Executive Director's Desk

The snowmobile season is just around the corner

December 2009

Keeping a Close Watch on Legislative Issues and Snowmobile Funds

Last month, I explained Executive Order 2009-45, which not only abolishes the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), it also abolishes several boards and councils, including the Michigan Snowmobile Advisory Committee (SAC) and the Michigan Trailways Advisory Council.

As you may recall, I explained that Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm signed the order on Oct. 8. The order creates a new Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) and transfers the functions of the SAC to a new seven-member Michigan Trails Advisory Council within the new DNRE. This new council will consist of both motorized and non-motorized users. It will advise the governor and the DNRE on creating, developing, preparing and maintaining motorized and non-motorized trails in Michigan. The executive order will take effect on Jan. 17, 2010. 

Last month, I asked you to call your legislators and Lt. Gov. John Cherry and let them know how important the SAC is to snowmobiling in Michigan. You’re doing a great job doing just that, and we need you to keep the pressure on your legislators.

 We are hearing rumblings that Gov. Granholm will be modifying this Executive Order which could possibly reinstate the SAC. This must be done by Jan. 17, 2010, when the Order will take affect.

In mid-November, the Senate passed a resolution rejecting the Executive Order. At the time of this writing, the House has not done anything. The House would also have to pass a similar resolution to force movement on the issue.

During recent meetings with our snowmobile friendly legislators, we have been assured that if this Executive Order stands (as is) they would immediately introduce legislation to reinstate the SAC. However, that would include the time our legislative process takes. It would have to pass both the House and Senate and could be vetoed by the Governor.

Currently, MSA is preparing for the last SAC, which will be held on Dec. 10 in Munising. Stay tuned for more details on this issue. Hopefully, January will bring good news. 

Keeping Watch Over Snowmobile Funds!

MSA officials want to remind snowmobilers that they are keeping a vigilant watch over their money and making sure their money is spent wisely. MSA is continually making sure snowmobile dollars are spent on what they are stated to be spent on. This chart spells out exactly where the money is spent.

The $10 trail permit increase goes directly into the Snowmobile Trail Improvement Fund, which is managed by DNR. The trail improvement fund is expected to be $9,964,400 this year. The $10 increase snowmobilers are paying for their trail permit adds $1.2 million to that fund.

The money you pay for a trail permit goes straight into the trail improvement fund, which is used by snowmobile grant sponsors for signing and brushing, grooming, construction, maintenance, groomer replacement and acquiring new trails.

MSA has also worked with our legislature to keep the snowmobile program’s management fees low. When people think of management of the snowmobile program, they tend to think of the money going straight to Lansing. That’s not the case. Snowmobile program management fees go to several different areas including the Executive Branch, Department of Information Technology, Department of Treasury and Secretary of State along with management in Lansing and out in the field. In reality, snowmobile dollars are spent on 2.5 people working in Lansing. The bulk of the management money is spent out in the field on field officers who work directly with grant sponsors. These field officers work with snowmobile clubs, checking to make sure that they are signing and brushing and grooming and maintaining snowmobile trails. During the off season, these field officers work with clubs to plan reroutes, new trails and bridge restorations. Just remember when you think of snowmobile program management, only a small portion is spent in Lansing. The majority goes to managing snowmobile trails on the ground. This management money goes toward making sure trails are kept smooth and working with grant sponsors on the off season to prepare those trails.

The $8 increase in snowmobile registration fees is going into a permanent trail easement account.  Currently, members of the SAC and DNR are putting the finishing touches on the Administrative Rules for this account. With every state fund, there must be a set of Administrative Rules which outlines how funds can be spent. These Rules outline the process of spending these funds. It’s been a process creating these Administrative Rules, but they are getting closer to completion. We have had five meetings with the SAC, DNR and the State Office of Administrative Rules.

 Once these Rules are put on paper, we must have a public hearing before they can be approved and put in place. We hope to have the Administrative Rules approved and in place so that money from the permanent trail easement account can be used to purchase easements in 2010.

November 2009

Governor Granholm Abolishes Snowmobile Advisory Committee!

     By now most of you have read and heard that Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm signed an executive order on Oct. 8 (Executive Order 2009-45), which abolishes the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
This executive order creates a new Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) to protect and conserve Michigan air, water and other natural resources. This department assumes the powers and functions of the DNR and DEQ. The executive order will take effect on Jan. 17, 2010.
    What you may not know is that same executive order also abolishes several boards and councils, including the Michigan Snowmobile Advisory Committee (SAC) and the Michigan Trailways Advisory Council. We are being told that this move was made in an effort to streamline government and make processes more efficient.
The functions of these two boards are being transferred to a new seven-member Michigan Trails Advisory Council within the new DNRE. This council will advise the governor and the DNRE on creating, developing, preparing and maintaining motorized and non-motorized trails in Michigan.
This council will be made up of both motorized and non-motorized trail representatives including snowmobiling, ATVers, hikers, bikers, walkers and equestrian.
Snowmobilers pay 100 percent of the cost of snowmobile trails, and contribute well over a billion dollars a year to Michigan’s ailing economy. Our question is why mess with one of the brightest spots in Michigan tourism?

