Chocolay trail issue pits residents against each other

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HARVEY - With the Nov. 4 millage election looming, Iron Ore Heritage Trail Authority members are wondering which communities are going to continue to support the trail system and which ones won't.

One community that has voiced opposition is Chocolay Township, where some residents are concerned that supporting the trail means supporting the often-criticized snowmobile trail that runs through a residential area.

"This should have been a completely non-motorized trail," said Scott Emerson, who lives along the trail on Lakewood Lane and has been a vocal dissident of the snowmobile trail. "What I'm hoping is for this millage to be defeated and then they can come back and tell the (Michigan Department of Natural Resources) that they need a non-motorized trail and that the snowmobiles can use (state snowmobile) trail eight or trail two. Why have something like that come through a residential area?"

But even if voters do turn down the millage - which is requesting 0.2 mills from each of 10 communities that the trail is expected to run through - the snowmobiles aren't going away, said Don Britton.

Britton, a member on the Chocolay Township Board and is the community's representative on the Iron Ore Heritage Trail Authority, said he believes there is a misunderstanding between the trail opponents and the authority.

"No matter what, the snowmobiles are going to be there," Britton said. "It was already there. If they vote down this millage, it's not going to stop the snowmobile trail, it's just going to stop the trail from being used for silent sports in the summer months."

In the summer months, posts will be placed along the trail to prevent access by motorized vehicles. During the winter, the posts would be removed and the trail would be open to snowmobilers again.

Emerson said that it's nonsense to ask the residents to pay for a trail that they have already opposed.

"It's not the time for the government or taxpayers to be supporting things that are increasing dependence on fossil fuels, especially recreation that causes more trauma (through accidents) and increases insurance costs," said Emerson, who is an emergency-room physician. "Promoting motorized recreational activities is also fanning the flames of this nation's obesity epidemic. That's just not good public policy. It's going in the exact opposite direction than where we should be going."

Jim Thomas, the chairman of the trail authority, said that in no way is the Iron Ore Heritage Trail being built for snowmobile access. He said that having a snowmobile trail in place - especially one like in Chocolay that is state-owned - isn't something the authority controls.

"We're promoting silent sports in the area," he said. "The motorized sports are already there. We're looking at putting our silent sports trail in the area on top of the present snowmobile trail that is already there."

Britton said he hopes that voters keep in mind the benefits of saying yes to the millage, which would raise the average resident's taxes by an estimated $8.56 per year in Chocolay Township.

"This would resurface that old railroad grade and make it usable for silent sports only in the summer," he said. "This is a good thing for the community. This isn't a promotion of snowmobiles, but a promotion of recreation in the area. Why say no to a good thing?"