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Landowners_appreciation

Feature Article May 5

Feature Article May 5, 2004

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Landowners Appreciation Dinner features camaraderie and politics

The first ever Landowners Appreciation dinner put on by the Mazinaw Powerline Snowmobile Club was well received by the Landowners and club members who attended and enjoyed a roast beef dinner, complete with mashed potatoes, beans, delicious pies, complimentary wine, and a hearty portion of political discussion.

MPP Leona Dombrowsky made the opening remarks, calling the relationship between the club and the landowners that permit the use of their land for snowmobile trails an example of the kind of co-operation that is needed for the rural areas of the province to thrive.

After dinner, host Len Tufford introduced North Frontenac Mayor Ron Maguire, who brought greetings from his Council. Addington Highlands Reeve Ken Hook also brought greetings from his Council and then announced that Addington Highlands was indeed preparing to bring in a bylaw permitting the use of All-Terrain Vehicles on township roads. This was well received by the snowmobile enthusiasts and landowners, many of who seem to drive ATVs as well.

A presentation on insurance by Richard McCall, a Vice-President with the snowmobile club followed and he outlined how the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Associations now pays $3.5 million annually to cover their members and the private landowners who have agreements in place with member snowmobile clubs. He also assured concerned landowners they were covered against injuries to ATV riders who use the trails in the off season.

Len Tufford then spoke about the issue of ATV use of snowmobile trails. Tufford said snowmobile clubs have spent years developing a trail system, agreements with landowners, and proper insurance. He urged ATV enthusiasts to form associations, purchase insurance, and negotiate agreements, just like snowmobilers have done.

If ATVers want to use snowmobile trails, and they are able to negotiate agreements with landowners, able to leave the trails in the same condition when snowmobiling starts in December as they find them in when we finish with them at the end of March, then Im all in favour of ATV and snowmobile associations working together.

Tufford has been working for the Mazinaw-Powerline Association on renewals of agreements with landowners, and one of the major issues for landowners is the broken fences and gates that have come about from unauthorised ATV use of trails. This has made renegotiating agreements difficult in some cases.

The entire executive of the Mazinaw-Powerline Club was introduced to the audience, and the great amount of volunteer work done each year by the dozen or so members was celebrated.

Finally, the highlight of the evening came when Carl and Glenda Smith were called up to the front of the Hall and John Nowell thanked them for their dedication to the club. He then presented Carl with a plaque commemorating his service to the club. Carl has just retired from working as a trail groomer for the club after 28 years.

With the participation of the Government of Canada