From the Smoky Lake Signal, Wednesday, September 18, 2002. Volume 25, Number 19. Celebrating the Trail A Smoky Lake Recreational ATV The Smoky Lake Recreational ATV Association hosted an information meeting at the former Vilna Village hall adjacent to the giant mushrooms, Thursday, September 12. It was to update councillors from towns, villages and counties along the former CN rail line, snowmobile and RV clubs and MLAs, of the progress that has been made. For the first time in Canada an abandoned railway line has successfully been turned over to local municipalities for multiple use, and the municipalities have worked with ATV, snowmobile and horse riding clubs to make one of the uses a public trail. Smoky Lake regional ATV president Delmar Huchulak introduced North East Muni-Corr president Robert Bouchard. He's the reeve of St. Paul County who organized the ten municipalities into a company to control the rail line land. They mitigated the rail line abandonment and elevator closures by keeping the corridor in tact for possible future rebuilding of the railway and by creating a recreational asset out of it. Delmar Huchulak thanked the politicians and the volunteers for the tremendous amount of work they have done. "There's an unbelievable opportunity for economic benefits for the whole region. We want to work together. Making everyone a partner in the process." "This meeting is a long time coming, and we're pleased to be here," said Robert Bouchard, from Muni-Corr. He congratulated the County of Smoky Lake. "They have had a rough road to hoe, but they have become the first to approve a development permit to allow the trail to proceed. Bouchard said that Muni-Corr, the non-profit Part 9 company that now owns the land, was formed because the ten municipalities had a vision. They wanted to see the continuous right-of-way stay in tact for many years to come, a legacy for our grandchildren. Muni-Corr was set up to have ownership and manage the right-of-way. Some of its rules and regulations are a bit cumbersome, but they are intended that way. For instance, in dealing with ownership of the corridor, every municipal vote has the same weight. Vilna, which has a small percentage of responsibility, has the same weight of vote as the County of St. Paul, which has much more land involved. For any section of the land to be sold off, unanimous consent of the ten member municipalities is needed. If one area is trying to sell off the land for political reasons, it will be hard to get the other ten municipalities to agree. That will preserve the corridor for years to come. "The land is a public utility corridor. Bonnyville has already used it to install a ten inch water pipeline from Cold Lake to Ardmore. We wanted to have the land preserved as eco-status with the federal government. CN is still pursuing it. The corridor will have many different uses, hopefully conservation is one of them," said Bouchard. "We don't want the land over grazed by farmers. There is a lot of rare plant species along the corridor that would not exist in the area if the railway hadn't of been there. "The County of St. Paul now has an agreement with Ducks Unlimited to have them manage some of the area for us. We don't want to clean the beavers all out, we want to leave as much wildlife as we possibly can, for our kids to see. "Muni-Corr is not a wealthy company, but it has significant assets. An independent appraiser has valued the land at $14 million. The adjacent lands, in the towns and villages, the company intends to sell, to the public at market value estimated at $400,000." The 10 municipalities have advanced funds to Muni-Corr on a cost share basis to pay for the legal fees costs and setting up the company. The funds will flow back to the municipalities in the same percentages. A lot of their land in the towns has been leased. Muni-Corr, this week, sent out $30,000 in bills to elevator companies, Atco, Telus, and bulk fuel companies. We have also just learned that we now own a new gravel pit too. Muni-Corr is not going to cost the municipalities. It will make money. Muni-Corr policy is to not lease the land to adjacent landowners, but to allow licenses of occupation. It will preserve the land for multiple use, and the land in the state that it is in. There will be no disturbances allowed at all in the 30 foot right-of-way. No one will have exclusive use of the land. Muni-Corr will grant the same type of license of occupation for recreational user groups, shared use for everyone. To serve the common good, everyone will have to make a sincere effort to mitigate any problems. Copies of the licenses of occupation have been provided to clubs for their input before being taken back to lawyers for the final draft. Insurance has been one concern. Muni-Corr now has $5 million coverage and the municipalities carry a $10 million extra. Muni-Corr President Bouchard said they would prefer to enter an agreement with one umbrella group of recreational users who would look after the various branch lines. That way the rules can be consistent. The closing of the railway line has created savings for