Snowmobilers have a new trail and a route connecting the trail through Wadena. City officials approved a route on a trial basis that could be reconsidered depending on complaints or other troubles.
Dave Folkestad, representing the Trail Breakers snowmobile association, asked the Wadena City Council on Dec. 11 to approve a snowmobile route that would connect a new trail through town.
"The good news is, we have snow," he said.
The trail extends from Wadena through the countryside to the State Highway 210 and State Highway 29 junction. It reaches Wadena and ends along Mark Stone's building along the railroad tracks and Second Street southwest.
There is another trail that begins to the north at Sunnybrook Park and the bike trail. But there is no route connecting the two.
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"How are we gonna get our trail through Wadena to connect from Second Street ... to Sunnybrook or the existing trail north on the bike trail?" Folkestad asked.
He brought a map with proposals for different route possibilities.
The first option proposed was to cross U.S. Highway 10 and follow Third Street northwest to Greenwood Avenue, then travel toward Wal-Mart and along U.S. Highway 71, then connect with the bike trail.
The reason for Third Street northwest is because snowmobiles aren't allowed on Second Street northwest.
A second option is to travel along the railroad tracks and then cross U.S. Highway 10 on the old railroad bed between Mason Brothers and Todd-Wadena Electric then get on County Road 4 out to Sunnybrook Park.
Councilman Pete Phillips said he would prefer it if the trail went through town so people could get fuel in town. Councilwoman Kay Browne asked about safety.
"Safety would dictate we go around town," said Police Chief Bruce Uselman. "But I also understand the concerns of the council that people have to use fuel and motels in town."
Uselman wondered if the railroad would allow the trail along the tracks. Folkestad said he wouldn't bet on it but was providing some options. He said the snowmobile club didn't care where the trail went but wanted to have a way to connect the trails.
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The Third Street northwest route seemed like a straight shot, Uselman said. His question, however, was how much snowmobile traffic there would be and how many complaints would there be.
Folkestad said he wouldn't have that answer until people started using the route.
Mayor Wayne Wolden said he thought the number of complaints would be similar because city policy states snowmobiles can follow certain streets out of town already.
Uselman suggested making the route conditional upon the number of calls and in case there were future issues.
Folkestad said there would be signs in town marking the snowmobile trail.
Economic Development Director Dean Uselman said he was concerned with the trail option along the railroad bed. He had witnessed someone getting a snowmobile stuck on a switch and he was very concerned about safety for that route on a personal basis.
The council debated whether to hold off on making a decision about the route. But Folkestad was concerned about waiting because technically the snowmobile trails opened Dec. 1 and he wanted to have a route in place.
The Third Street northwest route seemed the most reasonable route, Uselman said.
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"My opinion is that the council try it as a trial basis and then anticipating that we're going to get calls ... we've got to start at some point," Police Chief Uselman said.
The council adopted the route from Third Street southwest to Greenwood Avenue toward Wal-Mart and then along U.S. Highway 71 to the bike trail on a trial basis until there are any problems.
