Snowmobile trail talks continue

The Thomson Township Board of Supervisors and community members continued discussion about the Wood City Riders Snowmobile trail at their meeting Thursday, Oct. 21.

The board received a large response from the community after approving the trail in September, due to concerns of safety and confusion of where the trail would run.

The Wood City Riders — the nonprofit snowmobile club that proposed and is creating the trail through the Esko area — has been working with concerned community members directly in order to decrease the uncertainty on the part of some residents, according to board members.

Township resident Athena Burkholder has been working with the Wood City Riders to address her concerns regarding the trail on her road. Burkholder came to the Thomson Board at its last meeting, seeking a “commitment to safety of the trail” from the board.

Burkholder was in communication with representatives of Wood City Riders and board member Bill Gerard in the weeks following the approval of the snowmobile trail, but feels the proposed trail is being rushed without consideration of safety.

Board member Jason Paulson assured Burkholder that the board has the best interest of both community members and snowmobilers in mind.

“Not everybody’s gonna be happy with this, but we don’t have any trail systems though this community, and the No. 1 thing from the comprehensive plan was to develop trails,” Paulson said.

The board suggested that Burkholder and other concerned community members continue to meet with the Wood City Riders about their concerns and communicate with Gerard regarding the township board

In other matters:

• The township received results from the 2020 census. There was a significant population increase from 2010 to 2020, with 5,003 residents recorded in 2010 and 5,465 recorded in 2020. More specific information from the census will become available in the coming months, it is hoped, according to township clerk Rhonda Peleski.

• Esko volunteer fire chief Kyle Gustafson reported a busy month for the department, with calls still on the rise. The department, which has responded to 280 calls in 2021, completed their biannual emergency medical responder training this month.

• The Esko school board is looking for alumni interested in the all-school reunion, planned for Esko Fun Days Aug. 2-7. School board member Margaret Sunnarborg told the board of supervisors that they have big plans for the reunion, and for fundraisers to make the event happen. For now, they are looking for Esko alumni who are interested in helping.