Trail Improvements Halted

by Vance Gutzman

Work has been stopped on improvements to snowmobile trails in Head, Clara and Maria.

The stop-work order was issued by townships council last week when it was learned the municipality was expected to pay about $500 to the party doing the work in preparation for the annual poker run during the Stonecliffe Winter Carnival.

"We'd be setting a precedent in that we'd be pulling away from volunteerism," reeve Lita Therrien told council last week.

"If there is somebody who will do it for nothing that will have to be looked at."

The poker run itself became an issue at the meeting, with councillors concerned that the cost of trail permits might deter some people from taking part in it. "If you take the poker run out, you may as well wash out the carnival," councillor Jim Allison said.

A meeting between the municipal recreation committee, Missing Link Snowmobile Club and the North Renfrew Snowmobile Association will be set up as soon as possible to try and resolve the issue.