P.O. Box 111, Duluth, MN 55801

TEL: (218) 740-3175 FAX: (218) 740-3179 EMAIL info@MnResponsibleRec.org

April 5, 2004

MRR is convinced that public funds for motorized recreation are being used to damage our environment, trespass on private property, and pay the salaries of snowmobile and ATV club members. We are also convinced that millions of dollars in public trail funds could be better used to protect and restore our environment and communities from the unwanted impacts of motorized recreation.

Since discovering major damage to Finland State Forest wetlands by a publicly funded snowmobile/ATV club in 2001 MRR has been following the motorized money trail to understand what motivates the unrestricted bulldozing, abuse of private property owners and payouts. In 2002 MRR convinced the legislature to audit the DNR’ motorized recreation program. In January, 2003 the Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor released its Program Evaluation Report of State-funded trails for Motorized Recreation finding that publicly funded snowmobile and ATV clubs are encroaching on wetlands, trespassing on private property, and operating without oversight or accountability. The audit recommends a schedule of reductions for clubs who "violate the terms of their grants, or state, federal, or local laws." MRR legislation to implement these recommendations has gone no where so far this legislative session.

For twenty years many millions of dollars in public trail funds have flowed to local snowmobile and ATV clubs in Minnesota without accountability. Club members, local government sponsors and even American Legions have grown attached to these funds which they have come to consider their own private accounts. While the public and the legislature debate questions of access to land by ATVs, dirt-bike motorcycles and four-wheel drive trucks, what motorized clubs really want is access to public trail funds. MRR says these off-road clubs are even giving up their currently unrestricted access to state forestland to get their hands on public funds. In the words of the Minnesota DNR, "the real effect of [ATV and snowmobile trail] designation is to transfer funds from the state to local clubs". Until a club has "designated trail" in their backyard, says MRR, the faucet remains closed. MRR says ATV riders already have open access to over 95% of Minnesota’s state forestland. What they want know is their money. At the Representative David Dill rate of snowmobile and ATV club trail administration, club members could be enjoying millions of dollars in public trail funds as substantial, personal, financial gain. It appears that the flow of these funds to club members is one thing that puts Minnesota in the grip of motorized recreation.

On December 23, 2003 the St. Louis County Board voted off the agenda and without public notice or comment to recommend conversion of the North Shore State Trail to ATV use. Rep. David Dill testified in defense of this decision at the board’s next meeting declaring that ATV and snowmobile clubs should get what they want because they are "volunteer" run. Accustomed to following the money trail MRR soon discovered that Rep. David Dill himself was enjoying substantial, personal, financial gain as "Trail Administrator" of his own snowmobile club and that he appears to be involved in a number of conflicts of interest regarding these funds.