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08/11/2006Little common ground on trail decisionINDIAN RIVER — Little common ground was offered by the public on a looming state decision to allow snowmobile traffic on a Mullett Lake railroad grade. Some people don't want any snowmobiles on a 12-mile stretch of abandoned railway along the western shoreline that passes close to dozens of homes. Others want it free of any restrictions to lure more winter tourists to the area. Those opinions were aired at a recent public meeting in Indian River, where more than 200 people showed up to hear about the proposed snowmobile trail in Cheboygan County. The state bought the old rail bed in 1998 with Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund dollars, under the stipulation that it forever remain a non-motorized trail. The state Department of Natural Resources agreed that safety and noise were a concern, but couldn't site any alternate snowmobile routes through the Pigeon River Country State Forest. The Trust Fund board overturned the snowmobile ban this summer. DNR Director Rebecca Humphries expects to make a final decision in September. "It's up for action next month, so it's premature to comment yet," Humphries said before Thursday's Natural Resources Commission meeting in Manistique. She said DNR officials received many ideas from the public about possible restrictions for the trail. "There are suggestions on speed limits and hours of use. Those are the biggies, but there are also some ideas on enforcement opportunities," Humphries said. Brett Lindgren, of the Indian River Snowmobile Grooming Club, said they support a reasonable speed restriction but not a curfew. Riders could be forced on to the ice on Mullett Lake during unsafe conditions if the trail were closed at night, he said. Gray Fischer, a property owner opposed to snowmobiles on the trail, drove to the Upper Peninsula Thursday to urge state officials to keep it a non-motorized trail. "I'm going to tell the NRC that the state gave its word numerous times to the people who live on this trail ... that word ought to have some staying power," he said. See related stories:
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