2/7/08 SAWS email regarding sno-parks
I thought I would post my previous WA SAWS News email from yesterday AM in this thread, since some of the posts make reference to information contained in this email.
WA SAWS members,
Most of you should have received my WA SAWS News email from Last Friday 2/1/08 that indicated there were snow removal problems at several sno-parks in WA state, and that at the time there were many rumors that plowing funds had been used up for plowing of several sno-parks.
Although grooming and plowing issues are outside the defined scope for SAWS (we are basically a free snowmobile land use access advocacy organization with no paid positions), I did check with the Washington State Parks Winter Recreation Office and I also contacted several other individuals (SAWS members, WSSA members, and others) that might know more details on this issue. I also left a few phone messages for some of the contractors that plow and/or groom, and I heard back from Tim Foss (Forest Service, Cle Elum Ranger District) and Bob Lind (R&R Grooming).
Turns out the rumors are true folks. At a minimum I have been told that the funds for sno-park snow removal are gone for I-90 corridor (Snoqualmie Pass area), Marble Mountain (St. Helens), Cougar Mountain (St. Helens) and Greenwater. I am sure that most other sno-parks in WA state will be out of plowing funds soon too, if they are not already.
I am not going to get into the politics of who, why, or the extreme weather, as to why the plowing funds are already gone. This email is just an FYI that some of the rumors first heard by myself the last two weeks and that I warned our WA SAWS members of last week, have now been confirmed to be true.
Some snowmobilers have suggested that donations for certain sno-parks is the answer for the rest of this year; others want the snowmobile license tab fees increased; others want the gas tax cap removed; others have even indicated they will not pay another penny to this issue until changes are made at WA State Parks; and some have even indicated that no sno-park plowing or grooming is fine by them. I have seen no common theme of agreement among snowmobilers as to what the answer should be, but it seems to me that for future years (will not help us this year), that getting the gas tax cap removed is a a no additional cost method for snowmobilers to get more money on the ground. This is my personal feeling, and not a SAWS voted policy position (again, outside our SAWS scope). Of course if you fall into the group of "no more money to a system you deem as broken", then this idea is probably also not your cup of tea. See the information below this email from WSSA if you are interested in helping to get the bills passed in Olympia to increase the gas tax cap.
I would like to reiterate that this issue is NOT a SAWS issue that we plan to address as an organization. With a full time paid job, a very large amount of my free time volunteering for SAWS dealing with permanent land use closures such as new wilderness bills, Recommended Wilderness Area proposals, Forest Plan Revisions and Travel Plans, and the fact that once again this issue falls outside of our SAWS defined scope, I do not have the time or energy to add this political hot potato to my plate -so I won't.
Emotions are definitely running high. Some people are very upset, and some people are just agitated, but I would strongly encourage those that wish to get involved in resolving this issue to try and deal with just the facts and leave as much emotion as possible behind. The name calling and blame game is getting pretty ugly from where I am sitting. You can start by going to your next Snowmobile Grooming council Meeting. I know that there will be one in Cle Elum on Monday Feb 11 at 7 PM at the Cle Elum Ranger Station.
Dave
Snowmobile Alliance of Western States
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Portion of email from WSSA dated 2/5/08
****Remove the Gas Tax Cap**** Contact your legislators to approve House Bill 1405 & Senate Bill 5023
Likely the most controversial and difficult, these bills modify the fuel tax rate used to determine fuel tax distributions to fund non-highway expenditures. Basically, they lift the gas tax cap (which currently tops out at 23 cents in 2011) applied to snowmobile generated revenue and will allow the full amount of collected tax to be applied to the State's snowmobile program.
We have found out this week that some areas are totally out of funds to plow Sno-Parks. Many more will soon be out of funds. This is an excellent time for the snowmobilers to contact their legislators telling them of their dilemma. Especially the ones in the urban areas, who would rather use the money on their roads, because they are not hearing from their constituents (YOU) in their district. We have a situation that is bad that allows snowmobilers to speak from their heart with passion so we need YOU to contact your elected officials this week!
WSSA has put their eggs in this basket to get more funds for the State's snowmobile program. We must act immediately to get these bills through Olympia. We need to get activated. Membership (YOU) needs to contact officials, because we have nothing else to raise more funds. Roughly lifting the gas tax cap 10 cents amounts to $13.50 per snowmobile. For 35,000 snowmobiles, it amounts to $472,500. This is an amount that will make a difference short term and into the future if we can keep the cap removed. We can't do it alone.
Grooming costs continue to go up as contracts are renewed. We can't let this session slip away. This is the only way we can get more funding for the Winter Recreation Program, i.e., grooming and plowing. The WSSA Board cannot make this happen alone, we need constituents in every corner of Washington State contacting the legislator this week. It's important if we want funding in the future. Do you need help contacting your legislator or need a sample letter to cut and paste in an email, go to
http://www.wssa.us/legislatorletter.htm.
