KENILWORTH – Wellington North has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a local snowmobile club to allow the club to use a piece of township-owned land for a snowmobile trail.
The bylaw for the agreement, which was approved by council on Dec. 16, gives “permission for permitted snowmobile trail riders to cross over a portion of the municipality’s property which provides connectivity to trails,” states a township staff report.
The 10-year agreement was requested in September by the Mount Forest Drifters Snowmobile Club, which, according to the report, was already using the trail.
The club said it would provide insurance up to $10 million and would pay for all costs associated with the registration on title.
“Given this corridor is currently being used by snowmobile riders, by entering into the MOU, the municipality will be covered by the club’s insurance which is preferable to our own,” states the report.
It does not say how long the stretch of trail is, but a map attached to the report shows its location: northeast of Highway 6 and northwest of Sligo Road East within Mount Forest’s boundaries.
The MOU included in the council agenda package shows the agreement covers a period from Nov. 1, 2024 to April 2, 2034.
It states the landowner grants a licence to the club to enter the land “to establish, groom, maintain, sign and use the lands for snowmobiling by legally permitted snowmobiles and their riders,” and the landowner will not charge a fee for use of the land.
It gives the club permission to access the land before or after winter months to open, close, upgrade and maintain the trail.
It states the snowmobile club “shall maintain that portion of the lands used as a snowmobile trail in reasonably good condition for snowmobiling,” and perform other upgrades or trail maintenance. The club is also responsible for posting snowmobile signage on the trail and removing litter annually from the trail.
Council approved the bylaw without discussion.