the municipality. St. Paul County paid $20,000 a year to CN to have the road crossings maintained. Smoky Lake County paid $16,000. The County of St. Paul has adopted the name Iron Horse Trail for its section. The original Iron Horse Trail was 34 kilometers of railway right-of-way from Elk Point to Heinsburg that CN abandoned a decade ago, and the County of St. Paul purchased, mostly for the gravel pits. It became the original multi-use trail in the area and is now a recognized name in Alberta. It doesn't describe any particular area, so we have chosen it for the rest of our new right-of-way, said Robert Bouchard. We don't know what Smoky Lake will name their section, but they could name the whole rail line the Iron Horse Trail. St. Paul officially approved their development permit, always a trail, on Tuesday. A few people think it is not a good idea, but most are for it. As one St. Paul ratepayer who was very opposed to the trail put it, at least at last fall's election, everyone had an opportunity to voice their opinion. The majority felt a trail would make sense, so let's get on with it. "I really feel people are ready to give it a good shot," said the St. Paul reeve. The adjacent landowners have been given the right to graze the land through license of occupation. Twenty landowners have agreed to pay $200 for the two eight foot wide gates the County of St. Paul has installed where needed along the line. Riverland Trail Association has provided five foot wide Texas gates, to allow for ATVs and snowmobiles to go through without opening gates. "St. Paul County has had experience with ten years of operating the Iron Horse Trail," said Reeve Bouchard. "There was opposition originally, but some of those who were opposed are now frequent users. It doesn't resemble a railway line anymore. There is grass and trees have grown up. Most is now dirt trail, not gravel, and with the wildlife it's created a nice setting that people appreciate. There hasn't been the thousands of snowmobiles and hundreds of quads that people had feared. There is no noise problem. But it does take people time to find out that it isn't a bad thing." The gates along the trail will be closed, but not locked. From October 31 they will be left open, unless the farmer gets special permission from Muni-Corr due to say a water problem. One of the people representing the horse riding groups at the meeting had a concern about the chain latching mechanism. It means riders have to dismount at every gate. Muni-Corr will look into it. But as for the question of whether trails will be limited to just horse back riding for one day a week to avoid potential accidents with ATVs, that will be up to the umbrella group to decide. If major events are planned, wagon train rides or trail rides on specific dates, it could be posted on the ironhorsetrail.ca website, as well as signs put up so ATVs would avoid that section. The County of St. Paul has passed a bylaw that prohibits cars, trucks and 4x4s from driving the trail, and imposes a $1,000 fine for the first offense. As well, all hunting is banned from the right-of-way. Smoky Lake County Councillor Cory Ollikka asked if the recreation management group would be creating guidelines for public safety. A concern someone raised to him was fire starting from the right-of-way. St. Paul Chief of Police Staff Sergeant Jim Fell, a trail steward, who on his off hours rides the trail making sure that everything is safe, said they had a fire on the right-of-way by Elk Point, started in six places. It wasn't accidental, but we don't know why. It was quickly put out." He pointed out that trains start fires as well. A fire started along the Bonnyville line and was quickly brought under control when fire fighting helicopters going by spotted it. They dipped their bucket in the slough and had it out in no time. They did note four quads along the right-of-way, and the assumption was they started it. But during the investigation the belly pans of the quads were removed. They found twigs, but absolutely no sign of fire. They were simply in the area, but not to blame. Smoky Lake County Manager Cary Smigerowsky said his office has sent out guidelines in the county newsletter and mailed out notices to adjacent landowners giving them 14 days to remove any cross fences and sign license of occupation agreements. "In the mountains there are snowmobile staging areas where we can park our units, how will it be handled on the Iron Horse Trail?" asked one of the future users. Smoky Lake's Deputy Mayor Vern Billey said there will be a staging area in town. Vilna might have one too. The clubs have been asked to select staging areas for group use before the sidings are sold. Smoky Lake County Reeve Mike Franchuk thanked the RCMP, Fish and Wildlife, and representatives from the clubs for their support. "We hope MLA Dave Broda will give us a grant to help build some of the facilities. We have gone through a lot of hardships for the last two years, trying to get it set up. People have looked at the proposal with different views, but this last year, we're getting less resistance to it."
