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Post by fivendime on Apr 11, 2009 8:56:25 GMT -8
I may have misread this, but did our elected officials pull the funding for the Yacolt burn OHV park?
Also I as well as many people I talked to were wondering if its going to be a "free" park. Just show up and play, kinda like it is now for ATV use.
Another thing I have heard EVERY single person say that I have talked to about is that they would be glad to pay for it whether it be a daily fee or a pass you could buy for a year or two. I dont know much about whats going on yet as I am new to whats going on, but people are more that willing to pay for use. This may help keep it alive if funding is cut.
Just a thought that I have been wondering about.
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Post by racincowboy on Apr 11, 2009 13:38:02 GMT -8
I have no idea about funding either if there was some funding put into the budget or if it was going to be done strickly off grant dollars and volunteers or donations or what. There has to be something in there for them to hire the two consultants that are currently working with all the user groups for planning this new area.
I would imagine with all the budget issues going on that the approval from the higher ups in Olympia will be delayed while they try and figure out the budget stuff.
I'm sure Crystal will be along later I think she has the most info on this sort of thing.
If I remember right on the trail survey's that people filled out for us there was a question on there if people were willing to pay a day use fee to be up there and from what I have heard people are more then willing to pay a small fee for use of the facility.
That is as much as I know.
I am sure there will be more info at the meeting on tuesday night 4/14 at 7pm (roundtable salmon creek). Also a chance to ask any questions you may have about the club or the yacolt burn project.
Lance
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Post by pistonschick on Apr 11, 2009 19:32:37 GMT -8
Good questions - thank you for asking them on the forum:
Both the facility and trail building will be funded entirely by grant dollars which are being requested by DNR from RCO (formerly IAC). They have asked for a $278,000 grant to get started on the facility at 4-corners and a $178,000 grant to go towards trail building (specifically bridges). If awarded, those funds would be available January 2010. (I can go into more detail about how grants work with matching dollars and volunteer hours at our next club meeting if anyone is interested).
The consultants that have recently been hired are being paid out of the pre-existing two-year "planning grant" that was awarded to DNR in January 2008 (?). All of those dollars will have to be spent before January 2010. This is the grant that paid for all of work DNR has performed over the past 16 months toward this project so far (community info meetings, planning committee meetings, suitability assessments, trail surveying and equipment (GPS units), consulting, trail and facility designing etc...) There were two grants for this process (one motorized and one non-motorized)consisting (if I remember correctly) of $138,000 each.
In regards to whether it will be "fee" or "free" is currently up to DNR. The motorized community has indicated to DNR that we are willing to "pay to play" for maintained OHV parks with facilities, but as of right now, DNR does not charge for access to any of their land.
I hope this answers your questions - please let me know if I can help with anything else.
Crystal
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Post by Jon on Apr 12, 2009 15:15:02 GMT -8
Thats what I love about this group! Thanks for all the info Crystal! I had wondered about this to. I would definitely pay (within reason). So far the sticker I bought for TSF has been the best bang for the buck I have spent on my truck :-)
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Post by fivendime on Apr 15, 2009 15:06:39 GMT -8
Thanks for the info! This is one question I ask people I talk to about it and they always say they would pay a small fee, or a fee for a 1 or 2 year pass.
I also think this would cut down on traffic on the trails, though I'm not complaining about people using it I would much rather have people pay, since when you pay for something you usually treat it better, as well as it cuts down on the sheer numbers.
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Wyldman
Active Member
Safety & Education Chairman
IXOYE
Posts: 643
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Post by Wyldman on Apr 15, 2009 15:51:27 GMT -8
Thanks for all the info. I know I would have no problem paying an annual users fee like TSF. Personally, I think TSF fee is very low, not that I'm complaining. Think about this... The North West Forest Pass for Wa. is about $30.00/year and I use that 2 or 3 time a year without complaint. I don't even know where the funds go. So why couldn't they apply a annual fee to cover some of the cost in maintaining the park ONLY! Like Fivendime said "if people pay for something their more likely to treat it better"
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