Attn: Michigan snowmobilers

Last one out of Michigan please turn off the lights!! Well the tree huggers try harder than we do...
 
yammiman said:
Need to get rid of the Democrat Governor - Democrats have a long history of being "anti-snowmobile" - Grandholm has been dragging her feet on every snowmobile issue that has come before her in the past two years - they probably have other plans for that money that is in the fund - something like "save the gerbil" or some other "tree hugging BS" - you can bet that they don't want to spend it on promoting snowmobiling!
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I'm not exactly sure how Granholm was responsible for declining the reroute proposals. The DNR made the presentation and the recomendation that the proposal be turned down.

The original route was removed not because of any political party or individual in office, but because of the homeowners that didn't want a snowmobile trail running close to where they live.

I was unaware of an "anti-snowmobile" agenda promoted by the state Democratic party, can you enlighten me regarding the other snowmobile issues over the last two years that have been thwarted by the Democrats.
 
The DNR is not a partisan political department any more than the State Police, School Board, etc. The DNR made their recomendations to the NRC (some of those members were appointed by Granholm)
"At the December 2005 Natural Resources Commission (NRC) meeting, the DNR's Forest Management Division made a presentation regarding proposed reroutes to the east from Indian River to Cheboygan."
What bill exactly was Granholm supposed to sign regarding this issue. There was no mention of a law that was supposed to be passed to open this trail. Who sponsored this bill, when did it pass the State Legislature?
I agree Clinton put restrictions on snowmobile access to areas of National Parks, what does this have to do with Michigan goverment? You said that "Grandholm has been dragging her feet on every snowmobile issue that has come before her in the past two years"
What are those other issues?
 
Well as some of you know I live in Kentucky & I just paid my dues as a MSA member! I love to sled & It does not come free nothing does! I hope all join ther state association!
 
Same old B.S. no one wants to pass any legislation, cause they might lose some votes.

Degradation from building a bridge, or a trail? Take a look around, they are cutting so many trees in the Ottawa N.F. it's unbelieveable! Bunch of crap if you ask me, they sure don't have a problem putting in a $hitload of logging roads!
 
bishof, i've got to back you up on this one. they owe a trail from 1996 and i believe big john was gov then. the republicans have the majority now so they should be able to push that trail through no problem. ya right. anyways it is well overdue. ray
 
Republicans or Democrats we are all "snowmobilers" and should fight together for our sport - I'm done with the Amsnow debate over who is to blame! - that becomes a matter of oppion, and no one here is going to change that!
 
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yammiman said:
Bischof - I don't care to turn this into a political debate and it is obvious that you are a Democrat and I have pushed your buttons QUOTE]

Sorry I thought you were making a political statement when you said..

Originally Posted by yammiman
"Need to get rid of the Democrat Governor - Democrats have a long history of being "anti-snowmobile" - Grandholm has been dragging her feet on every snowmobile issue that has come before her in the past two years - they probably have other plans for that money that is in the fund - something like "save the gerbil" or some other "tree hugging BS" - you can bet that they don't want to spend it on promoting snowmobiling!"

The only button you pushed is the one that makes me ask for facts when someone makes such a broad statement. Yup I'm a Democrat but I'm a snowmobiler as well. If the Gov. I support is working against my interests I want to know about it.

Since you can't or will not back up the above statement with any data other than harping on DNR appointiees, (the current DNR head by the way was installed by John Engler as the DNR's Chief of the Wildlife Division in 1998 before her promotion to head of the DNR in 2004. She's been with the DNR since 1977. Clearly not just a political appointment), and the rerouting issue. I took a little time and did some research for you. I could find only two snowmobile related bills have gone to Granholm since her election as Gov. There are several other bills being reviewed by the House and Senate but are no where near the Gov's desk.

HB 4352 Snowmobiles, prohibit colored lights/lens caps
Signed into law 3/22/04

SB 0161 Allow operation of snowmobiles on rights-of-way of limited access highways
Signed into law 12/7/05 (a similar law was given to Gov. Engler in 1999 and vetoed)

One last thing I found. Seems the DNR isn't ALL about blocking access to snowmobilers. Cut and pasted from the DNR's web site.

November 3, 2005
Department of Natural Resources Director Rebecca Humphries signed an order at Thursday’s Natural Resources Commission meeting to open an access gate one mile north of Indian River under an Interstate 75 overpass to allow snowmobile riders to be able to pass through the area on their way to Michigan Highway 27.

