A Hastings County committee is recommending that the county not provide money requested by the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance.
The Trails group is asking for $10,000 to offset maintenance costs.
Earlier this year, the EOTA and the Ontario Federation of All Terrain Vehicle clubs entered into a Memorandum of Understanding allowing riders with a valid permit to access the Federation trails and to also ride on the Hastings Heritage Trail.
A report to County Council indicates there have been long, ongoing negotiations, causing missed seasons on the trails.
In February of 2021, the EOTA and the Ontario Federation of All Terrain Vehicle clubs (OFATV) entered into a Memorandum of Understand allowing riders with a valid permit to access OFATV trails to also ride on the Hastings Heritage Trail. The County had been actively facilitating/brokering an agreement between the EOTA and OFATV (since 2019) to allow OFATV members to use trails and increase ridership. Each time an agreement appeared to be in reach, a new impediment seemed to appear. After prolonged negotiations between the EOTA and the OFATV, the Warden and County staff met with both parties in June 2020. To expedite the finalization of the agreement the County agreed to provide an additional $10,000 to offset any additional maintenance costs, provided the EOTA sign the memorandum without further undue delay to avoid riders missing another season of ridership on the Hastings Heritage Trail. In August it was understood that an agreement was ready to be signed, however another impediment appeared as the EOTA advised that approval from Infrastructure Ontario was required and that they have concerns. In October of 2020, County staff contacted IO and met to discuss the issues. Subsequently staff set up a meeting with IO and the EOTA to move the discussion forward, however prior to the meeting the EOTA was able to resolve their issues.
Ultimately, the agreement was not signed until February of this year (2021), approximately 8 months after the original discussions in June 2020. There was also significant County staff time required (including the CAO, Warden and Council members) and resulted in the loss of another season of trail use, which does not meet the spirit and intent of what was agreed to.
The Planning and Development Committee is recommending that council deny the request for $10,000.
Council is expected to deal with the issue at its meeting on Thursday.
