The Conservation Authority board will decide Tuesday who will operate its 16 kilometres of cross-country ski trails at Hiawatha Highlands this winter.
The rules may have changed.
Board member Mayor John Rowswell told a stakeholders meeting Friday the items listed in the Conservation Authoritys request for proposal may have erroneously omitted the consideration of experience, managing the total trail system, developing a quality of life for the community, considering a multi-year agreement and ensuring grooming reliability.
We need to make the Hiawatha Highlands more of an asset to the community, he told a packed Russ Ramsay boardroom at the Civic Centre.
The public meeting was held to give stakeholders and the public an opportunity for discussion.
Two groups the Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club and the Heyden Adventure Base Camp have submitted proposals to the Conservation Authority to run its trails.
But the skiing community fears the whole 36-kilometre trail network at Hiawatha will be divided and programs duplicated if one group gets the nod from the Conservation Authority and the other wins approval from the remaining landowners involved with the network of trails at the citys north end.
Avid Nordic skiers, many who support the Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Clubs bid because of their 50-year history and experience with the trails, also want to ensure that the RFP is not a cash grab by the Conservation Authority.
The authority wants $10,500 from the winning bidder, for use of its trails and its parking lot for the season.
Conservation Authority officials say the money is to recoup taxes and pay for the parking facility.
A resolution to be debated by city council at month end, may see the city absorb those fees.
Longtime ski advocate J.J. Hilsinger told the crowd the Conservation Authoritys mandate needs to be reviewed and better linked to the future of the community.
He noted winter tourism in the area has declined and he believes the Conservation Authority doesnt have a clear understanding of what needs to be done to reverse that trend.
Ian McMillan, director of Tourism Sault Ste. Marie, said the crown jewel of the citys trail system must be maintained, fully operational and be enhanced to aid winter tourism.
He told the meeting that the tourism arm of the Economic Development Corp. will commit a minimum of $15,000 annually to market the trail system and aid in the hosting of cross-country ski events.
We need to foster the hosting of events to attract tourists and focus on creating a world-class destination for cross-country skiing, he said.
Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club president Kevin Hogan said his not-for-profit organization has a long history of community service with the trail system, including building and maintaining it.
They have run learn-to-ski programs, developed race teams and hosted recreational and ski sporting events.
The Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club has recently been awarded the Michigan Cup Series Race, to be held in February. Its the first time the event will be held outside of Michigan.
Hogan said his organization wants to regain the reputation of Sault Ste. Maries cross-country ski system and wants to ensure all net revenues are reinvested into the facility.
His groups seven objectives include expanding the trail system on undeveloped land in the area, improving the Kinsmen Lodge conditions as money becomes available, including establishing a groomer storage and maintenance facility, purchasing a new groomer, hosting high profile events and continuing a three-year trail maintenance plan that began last year.
Hogan said the club also plans to hire professionals to groom the trails and a manager with experience in obtaining grant money.
Heyden Adventure Base Camp owner Brian Anstess said his for-profit organization, in its three years of operation, has formed partnerships with a number of community groups including the Algoma Family Services, Sault College, YMCA and area retailers.
We want to complement the ski industry and work with the other stakeholders, he said.
Anstess sees the Conservation Authority trails as a breeder operation with his goal to get more people involved in skiing and winter activities.
His plan includes creating an experiential ski park that includes developing jumps, interpretive signs and family fun events.
While Anstess said his business is value focused and he wants to build relationships with other ski groups, Hogan noted a partnership between a for-profit and not-for-profit organization wont allow Soo Finnish to garner government grants.
Hogan also noted the partnership could be a disincentive for volunteers and will be a direct violation of the organizations constitution.
The cross-country skiing issue peaked in recent weeks after the Conservation Authority issued a request for proposals to seek an operator for its ski trail system for the 2006-07 season.
It received two proposals, one from the Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club, the other from the Heyden Adventure Base Camp.
The Conservation Authority is responsible for about 16 km of trail in the Hiawatha Highlands.
The remainder of the 35-kilometre trail network is owned by private landowners, the Kinsmen Club and the Ministry of Natural Resources.
The spring dissolution of the Sault Trails and Recreation (STAR) partnership has resulted in the Conservation Authority seeking a proponent to operate the winter ski trails.
STAR had been formed in the late 1980s as a partnership between the city, Kinsmen Club, Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club and the Conservation Authority.
Once the group was dissolved, the Ski Club was the successful proponent to obtain the assets of STAR.
