DNR officials receive raises each year. Snowmobile permits increase every five years based on CPI. The number of employees administering the snow program has increased over the past decade — while trail miles have decreased.
If you do the math, it’s not hard to see where this leads: the administrative cost of the program will eventually break the program itself.
When this concern is raised with DNR leadership, the proposed solution is often to close trail miles to “save” the program. That should concern every rider. Closing trails does not fix the problem — it simply reduces access while administrative costs continue.
While many of us struggle through life trying to do more with less, administration continues to collect a paycheck to administer the program. Clubs, on the other hand, truly do more with less. They solicit donations to heat their barns, purchase chainsaws and vehicles, and maintain trails with far fewer volunteers than they had 10 years ago.
In a recent conversation with a long-time volunteer, I asked why volunteers are walking away. Are they fed up? Are they aging out? I also see a growing disconnect with the 30–50-year-old age group. Forty-hour workweeks are far less common today, and with kids at home, free time is limited.
I also believe some people think that if they can’t give daily or weekly time to a club, they aren’t valued. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
If you can give one day during brushing or signing, it makes a meaningful difference to your club. When clubs disband due to a lack of volunteers, we all lose.
Some DNR staff work shoulder-to-shoulder with the clubs they represent. Others treat it as simply a job. We see this dynamic in every arena. What makes motorized recreation different is that the work falls almost entirely on a volunteer base, operating under the authority of the DNR. Some relationships are excellent; others, not so much.
At a recent Forest Management Advisory meeting, we discussed ways to reduce trail conflict — not just between motorized users, but also between motorized and non-motorized users. When trails are used in a dual fashion, we must ensure our use does not negatively impact another user group. Paying to play does not devalue what non-motorized users contribute to tourism in our state.
Social media has become a go-to source for information, but I strongly encourage everyone to verify what they read. Some content is factual; much of it is not. Many posts are simply one person’s opinion, formed in a moment, without facts or evidence.
Recently, I was told that someone posted that MISORVA purchased my snowmobile and side-by-side. MISORVA has also been accused of inappropriate spending, and someone even asked the DNR to audit the association.
Let’s be clear:
- I ride a 2014 Ski-Doo, purchased in 2017
- I own a 2020 Kawasaki side-by-side, purchased in 2020 (later traded for a different model the same year)
- MISORVA did not purchase either vehicle
I draw a paycheck, as does the office manager. MISORVA’s Board of Directors and officers serve entirely on their own dime, giving back to your recreation. They attend meetings, gather input from users, and work collectively toward solutions for the greater good of snow and dirt riders alike.
By joining MISORVA, you have a voice in your recreation. Much like your town or village, you won’t agree with every decision — but if MISORVA disbands, as some hope, DNR administration will be the only remaining oversight.
For those concerned about wheeled vehicles on snowmobile trails and the enormous cost to the snow program, be aware that the DNR already has the authority to implement seasonal restrictions to prevent damage and safety issues. Repeated grooming to repair ruts costs the program and reduces the funds available to purchase new equipment.
Who pays for that? The snow program.
In a recent meeting, I asked a DNR representative why one club had to spend $12,000 on materials to repair a trail damaged by illegal ORV use — and why those costs were paid from snow funds instead of the ORV fund. The response was simple: “The wrong form was used.”
That’s administration?
Make no mistake — without MISORVA bringing facts to legislators, the only oversight of the DNR disappears, and with it, brings trail access and rider privileges.
We recently met with MDOT because some county officials do not understand that snowmobile laws are very different from ORV laws. That education doesn’t happen without advocacy.
This is just one snapshot of the big, complex recreation you love — and why it’s worth protecting.