WA state is stealing our money!

[norsepeak]

My neighbor is the local plow truck driver and groomer driver for the snowmobile parking lots and trails. Yesterday, he told me that he recieved an email from the state saying that he is to stop plowing all of the parking lots except one and that grooming is going to stop on all but one trail due to lack of funds. The state says that the grooming/plowing budgets have been exhausted resulting in the stoppage.

It seems to me that the money for "our" grooming and plowing has been "diverted" to other places. There should easily be enough money for the plowing and grooming based on the sled registrations of the state. I for one am fed up with this state doing whatever it wants no matter what they are supposed to do. Thought you guys would like to know.

 

[1Fast68]

It seems to me that the money for "our" grooming and plowing has been "diverted" to other places. There should easily be enough money for the plowing and grooming based on the sled registrations of the state. I for one am fed up with this state doing whatever it wants no matter what they are supposed to do. Thought you guys would like to know.

Not news to most, But you seem to be building up some sort of conspiracy theory as to why its happening, Our money being used elsewhere or what not. If you haven't noticed it has snowed a **** load this year and there has been lots of grooming and especially plowing done.

Unless you have proof of such allegations, Not just ssaying "there should be enough" then you have a valid arguement, until then you are Better off finding a solution to the problem or just selling your sleds so there is more room for me.

 

[moldy]

And here I thought they were just stealing all "our" snow....

 

[Pro_Marinero]

This is news?

The Legislature has been raiding the NOVA funds for years, including using it to fund noise studies for CORVN's use (the anti-noise group in cahoots with Sen. Karen Frasier). They seem to feel that these funds, which are charged on our tabs for our use, can be used as they see fit when other pots run dry. I know the state's budget for winter road maintenance is BLOWN right now, so they're probably pulling out all the stops. It doesn't excuse it.

Bottom line - 90% of the state's population resides in 10% of the area. Similar people with similar values. Those of us in the other 90% of the area (or stuck in that 10% due to jobs ) who think different are fighting an uphill battle trying to change things. Eastern Washington needs to secede and form a new state. It's been discussed before.

 

[Sulley]

The state does take from all kinds of different funds to pay for other crap where the funds are short, just the average joe doesn't know that. I work for the state and over a 4 year period another state employer took......yes took more than 60 million from our budget until we figured it out and had to go to the legislature to put a stop to it. So it does and is happening.

Apparently we are supposed to have a surplus of millions and millions of $ since we got rid of Gov Lock but you wouldn't think so. I would pay $20-$25 if I new it would be used for grooming. So far half the times I have been out this year the groomer has been broken down on the trail. Another problem is I payed $45 this year for my permits (3 sled registrations) and I didn't even get 1 snow park permit with my new tabs, had to get one from my buddy.

 

[rmkboxer]

I don't know who to blame or if there is anybody to blame, I would like to know how many sleds are registered in WA and then figure out what they pay the groomers and plows. I figure if we are paying $35 for tabs per sled that doesn't even get the groomer 10 miles. so that takes alot of sleds to get an area groomed once. just my logic. we all complain but only a few do anything to figure it out.

 

[Wade]

Idaho only charges $35, a raise this year from $25 which hasn't actually made it to the groomer funds for this physical year, and yet we can plow all our lots.

 

[94fordguy]

So who is it that we need to speak to about this?

If we all chip in in one way or another, can we not raise some he!! over this, it is COMPLETE B.S.

Like said above, WE ALL PAY for this service and there is NO WAY that all the money could have been used, it has had to go somewhere! Let's figure out a way to find out where all of it is going and get the IDIOTS responsible in line!!!

Sorry for the rant, but I am SO SICK of this kind of stuff going on!

 

[H20SKE]

Not news to most, But you seem to be building up some sort of conspiracy theory as to why its happening, Our money being used elsewhere or what not. If you haven't noticed it has snowed a **** load this year and there has been lots of grooming and especially plowing done.

Unless you have proof of such allegations, Not just ssaying "there should be enough" then you have a valid arguement, until then you are Better off finding a solution to the problem or just selling your sleds so there is more room for me.