This action will allow snowmobile enthusiasts to use a trail corridor up to Grandview Beach Road, which will provide them with access to local motels just north of the primary business district of Indian River.

"This action will provide for the safest alternative for snowmobile riders to get to the area north of Indian River without having to travel along M-27," Humphries said. "This action is a part of the DNR’s commitment to expand access to the business district of Indian River in the safest manner."

The action was recommended by the Gaylord to Cheboygan Workgroup, a group of snowmobile riders and DNR personnel working to resolve issues related to snowmobiling trails between Gaylord and Cheboygan.

As part of the recommendation, the DNR will review the change for effectiveness before the 2008-2009 snowmobile season.

Enough said.
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The DNR has a long history of making decisions without regard to the citizens, facts or rules. Anyone from the Iron Mountain area might remember what crap the DNR was throwing around to keep the Lake Fumee area from being a Natural Area. and just try to do more than walk through a "Wet Land" private property or no, and be prepared for multi million dollar fines. then they destroy wetlands by dyanmiting beaver dams, and tearing out very establish (50 years and older) hydro electric dams to bring the rivers back to thier "natural state". Rivers and wetlands are always changing, get over it, it is NATURAL!. lets not forget the the whole deer baiting, and the let 'em grow campain. Does anyone else here believe in selective breeding? "kill only deer with big racks so all buck will have big rack" huh???. I hunt for meat first, I take a faun when I see a doe with 2, and a I take a scrubby buck over a 8 pointer, because I want the 8 pointer to breed, not the "charlie brown christmas tree" buck. I'm sure there are more issues out there I haven't paid attention to, and thats how they get away with it, not enough people pay attention to what they do. The Michigan DNR seams to take random positions and fights kicking and screaming for them without logic, and often reverse course just as quickly in few years without any logic. If anyone will clean house they will get my vote for relection Democrat or Republican.
 
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Humphries was installed as Chief of the Wildlife Division by Engler.
She was promoted to head of the DNR by Granholm. I guessed you missed my point. I was trying to demonstrate that the current DNR head wasn't just a political hack but rather a career DNR officer that had the confidence of both a Republican and Democratic administration.

But lets just say for kicks that the current head of the DNR was a Republican appointee. Not that you want to make this a political issue or anthing.

When Humphries signed the order for the new trail route north of Indian River it was approved by the DNR! Done deal! If the head of the DNR makes a rule or finding there is no one in the DNR subordinate to them that can reverse it. They could possibly file in court as an individual to have the ruling disallowed but that isn't what your saying. Are you actually investigating what you are stating or just making it up as you go along?
As for this matter progressing smoothly until Granholm came along, I couldn't tell you I haven't researched the entire history. From what I've read so far from the minutes of the NRC Trustees meeting the resistance came from two fronts. The residents that didn't want snowmobiles running right along their property and the DNR's recomendations against the two proposed alternate routes because they thought they went through sensitive areas.
Exactly when did "this matter" come up? If it was running so smoothly under the Republican administration (not that we want to make a political issue out of it) why wasn't it approved and implemented?
 
If you are not already a member, I suggest everyone join the Michigan Snowmobile Association (MSA) as they are the only lobby group we have to support snowmobile issuses in our legislature. It is only $35 for three years. Don Reed from the Fox River Motel in Seney in the new President and he is one of the biggest boosters for the sport.
 
It's not about democrats and republicans, it's about us (snowmobilers, fisherman, hunters etc.) making sure we elect the right people to represent our interests and preserve our rights. In minnesota we have been trying to get fishing turned into a right instead of a privilege, cause that's going south at a higher rate of speed than the snowmobiling is. you decide.
 
I haven't read all these posts... cause quite frankly I don't have the time... but has anyone asked the MSA, "WTF happened? Who in the MSA dropped the ball?"

Sooner or later you've got to face it... if the issue was so damn important... and I think $2 million is pretty damn important... why did the MSA just take the DNR's word that action was taken? If it was so damn important, why didn't the MSA take responsibility to make sure that the Attorney General was in the loop? Sounds like a racket to me... a classic shirking of responsibility... somebody stepped on their *(#$ and now they're trying to pass off the responsibility hoping no one points the finger their way.
 
sxrron said:
If you are not already a member, I suggest everyone join the Michigan Snowmobile Association (MSA) as they are the only lobby group we have to support snowmobile issuses in our legislature. It is only $35 for three years. Don Reed from the Fox River Motel in Seney in the new President and he is one of the biggest boosters for the sport.
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Exactly. if your not a member than step up or walk away!
 
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