trail. The club led efforts to create the new trail and maintains trails across northern Carlton County and southern St. Louis County. Although the state pays for snowmobile trail maintenance, the new trail construction is funded entirely by donations, he said.

Rokke described the process that the club went through in order to designate the Esko-area trail and why it is important. The Wood City Riders began working with Thomson Township and some residents to map out a snowmobile trail in mid-2019. Due to issues with getting permits from some property owners or other route considerations, the make-up of the map has changed various times over the last few years.

"When one landowner backs out, it changes the makeup of the map entirely," Rokke said, describing how club members looked at possible routes and then started talking to private landowners to piece the puzzle together.

Public land is different. According to Minnesota State statutes and the Department of Natural Resources, snowmobiles are already allowed to run on right-of-ways, as long as it is not prohibited by the entity responsible for the road. The club seeks permission from local governmental bodies, including the township and Esko school board, which gave its OK this spring.

Rokke said the typical procedure is to finalize a map before reaching out to residents who own properties along the right-of-way. This is why some residents had not yet been contacted yet, Rokke said, because the board had just approved the route.

Many residents at the meeting talked about safety issues the trail might present.

"I'm afraid that by advertising this as a snowmobile route, there will now be hundreds of people driving by every day with no enforcement of speed limits," said resident Larissa Donnelly, whose property is adjacent to the approved trail.

Other residents echoed her concern. Some added they felt the trail might be in an area of Esko that is too residential for the trail to ever be safe.

Changing the board's previous decision isn't likely. It could happen only if supervisors were to prohibit snowmobiles in the township entirely, township attorney Dave Pritchett said.

Still, the exact route is not set in stone, Rokke said. The next step for the Wood City Riders would be meeting with property owners. This is the stage where residents can make known their concerns about potential safety issues, Rokke said, and discuss the possibilities of the Wood City Riders needing to move things out of the way for the trail or cutting down trees or brush near properties. He said the installation of a trail would include proper safety measures and signage.

There were also residents in attendance to support the trail. Esko's Jana Kayser said her kids enjoy snowmobiling and she would like for them to have a safe trail nearby instead of having to put sleds on a trailer and travel.

Alan Anderson, a member of the Wood City Riders and an Esko resident, said the trail "will not be as crowded as people think. People are conscious of kids and dogs while snowmobiling," he said.

Following the meeting, Rokke invited community members to ask him questions that were more specific to their properties and assured residents that the club will work with them.

The current map of the trail includes parts of Maki Road, Harney Road and Church Road, along with a crossing over Canosia Road. The Wood City Riders and the board are not posting a map until the final route is confirmed.

In other matters Thursday, the board approved the hiring for a new truck driver/utility worker position. The board also approved a new member of the Esko Volunteer Fire Department.

The Thomson Township board meets the first and third Thursday of every month.