By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
CASSOPOLIS – Snowmobiling trails only golf in bringing money into Michigan – $1.4 billion, according to Larry Harris, a Michigan Snowmobile Association executive committee member.
Harris, of Coloma, appeared before the Board of Commissioners to honor Sheriff Joe Underwood's office.
"Without law enforcement doing their job and you people giving them the money to do their job," Harris told commissioners Thursday afternoon, "our trails wouldn't be the way they are and as safe as they are. They make sure everybody has their trail permits, has their registrations. Snowmobiling is the only pay-per-user sport in the state. All of our money comes from trail permits and registrations. We get 1 percent of 14 percent of the gas tax."
Trail permits cost $25.
"It all goes into buying groomers," Harris said.
"My club, the Drift Skippers, just got one two years ago. The tractor alone cost $147,000. The drag we pull behind it was $11,000. Another one we paid $90,000 for and $6,000 for that drag. I don't know exactly what the Edwardsburg club has, but they have 100 miles. Niles has about 10 miles in Cass County. We put out maps for snowmobilers to buy with all six clubs in our council on it. We're putting together new maps. My goal is to have all sheriff's departments have these maps so when you get a 911 call, whoever's on the operator end can pick up one of these maps and tell where they're going to that scene."
Vice Chairman Ron Francis, R-Cassopolis. asked whether there was anything else the county could do to take advantage of snowmobiling to tap tourism or economic development "other than getting more snow?"
Commissioner Ed Goodman, D-Silver Creek Township, suggested advertising the trails, perhaps on the county Web site.