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Lanark County Warden John Fenik has felt the passion from both sides of the heated recreational trail dispute.
For every 10 emails arguing the case for running snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles on the old CP Rail line through the county and the town of Almonte, he has 10 more opposed to increased noise in the tranquil Ottawa Valley town.
Now, Fenik hopes a compromise that includes an Almonte diversion might win the day.
On Monday, Fenik met with a delegation from Mississippi Mills council, representing Almonte, and they came up with a proposal that Mississippi Mills was to discuss at a council meeting Tuesday evening.
The resolution is expected to come to county council in late March, in particular at the economic development committee meeting March 28.
“I can say that we had a really full discussion,” Fenik said. “We tabled about eight different proposals, and we narrowed it down to one.
“I don’t think there’s any secret that the one proposal we’ve come to involves a small bypass around Almonte itself.”
John Fenik, mayor of Perth.
It’s believed the proposal would allow snowmobiles to use the Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail (OVRT) through Almonte. Snowmobile advocates have said that any bypass around Almonte would create risk for snowmobilers by bringing the Mississippi River into play. The new proposal would allow snowmobilers to scoot through town across the bridge.
ATV users would use a small bypass around the town and connect with the trail again on the other end. This bypass proposal is much smaller and more direct than an earlier one proposed.
Along the route there are gas stations, amenities and parks, Fenik said.
“My opinion is that Almonte has compromised – they’ve come halfway and I think the county needs to come halfway as well,” said Fenik, who is also mayor of Perth. “And I think it’s important that we get this done.”
This newspaper reached out to the Ottawa Valley ATV Club and Beautiful Eastern Association of Snowmobile Trails club but did not hear back from either by late Tuesday.
The county purchased the abandoned rail line from CP last year for $100,000.
At present, it is used mainly by dog walkers and skiers.
Lanark County sees the potential for the trail as a tourist destination, once it solves the puzzle of the Almonte portion, which includes proposals to rehabilitate the old railway bridge that crosses the Mississippi River and links the north and south end of the trail.
Bruce Attfield, a condominium owner in Almonte, is encouraged by what he hears of the proposal, although he has yet to see it in detail.
“That is very interesting,” Attfield said, when told of the compromise plan. “That would definitely be an improvement.”
Attfield is still miffed that his condominium group was denied an opportunity to present a video presentation to the county. They wanted to demonstrate how close they are to the trail – about 25 feet from Attfield’s bedroom window.
“We are taxpayers,” Attfield said.
“People are impassioned about it (the trail). Especially those who have lived along the trail for a long time, they’ve seen a lot of peace and serenity.
“If both sides walk away not entirely happy, that’s probably the best compromise you’ve got.”
wscanlan@postmedia.com
查看原文...
For every 10 emails arguing the case for running snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles on the old CP Rail line through the county and the town of Almonte, he has 10 more opposed to increased noise in the tranquil Ottawa Valley town.
Now, Fenik hopes a compromise that includes an Almonte diversion might win the day.
On Monday, Fenik met with a delegation from Mississippi Mills council, representing Almonte, and they came up with a proposal that Mississippi Mills was to discuss at a council meeting Tuesday evening.
The resolution is expected to come to county council in late March, in particular at the economic development committee meeting March 28.
“I can say that we had a really full discussion,” Fenik said. “We tabled about eight different proposals, and we narrowed it down to one.
“I don’t think there’s any secret that the one proposal we’ve come to involves a small bypass around Almonte itself.”
John Fenik, mayor of Perth.
It’s believed the proposal would allow snowmobiles to use the Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail (OVRT) through Almonte. Snowmobile advocates have said that any bypass around Almonte would create risk for snowmobilers by bringing the Mississippi River into play. The new proposal would allow snowmobilers to scoot through town across the bridge.
ATV users would use a small bypass around the town and connect with the trail again on the other end. This bypass proposal is much smaller and more direct than an earlier one proposed.
Along the route there are gas stations, amenities and parks, Fenik said.
“My opinion is that Almonte has compromised – they’ve come halfway and I think the county needs to come halfway as well,” said Fenik, who is also mayor of Perth. “And I think it’s important that we get this done.”
This newspaper reached out to the Ottawa Valley ATV Club and Beautiful Eastern Association of Snowmobile Trails club but did not hear back from either by late Tuesday.
The county purchased the abandoned rail line from CP last year for $100,000.
At present, it is used mainly by dog walkers and skiers.
Lanark County sees the potential for the trail as a tourist destination, once it solves the puzzle of the Almonte portion, which includes proposals to rehabilitate the old railway bridge that crosses the Mississippi River and links the north and south end of the trail.
Bruce Attfield, a condominium owner in Almonte, is encouraged by what he hears of the proposal, although he has yet to see it in detail.
“That is very interesting,” Attfield said, when told of the compromise plan. “That would definitely be an improvement.”
Attfield is still miffed that his condominium group was denied an opportunity to present a video presentation to the county. They wanted to demonstrate how close they are to the trail – about 25 feet from Attfield’s bedroom window.
“We are taxpayers,” Attfield said.
“People are impassioned about it (the trail). Especially those who have lived along the trail for a long time, they’ve seen a lot of peace and serenity.
“If both sides walk away not entirely happy, that’s probably the best compromise you’ve got.”
wscanlan@postmedia.com
查看原文...