Dave Broda "If managed properly, your trail is right on track," said Dave Broda, "and you're going to see some benefits. Rural communities are losing people and their identities. This project ties communities together. People using the trail might find communities they want to relocate in. "Walking trails have been very popular. Morinville has twelve paved miles. People drive in from all over to use the trails and the fishing pond. Some have moved into Morinville just because of the facilities. Trails will create economic development and increase tourism. The bed and breakfasts will flourish because of them. I support your initiatives," said the MLA, "and the name Iron Horse Trail is appropriate to the area. The multi-use of the trail as utility corridor helps save tax dollars too. There is only one taxpayer, whether you're paying federally, provincially or municipally. "The trail can be used year round," said MLA Broda, "whether it is for recreation or for farming. The potential is unlimited."
Ray Danyluk Ray Danyluk, MLA for Lac La Biche- St. Paul, said he has been involved in rails to trails, ever since he was on St. Paul County Council and purchased the Elk Point right-of-way. We made some mistakes over that line, but overall it has been a success. He was nominated chairman of a committee to study trails. There are now 15,000 kilometers of trail in Alberta, but there is no real coordination, other than through the snowmobile association. People have been asking the premier to develop some consistency. We worked with a private member's bill that dealt with trails in 1996. Shirley McClellan, at that time, set up a provincial committee to study trails. They identified liability as one of the major concerns, said Danyluk, as well as policing and trespass problems. When the government changed in 2001, the committee was reinstated with different people and different guidelines. We looked at the previous committee's concerns, as well as landowner and trail user concerns, and set up a workbook questionnaire. A focus group was created with balanced representation from snowmobile users, ATV users and landowners, to see if there was some avenue of consensus. Every area from Clareview to Edson, Slave Lake to Bragg Creek, had different issues. We've compiled the information and next week will have a multi-ministerial forum of deputy ministers and staff from all departments to make sure they understand where we're going and hope to achieve. In the middle of October we'll hold a provincial forum with reps from the snowmobile association, the Cattle Commission and landowners. One of the most important aspects we hope to accomplish is having less liability for adjacent landowners. We need to regulate safety and there needs to be a look at policing. Our focus will not be on whether a trail should be in a particular area, we believe that should be left up to the community. Only the municipalities will be able to apply for registration as a trail. If out of the review we don't come forward with initiatives, incentives or benefits for municipalities to register a trail, then I don't think we'll have done a good job, said Ray Danyluk. It won't be a forced registration. It will be voluntary. The committee found that concerns differed throughout the province. In the Drumheller-Stettler region there are a lot of concerns by adjacent landowners and ranchers. In the Edson area, where they have had trails for years, and will continue to have trails, they want to know how to enhance their trail system. Bragg Creek residents had wanted to make sure the trail is wide enough for both skiers and snowmobiles. The province is looking at different avenues to support trail construction and maintenance. One idea is to have the license fees of $52 per machine paid by snowmobilers and ATV users turned over to municipalities or trail operators. While motor vehicle license fees go to improving transportation, license fees for snowmobiles and ATVs simply go into the government's general revenue. There are two other avenues that can help immediately, explained MLA Danyluk. Jobcore out of Lac La Biche is a training program that can be utilized to build picnic tables. There is also a correctional work camp at Lac La Biche that goes out to do public service. Both groups could help with trail development. Danyluk's committee hopes to report their findings to the minister in the spring. It's the minister's decision whether to bring the issue to the standing policy committee and caucus to see if legislation is needed. There are now 20 pieces of legislation that guide what happens on trails. Perhaps bringing these regulations from environment, transportation and forestry, into one piece of legislation would be a positive move. The snowmobilers at the meeting were quite interested in registration fees being turned over to trail use for maintenance, support and policing. One of the issues is how to hand out the money. Through municipalities, or by miles of trail already built? Would you give money to municipalities that don't support trails? Ray Danyluk said he was in the Maritimes and Ontario on different business and took the time to look at trails and talk to the people. There are more trails in Prince Edward Island, than roads. "I'm not a walker," said Danyluk. "When I learned how to turn a key that was it. I use quads on the farm, but no snowmobiles. "Prince Edward Island is different. There is no hustle and bustle like Alberta. There is only one highway that you can go over 60 miles an hour. I walked their trails and they're beautiful. There's no garbage, no abuse. I talked to