LITTLE CURRENT—The Manitoulin Snowdusters Snowmobile Club is still seeking ways around key parcels of land that are no longer accessible to the main trail system in the Sheguiandah and Honora Bay areas, again coming before Northeast Town council to look for more unopened road allowances
“At a NEMI committee meeting on Thursday night, we got pre-approval for the use of more road allowances to put the east end trails back together again,” Snowdusters spokesperson Brad Middleton told The Expositor.
Specifically, the Snowdusters were seeking approval for the road allowances between Howland Concession 1 Lots 30 and 31 and Howland Concession 1 Lots 31 to the North Channel and Bidwell Concession 12 and 24 to the North Channel.
As of Sunday, the east end groomer was in Rockville, heading on to M’Chigeeng and Mindemoya Monday for the first trail groom of the season.
The groomer went out from Little Current and groomed to the 20th Sideroad previously and from there was taken by road to Rockville. The east end groomer will go from Mindemoya to Manitowaning early this week. There is still no through trail from Manitowaning to Little Current.
“It is hoped that, as the lakes freeze over and the ice gets deep on Lake Manitou, we may have an alternative route across the lake for this winter,” Mr. Middleton said. “In the meantime, the Snowdusters will be having discussions with the Sheguiandah First Nation about getting possible land permission, with a view to putting a more permanent trail in place for coming years.”
There will be a trail to get snowmobilers from Little Current out to M’Chigeeng an Mindemoya this season, although it might have to involve getting onto the North Channel (out at Honora Bay) when the ice in that large body of water gets sufficiently deep. “We plan to groom a land trail from Little Current out the 20th Sideroad, and then go west down the road allowance to the Guida Sideroad.”
At the Thursday Northeast Town meeting, CAO Dave Williamson explained to the community services and public service committee that the Snowdusters had approached the municipality about changing the route due to safety concerns about where the trail crossed Highway 540.
Councillor Bill Koehler expressed that he would support the change for the safety of those using the trail. “I would be glad to get the trail away from Highway 540 and that corner,” he said.
Councillor Bruce Wood said that he felt that the public works department should be involved in any changes to the trail on municipal property. Council agreed and the condition was added into the motion.
Councillor Koehler put a motion on the table that was seconded by Councillor Michael Erskine. The motion read “that the council of the Northeast Town gives permission to the Manitoulin Snowdusters to use the road allowance between Howland Concession 1, Lots 30 and 31 and Howland Concession 1, Lots 31 to the North Channel and Bidwell Concession 12, Lot 24 to the North Channel to develop a snowmachine trail system under the following conditions: 1) Proof of permission from the Ministry of Natural Resources to go through the identified wetland; 2) It is the responsibility of the Manitoulin Snowdusters to ensure all work being done is on municipal property and the municipality will not be held responsible for any damage done or work performed on private property; 3) Manitoulin Snowdusters will provide the town with proof of insurance with the Town as a named insured for the development and maintenance of the trail system at a rate of five million dollars, this will be provided on an annual basis; 4) Any and all trees removed from the road allowance will be offered to the adjacent land owner; 5) All work done will be subject to the supervision and approval of the manager of public works; and 6) Any fencing removed for the development of the trail will be reinstalled at the end of each season.”
The committee carried the motion, recommending it to council. The Northeast Town council will vote on the motion at its next meeting on Tuesday, January 17.
“We’re running a bit behind with the West End groomer,” Mr. Middleton admitted. “It was still in Meldrum Bay as of Sunday afternoon, and was to begin its long run back down through Silver Water, Evansville, and then go on to Spring Bay, Providence Bay, Mindemoya, returning via M’Chigeeng and Kagawong to Gore Bay later this week.”
However, Mr. Middleton added, the Monday snow storm, followed by the predicted warm weather and rain, “may throw a wrench into our plans to have all the trails in place by the middle of this week.”