Letting Those Who Oppose Us Make the Decisions

    Some of these user groups have openly disagreed and stood opposed to snowmobiling, and now they will have authority over the snowmobile program and the funds that you, the user pay.
The SAC and grant sponsors have been working well with the DNR for the past year and a half. The snowmobile program is very large and intricate. The current DNR staff understands its importance. Trails are getting better, grant sponsors are being reimbursed for their expenditures and the end result is we, the snowmobilers, are getting great trails to ride. We are the experts in the world of snowmobiling in Michigan, and the DNR is managing us appropriately. This brings more money into our state.
Why try and fix something that isn’t broken?
    How many battles have we had over the years with non-motorized interest groups who want to abolish snowmobiling? Gov. Granholm now intends to grant authority and jurisdiction over our sport to these proven enemies of snowmobiling. Remember the new Michigan Trails Advisory Council will be made up of both motorized and non-motorized trail representatives including snowmobiling, ATVers, hikers, bikers, walkers and equestrian. Past experience has shown us that some of these user groups just don’t get along.
Also, keep in mind that this new Council will “advise the governor” giving the sitting governor more control and adding to the entire process.

Even More Layers of Government

    Granholm’s executive order does allow for advisory work groups to be established. The executive order specifically lists snowmobiling in reference to an advisory work group. We believe this was an attempt to let us know we are being considered, but that just isn’t enough. We want the SAC left in place.
This new process defeats the purpose of streamlining government! It adds another layer of bureaucracy for us to go through to get the money you pay on the ground, on our trails. This is the money that you paid to recreate on the snowmobile trails of Michigan.
Consider this: A snowmobile advisory work group is established under this new Trails Advisory Council; that work group makes a recommendation to the Council; that then makes a recommendation to the governor; who then directs the new DNRE director on the matter; who then directs the DNRE staff. This hasn’t streamlined anything, but added at least two layers to the decision-making process.

Working to Save the SAC

MSA officials are currently meeting with snowmobile friendly legislators to see what we can do. We see this move as a hindrance and a huge step backwards for the program. We have received tremendous support from our legislators so far, but until this executive order takes affect on Jan. 17, we have to keep calling them and stating our position. We need the SAC left in place!
We need you to call Gov. Granholm and Lt. Gov. John Cherry’s office at let them know how important this is. Tell them that, as a snowmobiler, you are not happy. Our snowmobile program is too important to be down played.

We urge all snowmobilers to unite and call their legislators. Tell them that this is a bad move. Snowmobiling is too important to be left to the hands of a Michigan Trails Advisory Council and those who have no understanding of our sport – those who don’t pay to recreate as we do.

Gov. Granholm (517) 373-3400 Lt. Gov. Cherry (517) 373-6800

September 2009

The snowmobile season is just around the corner, and the Michigan Snowmobile News is back with a new face (publisher). MSA is now self-publishing its own magazine. We have also put a lot of effort into our Web site to keep it current, but our general membership expressed a strong desire to continue the publication of our printed magazine as an information outlet. In order to keep it cost effective, we formed a magazine committee and contracted Marie Grogitsky to spearhead it. That committee has been working hard all summer to produce a quality, informative and up-to-date magazine. Over the coming months, you as snowmobilers will have two avenues to see what’s happening around the state on snowmobile issues — from family rides and club happenings to legislative issues taking place in Lansing. Yes we are moving forward, so hang on and enjoy the ride!
Working Through the Summer Months Summer is a very busy time of year for your MSA officers and executive board. In June we represented Michigan at the International Snowmobile Congress in Prince Edward Island, Canada. The Prime Minister of Canada attended, giving a very positive speech. He truly understands the benefits of snowmobile tourism and industry. He committed a $28 million matching stimulus package to Canada’s snowmobile program. I challenge President Obama to match that. During the event, new contacts were also made, familiar smiling faces were seen and great snowmobile stories were shared. A week after returning from the ISC, we were off to the MSA Camp Out. If you have never attended this annual event, you should consider signing up. It is a great time and a different environment to spend some quality time with fellow snowmobilers. There are lots of events planned and even things for the kids to do. This year’s highlight was the dunk tank. All the officers took a turn in it. Watching Bruce Wood and Jim Dickie get dunked was a riot. Yes, I put my time in too. I think someone must have put ice in there when we weren’t looking; boy it was cold. By the time this is published, Nelson’s Snow Motion 2010 Snow Show will be under our belts. This is another very worthy event our volunteers support. There was also a Snowmobile Advisory Council (SAC) meeting in August. The topics we again brought to the table were groomer replacement, major maintenance repairs on old groomers and special maintenance projects that have yet to be funded. These have become redundant subjects, and I fear they won’t be resolved quickly. There is also $3 million in bridgework projects alone needed on the trail system. This rising cost factor is due to the Forest Certification process. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) looks at the forests becoming certified as a positive thing. It has been a helpful tool for them to sell timber. But to us, it has become a financial nightmare, requiring professional engineering on projects causing the costs to skyrocket. Now with that said, some of the trails are multi-use trails, and money and labor should come from other user groups also. That makes sense to me. How about you? In some cases, I believe that the DNR misses the mark on this. Just because it’s a snowmobile trail in the wintertime, doesn’t mean the snowmobile fund should have to bare the burden of the cost of trail maintenance alone. If it’s a forest road or Off Road Vehicle (ORV) trail as well, these groups should be financially responsible also. The SAC has a new face. Don Britton from the Marquette area has replaced Orv Olson. While we look forward to working with Don, Orv did a great job while on the committee. He asked some pointed questions and requested the DNR to walk the walk. Thanks for a job well done!
MSA Convention Time Our MSA Convention is just around the corner. If you have never been, or it’s been some time since you attended, please put it on your calendar and join us this year. It’s always a great time. There are social events, meetings to find out what is going on around the state and the elections of your officers. I will be stepping down as president in January, as my final term is up. Come and support your candidate. You must be present to vote. This year it’s in Lansing at the Days Inn West on Oct. 23-25.

    Snowmobile trails in Michigan are open from December 1^st through March 31^st.

The Michigan Snowmobile Association is a volunteer organization dedicated to the
improvement of the sport of snowmobiling in Michigan.