It has been very difficult to be excited about all of the snow (upwards of 3’ in places) with the lack of a grant looming over the heads of the clubs that groom the trails.

HOW many years has it been that we have waited and prayed for a start to the snowmobile season such as we have now??? ALL this snow, even on the south trail, and no grant in hand to allow us to groom! Oh, we COULD groom, but we don’t know if we would get reimbursed for it. Even snow plowing the staging areas is on hold until we have a grant number to assign to the bid tabulations sheet! There is a LOT of snow in the staging areas.

Some clubs have started grooming and hope that they get reimbursed for it. TASA will be making that decision in the next couple of days. In the meantime though, SUPPOSEDLY AN AGREEMENT WITH THE DNR HAS BEEN REACHED and grant sponsors (the clubs) are being directed by MSA to sign the grant and over night it to Lansing. The HOPE is that the clubs that have already started grooming (basically laying down the trail so they can get to the real business of grooming), will be able to be reimbursed for their efforts thus far but that is an “unknown” yet too.

If I receive more information today, I will post it on the message board and at www.thetrailblog.com. Keep your fingers crossed.

CATHY CLEMENTZ, SEC FOR TASA