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November 30, 2005Officials to reveal cost estimates for trailINDIAN RIVER - State officials will reveal the estimated cost to build an alternate snowmobile trail to the Mullett Lake railroad grade.The Michigan Natural Resources Commission will meet Thursday in Lansing to hear cost estimates. No decision will be made then, officials said. Mindy Koch, resource management deputy with the state Department of Natural Resources, said commissioners requested the information this year. "They wanted a clearer picture of the natural resources impact," Koch said. The trail would require construction of three bridges over Interstate 75, Little Pigeon River and the Pigeon River, a designated state natural river where construction is discouraged. The route would include wetlands and recognized wildlife habitat. Early estimates put the 36-mile route at more than $4 million. The trail is designed as an alternative to a former railroad grade along the west side of Mullett Lake, purchased in 1995 with funds from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust. It remains closed to motorized traffic because of safety and noise issues for nearby residents, the DNR said. The path crosses more than 40 driveways, sometimes within several yards of lakeside homes in Topinabee. Fred Brandt, president of Cheboygan Trail Groomers, said he is not encouraged by recent talk about the alternate route. He wants state officials to open the former railroad grade. "We shouldn't spend $4 million when we can open this other trail for $2,000," Brandt said. "We own this property. It belongs to the people of Michigan." Brandt said very few lakeside residents stay in their homes during winter months, so the railroad grade should be available to snowmobilers. State officials aimed to find an alternate route when motorized traffic was banned from the 12-mile stretch. "Ten years and we haven't gotten it yet, and our little town needs it," to increase winter tourism dollars, Brand said. Existing trails between Indian River and Cheboygan are not designed as a loop and trail-riders must retrace their tracks. Another possible route would cross through the Pigeon River Country State Forest, but Koch said the first alternative appears to have less potential impact on natural resources.
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