Proposed trail may link Lincoln to state grid

Lincoln residents and businesses may one day see snowmobile traffic through the village if a proposed snowmobile trail comes to fruition.

The Lincoln Downtown Development Authority has been in the process of trying to get a snowmobile trail formed to connect Lincoln to Barton City. It's a project the DDA decided to take on about a year and a half ago, said Joe James, chair of the DDA's snowmobile trail committee.

"It would bring more economy to the village of Lincoln," he said.

Lincoln DDA Consultant Bob Jones said there are three proposed routes for the trail.

The first proposal is to have the trail start near the Barton City Fraternal Order of Eagles and head east about four and a half miles on private property and U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service lands. It would then proceed south on Stockton Road to M-72 east. The trail would run on the north side of M-72 and utilize the right-of-way to F-41 near Viking Energy. F-41's right-of-way would be used but which side of the road has to be determined.

The second proposal mirrors the first except the trail would run on private property paralleling M-72 east to McConnell Road. The trail would then run north near McConnell Road to the village.

The third proposal would have the trail would start the same as the other proposals but instead of running on Stockton Road, it would go across private property to near Trask Lake Road into Lincoln.

Jones said the DDA is pursuing the first proposal more than the others because there have been concerns raised property owners about the trail being used by off-road vehicle riders and the snowmobilers' effects on hunting.

The DDA is hoping to utilize the right-of-way route temporarily until more agreements can be secured with property owners.

Jones said the DDA is working with the Alcona County Parks and Recreation Commission, Alcona County Road Commission, Michigan Department of Transportation and the Forest Service to bring the entire trail together.

Alfred Scully, road commission board vice chair, said he has driven some of the proposed route with Jones and had preliminary discussions. Nothing has formally been brought to the board at this time.

The road commission is concerned about potential safety issues such as stream or driveway crossings.

"I think it's a good idea as long as we can cross our t's and dot our i's," he said. "As a commissioner I'm in favor of anything that would favor growth of the community."

Phil Jordan, Lincoln village president, said the council would vote on designating certain streets within the village, to allow snowmobilers to ride into the village and have more access to businesses.

"It's something I've promoted for the last 18 months. I think the snowmobile traffic would help more than any one thing we can do," he said.

According to Jones, once a route has been agreed upon, it will be submitted to the parks and recreation commission

Gordon Haase, outdoor recreation planner with the Huron Shores Ranger Station, said the Forest Service would work with the DDA through the parks and recreation commission because the forest service has an established partnership with the commission.

The commission would submit the trail proposal to the Forest Service and the proposal would go through a National Environmental Policy Act process.

Because some of the route would run through the Huron-Manistee National Forest lands, this would conducted by the Forest Service.

The process involves extensive environmental surveys which are conducted to investigate the potential impact on wildlife, plant life and cultural resources. When the process is completed a decision would be made and there would be public notice of the decision, Haase said.

James said the DDA's long term goal is to continue the trail east through Harrisville or Ossineke to connect to the existing state snowmobile trail system.

A snowmobile trail currently exists south of Barton City.

The snowmobile traffic during the winter is a large benefit, said Olivia Davey, owner of the Bearclaw Grille in Barton City.

"If it wasn't for (the snowmobilers) I wouldn't have a business in the winter," she said.

Beverley Snyder, owner of the Lincoln Pharmacy, said she's supported the idea of a snowmobile trail in Lincoln for years.

"I think it would be wonderful," she said.

Anything that would possibly bring more people to town would be helpful for the businesses, said Julie LeCuyer, owner of the Iron Skillet in Lincoln.

Jones said the DDA's goal is to have the trail open in December of 2009.

Patty Ramus can be reached via e-mail at pramus@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5687.