adjacent landowners, some who originally were vehemently opposed to them. They are now saying they weren't such a bad idea. One guy told me he kind of hangs out by the trail. There are interesting people who walk by to talk to. We talked to one group who formed a business and now have 40 to 60 trail riders a day on the Confederation Trail in New Brunswick. I asked him how they get along with the walkers. They're the worst, was the answer. They always want to come up and touch the horses. The ATV guys are great, they'll stop to look, but they don't get off their machines. "How do they deal with the manure?" "The rule is simple. You drop it, you pick it. Every second day they hire summer students with a wagon to clean off the trail. The landowners had the same fears that we have, but it's working. Some of the rules were strange. ATVs were not allowed in some towns, but snowmobiles were. Having an association like Muni-Corr is a tremendous asset, said MLA Danyluk. Governments love pilot projects. It's our way of hedging bets." He encouraged Muni-Corr to ask the government for funding. There was never a quicker motion or more unanimous support at a meeting. Every hand went up in agreement that the province should transfer back as conditional grants to the municipality some of the license fees should go for trail development and promotion. Long time trail supporter, former Riverland President Jerry Bidulock noted that volunteer groups are being asked to pay for insurance for trail use and it is a burden, but there is no such insurance cost for highway use. Snowmobile and ATV groups have suggested part of the provincial gas tax on fuel for snowmobiles and ATVs should be used to ensure the trails. Danyluk said it would be hard to monitor, but agreed that insurance is a major burden and there should be an avenue of support. Stronger trespass laws are needed, said some of the ATV users. New legislation is coming forward to increase the fines. The Petty Trespass Act was reviewed last year, said MLA Dave Broda. We're still trying to strengthen it. Just by the virtue of Alberta even having an Occupier's Liability Act gives opportunity for people to be sued, said Ray Danyluk. Manitoba and Saskatchewan don't have that act, so there is no legislation that can be interpreted as giving extra liabilities to the landowners.
Marvin Bjornstad - Riverland Recreational Trail Society. Mr. Bjornstad is the president of the Riverland Trail Society and is one of the pioneers who have done a tremendous job. I remember last year at this time being in this room, said Bjornstad, and the feeling was do or die. We had to raise money and run an election campaign. What a different feeling when the quad rolled in here tonight. It's like a victory party, said Bjornstad. Riverland is an umbrella organization whose goal has always been to build a trail from Saskatchewan to Edmonton. We're not there yet, but we now have a trail from Bonnyville to Waskatenau. For the last six months we haven't been able to go on the new trail, since it legally wasn't a trail yet, and we weren't able to pound posts until this Tuesday. But this fall we are really going to kick off. Some of the grants are running out and we have to figure out how to spend the money. Trailpac, a national organization, gives only one grant per province. They gave the Iron Horse Trail $3,000. Alberta Trailnet awarded the Iron Horse Trail a $60,000 grant from their Millennium funding to go towards signage and gates. We hope to have our $60,000 spent by Christmas, and apply next year. Trailnet has over a million dollars in the bank. Volunteers have been looking into deeds and titles to help decide how much land will be needed at each siding, for staging areas. We're looking now at four to five acres, one acre for storage of cars and trucks while the quads and snowmobiles are on the trail, one acre for a tourist booth and some land for camping as well. We've looked at St. Paul and are now checking Smoky Lake and Bonnyville. Ray Danyluk earlier set up a meeting with the Opportunity Core and we've put in an order for them to built toilets. There was a lot of positive feedback on the toilets we built in a shape of miniature elevators for the Iron Horse Trail. Some type of design like that could work for the extended Iron Horse Trail. There should be consistency in the structures, the gates, signage and campsites. After looking at a number of naming ideas, we think the Iron Horse Trail name should be used for the whole trail, but we're not trying to force it down anyone's throat, said President Bjornstad. Each area is going to have to decide for themselves. One of our committees worked with three local graphic designers to come up with a design for the signs. We work by consensus on everything. The ATV group has come up with a code of conduct for trail usage. Some of the code will be on the signage we have at the staging areas to communicate to users what we expect of them when they go on the trail. What we have to convey to people is that it's their trail and they have to respect it. The Town of Elk Point has found a railway station they want to haul in to the trail staging area to use as a tourist booth. They ripped their original one down 20 years ago. Smoky Lake saved their station, and it's in place on the trail. One of the camp kitchens abandoned by the government at Mann Lake has been moved by the County of St. Paul, to Lindbergh to serve the trail. There is a need to get the umbrella group going and to get more people coming to our meetings, said Bjornstad. They're held every second Thursday in St. Paul and everyone is