Snowmobile fees up for trail improvement

The fee to register snowmobiles in the province nearly doubled this year to help fund local trail improvements, according to the Saskatchewan Snowmobile Association.

The fee jumped to $70 from $40 for the past three years, which will mostly be split between the different snowmobile clubs across the province that maintain the trails.

"The clubs were saying with us we don't think we can make it another year without seeing an increase," said Chris Brewer, president and CEO of the SSA.

"You're probably going to see increased grooming rotation, more trail signage out there - better signage I should say - but that comes with increased number of signage on the trails," said Brewer.

While the Prince Albert Snow Runners club doesn't groom trails and so won't see any of the funds, past president Robert Venn of the club said local sledders will benefit from better conditions on nearby trails.

"Clubs are having a tough time trying to maintain what we have or buy new stuff to keep things maintained," he said, adding signage will also improve.

It will also mean clubs don't have to fundraise as much, including the Candle Lake Sno-Drifters snowmobile club, which holds annual auctions that can raise upwards of $30,000.

Len Romanuik, with the Sno-Drifters club, said more money is needed, but he wasn't sure that large an increase was necessary.

"Some clubs are going to have to figure out ways to waste the money, because they don't have the equipment, (and) they don't have the tourism industry," he said.

For example, while some funds in Candle Lake are expected to improve signage, Romanuik said the SAA standards for signs shouldn't apply to more remote clubs.

"We feel our signage is done very well, although the SSA and some others feel they want to see the signage and stuff upgraded to an international level," he said. "To meet those standards, we don't have the tourism industry here."

Romanuik said the fee was still reasonable, however.

tholloway@paherald.sk.ca