Township rescinds motion blocking ATV trails

by Laurel Campbell

Apr 30, 2008

CHISHOLM – Despite a resolution passed last month stating that Chisholm council would not permit an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) trail “in any portion of the township” the issue is back on the table with a public meeting proposed by early June.

Over 35 township residents packed the Chisholm council chamber on April 22 as proponents of a trail through the community took issue with the fact that the previous resolution had disregarded a recommendation of the public works committee (PWC) that a public meeting be held to discuss a new trail. Those in favour of the trail were also angry that council had further resolved to close any future discussions on the issue after a hearing only one side of the story.

As reported in the March 26 edition of the Almaguin Forester, a large number of residents, all opposing the construction of any all-purpose trails in the township, made a presentation to council on March 25. Their presentation resulted in council’s resolve to refuse any proposals for trails that would be used by either snowmobiles or ATVs.

“The article in the Forester made me angry,” Gerry Rose told Chisholm councillors on April 22. “This is not the way democracy is carried out. There were only three members of council present at that meeting and this is a divisive issue that the whole council should have addressed.”

Councillors Doug Penny and Steve Boyle were absent from the March meeting, leaving only Mayor Barb Groves and councillors Cec Reid and Heather Ward to debate the issue.

Speaking directly to Mayor Groves, Rose said “the fact that the recommendation from public works for a public meeting was stomped on falls directly on your shoulders. You’re the Mayor, Barb.” Rose also pointed out “we already have a trail running right through this community (a snowmobile trail that uses an unmaintained road, unopened road allowances and the abandoned CN rail bed). If we don’t have this proposed trail, that would link from Powassan to Mattawa, we’re going to have the ATVs running our roads. You already have a bylaw allowing them to do this, so there’s no way to stop them short of a total ban on Chisholm roads. I think you should rescind your resolution and a public meeting on the issue should be called.”

Citing comments made previously by those who were concerned about trails through naturally sensitive areas of the township, Vic Trahan of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs told council “I have a file here with completed environmental studies. The only thing that’s holding up a trail through Chisholm is the need to use three unopened road allowances. We’re currently detouring snowmobiles on 26 kilometres of open road because we have no other connection to North Bay. Last year a 34-year-old died on that detour and if we had of had a trail, that might not have happened.”

Susan Majors, who spearheaded the March 25 anti-trail delegation to council, spoke passionately about the ratepayers’ concerns of noise, excessive littering, recreational vehicle emissions, stress to livestock and potential property devaluation as reasons for council to hold fast to its decision to keep potential multi-use trails out of the township. “All parts of the township are presented here tonight and we don’t want this in our backyard. . . . These vehicles will spook horses on our roads, endanger our residents and cause traffic problems,” she said.

Calling on council not to change its mind on holding a public meeting, Majors said a meeting would “be a waste of taxpayer dollars. By the time you rent a hall and consider staff and council time, a meeting will cost the township $600. . . just to rehash old issues. The number of people opposed to a trail is growing every day,” she said, “because it will cause nothing but grief.”

Mark King, chair of Discovery Routes which is part of the Cross Canada Trail System, admitted Majors had made some valid points, but countered by saying the whole idea of a trail network “is to move away from residential areas and stay on road allowances and Crown land. Private land should be kept as private land,” he said. King also cautioned council that a trail was likely to be established through the township “whether you like it or not, and if it’s not controlled you will experience more problems.”

When questioned by Groves, none of the trail proponents could determine if the proposed trails, both ATV and snowmobile, would ultimately be designated multi-purpose.

“That’s an issue we (the trail groups) are going to have to wrestle with,” said King.

Councillor Reid was the only one to speak to a motion presented following the presentation. The motion is to rescind the no new trails resolution and to hold a public trails meeting. He said he felt council’s decision not to allow any more trails was “made in haste after an emotional presentation by those who attended our March 25 meeting. Since then, I’ve been thinking a lot about it and I disagree with the process we used. I want to see this council be fair and transparent. Public works recommended a public meeting to be fair and open about the discussion, and that’s not the way it went down. For that reason, I’m asking that the resolution be rescinded.”

Council’s vote to reopen the issue was unanimous, with Heather Ward being absent from the meeting. Mayor Groves indicated that the public trails meeting will be held at the Chisholm United Church “later this month or in the first week of June.”