GEORGIAN BAY – A snowmobile and an all-terrain vehicle club are working with the District of Muskoka for enhanced trail access on a district property in the Township of Georgian Bay that houses a hauled sewage lagoon.
Bud Knowles, a director for the Baxter Snow Riders snowmobile club, sent a letter to Tony White, district commissioner of engineering and public works, asking permission to create an access trail between Nicholson Road and an existing snowmobile trail that follows a colonization road through the district property.
“The need for this trail is to allow volunteers from the main user groups, the Baxter ATV Riders and Baxter Snow Riders, access for both upgrading and continual maintenance of the main trail which traverses the old colonization road across district property,” stated Knowles.
David Royston, district solicitor, submitted a report to the engineering and public works committee recommending an agreement between the clubs and the district to allow both the connecting trail and the use of all-terrain vehicles on the established trail.
“The presence of the trail has no impact on the operation of the hauled sewage lagoon and staff have no objection to the use of the trail by ATVs,” stated Royston. “Therefore, it is recommended that the permission requested by the Baxter Snow Riders be granted, subject to the execution of an agreement to document the terms and conditions under which the trail can be used and maintained by the snowmobile club.”
He stated in the report that the agreement would protect the district from liability claims related to trail use or personal injury, among others.
Committee members approved the recommendation and forwarded it to district council for consideration on March 18.