A brainstorming session to ensure all of the Hiawatha Highlands trails are open this winter will be called for next week.
Ward 4 Coun. Neil DelBianco, who is also a city representative on the Conservation Authority board, said he wants all user groups, landowners and other stakeholders to get together to ensure that all 35 kilometres of trail will be intact and operating this winter.
"I'm not going to be jeopardizing the request for proposal process," he said.
DelBianco said he wants to make sure that all stakeholders will be present and he is trying to select a date now.
Representatives of the Conservation Authority, the Kinsmen Club, the Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club, the Heyden Adventure Base Camp, private property owners and members of council will be invited to the meeting.
Earlier this week the Kinsmen Club announced that it fears the popular cross-country ski network at the city's north end won't be fully operational if a proponent doesn't ink a deal with all of the property owners on the trail system.
The Conservation Authority is seeking operators for its 16 km of trail.
Each "trail system" has a variety of owners except the Pinder Trail, which is mostly owned by the Conservation Authority.
For years, the entire trail system was managed and operated by Sault Trails and Recreation (STAR), a group that included the Kinsmen Club, Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club and the Conservation Authority.
STAR dissolved this spring and its assets were turned over to the Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club after it and the Conservation Authority both submitted proposals to the Kinsmen Club.
DelBianco said he hopes the success of cross-country skiing in Sault Ste. Marie will mean that everyone agrees to something that works best for the community.
"Everyone knows if you try to piecemeal a trail, one won't be successful without the other," he said.
"Deep down, everyone understands that and everyone wants the trails to be operating and successful."