No allegations---Grooming schedules are set up before the season and contracts from bids are done and awarded. Because it snows more--they do not groom more.

As for plowing--I would think it is done the same, but not sure. But why would they plow anymore than their scheduled plowing because it snows more? It is a buisness to these people.

The state has taken the funds for this and shifted them somewhere else to suit their needs.

As stated above--the state does this crap all the time

You want to complain and send e-mails--send them to Govenor Gregiore--she is ultimatly responsible to us the tax payers and riders.


H20SKE...

 

[rmkboxer]

Idaho only charges $35, a raise this year from $25 which hasn't actually made it to the groomer funds for this physical year, and yet we can plow all our lots.

don't you have to buy a groomer permit or something like that.

all we can do is get as many people to go to the groomers meetings as possible and contact gregoire or who ever we can to see whats going on

 

[Wade]

One $35 sticker covers parking and groomed trails. Now, if they could just get the highways in Idaho plowed. I could go sledding.

 

[CSV]

Yeah that whole more snow equals more grooming is the biggest load of BS. They have only been grooming what two months. Just because it snows, it sure doesn't add days to the months and when they groom certain sections of the trails on certain days of the week how can they be out of money? They aren't grooming any more than other years. And tabs are what $35 each? Multiplied by around 40,000 that's a lot money to blow through in two months

 

[RMKcowboy]

If you would join SAWS, which is free, you would know about this issue already.

 

[Timber700RMK]

Grooming is all done by contract. The state does not groom. Groomers bid and when awarded they have to keep to a schedule unless there is not enough snow or adverse weather conditions. The state takes care of the snow plowing in the Sno-park parking lots, and yes they ran out of funds to pay for this so many Sno-parks are not going to be plowed. The trails still should be groomed

 

[keeton]

I haven't been to the parking lot once this year where I ride they built a berm so no one would try to go where they haven't plowedso we usually have 20 trucks and trailers on the side of the road where we unload.

 

[rmkboxer]

thats the problem there is so many things being said and the only thing I know for sure is the plowing issues. I haven't rode for 2 weeks but heard about the plowing at greenwater and that they groomed last saturday

 

[ericbigbore]

This is such a scam and if you don't think so you're not very smart. The groomers are NOT grooming more because of snow. Yes we are out of money to clear the parks but they can divert cash in to the pot just like they divert it out when we don't use it all.

I hate my state government, they are ALL a-holes. Just park in the chain up areas and on the roads until they fix the problem.

 

[Rat Fink]

Not news to most, But you seem to be building up some sort of conspiracy theory as to why its happening, Our money being used elsewhere or what not. If you haven't noticed it has snowed a **** load this year and there has been lots of grooming and especially plowing done.

Unless you have proof of such allegations, Not just ssaying "there should be enough" then you have a valid arguement, until then you are Better off finding a solution to the problem or just selling your sleds so there is more room for me.

Let's see it's the first part of Feb. I don't think signifigant snow started piling up until atleast mid Dec. if not later. So We have had at best 1 1/2 months of real snow. They should have budgeted for atleast 4 if not more. I find if hard to believe they have used all their resources. A conspiracy about the government spending our money recklessly! Say it isn't so!

RF

 

[Summertime Blues]

GOT THE SAWS E-MAIL AND READ IT SO THANKS.


I have yet to park in a sno-park that is freshly plowed. Maybe that is my bad for always picking the wrong snopark.

Also more snow usually means less grooming. If it snows a foot one night they don't (sometimes) run the groomer. No point in it. If it snows 1 foot/day 5 times in a month and they do not groom 5 days. Do those days get tacked on to the end of the season????

I do not think anyone is questioning that the state is out of money. The question is why or where did it go.

Also I for one would rather have a place to park then have freshly groomed trail. It is way easier getting a sled unstuck then a truck and trailer.

 

[blackout94zr700]

^^^^ i agree, i would waaayyyyy rather have a plowed place to park than groomed trails...whats the point of grooming if no one can park to ride?.....
All this snow and with it comes all this BS with no plowing....sooooo frustrating