welcome. Smoky Lake regional ATV President Delmar Huchulak suggested guidelines will be needed on what types of structures can be placed along the trails. We don't want granaries or baba toilets to be hauled on. Muni-Corr President Robert Bouchard said they are taking care of it. No structure can be erected without a permit from Muni-Corr. In Eastern Canada there is consistency in the types of gates and structures, noted MLA Ray Danyluk, the only oddity, some of them were painted in different colors. They also used railway stations in the Maritimes, as museums and retail shops. I ended up spending money on walking stuff at the gift store, said the MLA. Corporal Steven Simpson, in charge of Smoky Lake RCMP, said the detachment would be policing the trail as they do the rest of the county and will go out as often as possible on quads to make sure people are obeying the law. As the new man on the block, he's not as familiar with the trail as St. Paul Chief of Police Jim Fell, who rode his quad to the meeting. "I watched the trail evolve," said Fell, "and was concerned about the potential conflicts between the adjacent landowners and the trail users. Recreational vehicle users had created a bad image for themselves. With no legal place to ride, they would zip out of town, cut fences, chase cattle. "I'm not a walker and gave up horses long ago, so I bought a quad. Quadding has given me an opportunity to get out in the country and see a lot of people my age and older enjoying it. We used the local media to get the message out, and explained the regulations. They were very helpful. We talked to the young people that were ripping around and explained to them that their antics were angering everyone and that they had better smarten up. I tried to catch some to make an example of them, but couldn't. I wouldn't jeopardize anyone's safety to chase them down. So the enforcement role turned into education. The Alberta Snowmobile Association put on the Sled Smart Program to educate young people. The high school principal cornered all the hot rodders for us to talk to. As a result, there wasn't one complaint this summer about problems on the trails. By explaining to the dirt bike speeders that we are trying to provide a recreational activity that is good for the community and good for economic growth, we have got them on side, said Fell. He's toured other areas, on summer holidays, Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota. They are dedicated to tourists with ATVs and off road vehicles. One motel had a secure storage area for the bikes. They're taking advantage of the situation, and so should we. Riding up here today on the trail, said the officer, we found the St. Paul part was groomed, gates are beautiful and then we came to the County of Smoky Lake. Someone had dragged an old gate out of the dump and wired it up. There are bumps everywhere, glad we had big, fat tires under us. But it is coming, and the scenery from Ashmont to Vilna is excellent. While the Off Highway Vehicle Act covers loud mufflers, what bugs me is trespassing onto adjacent land without permission. As an enforcement officer, if I had my wish, we'd be able to ticket anyone who is off a registered trail, regardless of whether the landowner has put up no trespassing signs or not. It's only fair. What would you think of if someone opened up your back gate and drove on your lawn. If you don't have permission, stay off people's land, end of story. Wayne Tymchuk, an Alberta Safety Council certified instructor, has put on an ATV safety operator's course in St. Paul this spring. If we can teach young people to be respectful, we won't have any problems on the trails. Wearing helmets is important, said the officer. He found out himself. There was sabotage on the trail this spring, someone had dug a trench across it on a long straight-a-way. There are excellent brakes on the machine, but no seatbelt. He ended up on his head. Without a helmet he would have been out cold. He could have been killed. It's criminal negligence, as far as I'm concerned, said the St. Paul chief of police. Setting traps such as trenches or stringing wire across a trail is a Criminal Code offense. Gary Krause, regional manager for Alberta Economic Development for Northeastern Alberta, said the trail project will have tremendous economic benefits for bed and breakfasts, gift shops and restaurants. The rural strategy is to draw people from major centres, and this will do it. Travel Alberta has agreed to help publicize the trail. Smoky Lake Councillor and ATV user Vern Billey said the trail is not just a stretch from St. Paul to Smoky Lake, the trail is the final leg in the Trans Canada Snowmobile Trail from the Maritimes to British Columbia. We fought for years to get a trail from St. Paul to Smoky Lake. Three miles east of Smoky Lake is a trail the snowmobile club has worked on to tie in to the cross Canada trail and extend it to Hanmore Lake, Boyle, Athabasca and Grande Prairie. The trail is now complete. No date was set for an official opening. Robert Bouchard said that CN officials will want to participate. They came to the bargaining table extremely reluctantly and were difficult to deal with, but left a lot on it. They gave us the land for a tax write off. They paid for blading down the gravel They gave $180,000 for new decking for the 18 trestles that remain on the line. Regional managers from Western Canada and Montreal will want to attend. Muni-Corr has become a model for other municipalities throughout Canada, who are faced with rail line abandonment.
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