Minnesota Grant-In-Aid Cross Country Ski Trails and You, the Nordic Ski Community
By: Mark Stadem, Brainerd Nordic Ski Club Board President
April, 2014
Many cross country skiers that ski on groomed Grant-In-Aid (GIA) funded trails found throughout Minnesota, (primarily outstate) aren’t aware how the funds that are generated by their purchase of the MN Ski Pass are shared and spent amongst these trail systems. I’ve had many people over the course of my five years as president of the Brainerd Nordic Ski Club either ask me how the funds are spent or make assumptions as to “how they think” or “thought” it works.
I’d like to shed some light on why all cross country/Nordic sports enthusiasts NEED to support their local ski clubs/trail associations that make a majority of Minnesota’s groomed cross country ski trails possible.
First of all, these clubs/associations are made up of volunteers that administer the GIA funds that are collected from the purchase of the MN Ski Pass. These grants are awarded after applying each May for the following “ski season”. Not all ski trail systems are maintained by a club or trail association. There are a few counties/municipalities remaining that apply and receive GIA funds with Crow Wing County (Larson Lake) being one of them.
To “legally” ski any GIA funded trail, cross country/nordic skiers aged 16 years and older must purchase a MN Ski Pass. A non-pass holder can be sited by any Conservation Officer if caught on these trails without a pass.
Another point to make is that there can be no additional charge to use a GIA funded trail system, just the MN Ski Pass. You do not need to be a “member” of any organization to use a GIA Funded trail.
There are three types of passes that can be purchased. They are; the Daily, Annual and 3-Year passes. The costs are: $5.00/Daily, $20.00/Annual & $55.00/3-Year.
The Annual and 3-Year passes can be purchased at any ELS (Electronic Licensing Station) station (if they sell fishing licenses, etc., they’ll sell ski passes) and the Daily can be purchased from a variety of non-ELS providers. The Northland Arboretum is one provider in our area that sells the daily pass.
The MN DNR does not hold the power to raise or lower the cost of the MN Ski Pass; they only administer the Ski Pass Fund. Legislative action is the only way an increase can be implemented. The last time this was done was three years ago and it was by request to the MN legislature by ski organizations around the state due to the increase in operating costs. The cost of a pass hadn’t been increased for several years, yet clubs were confronted with steadily increasing equipment and fuel costs.
The funds generated by your purchase of the pass are collected and held in one “pot” that is designated for the maintenance and grooming of GIA Cross Country/Nordic Ski Trails in Minnesota. A portion of these funds ($75,000.00) are used to groom trails in the state parks and some state forest trails. Most important, there are NO general revenue monies that supplement this fund, i.e., no County, MN or Federal tax dollars.
Each spring counties, cities, townships, and private trail organizations (i.e., ski clubs & trail associations) apply for a grant from these GIA funds. A majority of those entities that apply for these GIA funds are local ski clubs and trail associations. There is no “automatic” annual application or reward; these groups must apply each and every spring for the following fiscal(grooming season) year.
Clubs and trail associations are “sponsored” by a local unit of government, usually a county. And I’ll state this again, these clubs/associations are groups of volunteers from your local community that give of their time and energy so groomed ski trails are available.
The Minnesota DNR does not maintain or groom ski trails except for some state parks and a few in state forests lands! You will not see a MN DNR staff operating a groomer outside of these state parks or forest lands. Nor will there be MN DNR Parks & Trails crews out on the trails in the fall preparing them for the coming ski season. This is all done by club volunteers willing to donate their time and resources to see that this work is done and the trails ready for snow, whether we get it or not!.
The grants that each organization receives are strictly scrutinized; they can only be spent for specific trail related expenses and must be accurately recorded. These records are then subject to scrutiny by the local government sponsor and the MN DNR for accuracy when submitting a “request for reimbursement” form.
Reimbursement rates are not at 100% of cost. They are either 90% or 65% of the total cost associated with grooming or fall trail maintenance and other related expenses. The actual “grooming” done on snow is reimbursed at 90% of the total cost. Liability insurance is 90% or a maximum of $1500.00. (The BNSC’s Liability insurance is considerably higher than the max.) That is to say, for every $1.00 spent by a grant receiving organization, they will be reimbursed $0.90. The grant does not allow the reimbursement for repairs of machines or equipment. Grant recipients cover all these costs. BNSC covered $2500.00 in the 2013/14 ski season.
For the fall trail work, including the rental of equipment (tractors w/brush hogs & mowers, stump grinders, brush saws, etc. that volunteers don’t usually own outright), the reimbursement rate is 65% of cost. That 65% also applies for all other “allowable” reimbursable costs such as signs, administrative, maps, facilities, and acquisition and relocation costs.
This leaves a shortfall of either 10 cents or 35 cents for every dollar spent, to the clubs/trail associations to cover. Clubs/trail associations can cover this shortfall by a combination of your membership dues and your direct trail related volunteer time. Most of that in the BNSC is done during the fall trail work. A volunteers time is considered an “allowable” cost, and the rate is determined by what equipment they may or may not (labor) be operating.
So, my message is that if you ski on a GIA funded trail, “legally” you have to purchase a MN Ski Pass (if 16 yrs. old or older). In addition it could be said that if you enjoy at any level the use of these trail systems, it would be a “moral responsibility” to support your local ski club/trail association by becoming a member. And if at all possible, a volunteer. The members of your local club will appreciate your presence and support in any way that you can provide. It can be a fun and rewarding community experience.
Two more thoughts I’d like to leave you:
By purchasing a MN Ski Pass each and every season, snow or no snow, can and will do two things for Nordic Skiing in Minnesota. It will send a message to the state that this activity/sport is fully supported by the states Nordic Ski Community because of all the benefits that your community receives participating in it. The other is that the Ski Trail GIA Fund will be better funded to meet the demands that maintaining the current trail systems require, and possibly provide additional trail funding (i.e., more trails) sometime in the future. There has been a “freeze” on any GIA Funded ski trail development (increase in the total miles/K available state wide) for the past several years because of the lack of funds generated over time. As frustrating as a “low” or “no” snow season can be, please purchase a MN Ski Pass! The 2013/14 season has come in as one of the highest generating seasons to the GIA Fund ever. Let’s show our support every year!
And lastly, I like to say, we Nordic Ski enthusiasts/participants need to support any organization that supports our activity. It could be a parking fee to cover the cost to plow; a membership because they offer the “place/space” (Northland Arboretum) for our trail systems.
You get the picture. The activity/sport we are passionate about and enjoy comes at a cost, and we need to support it to ensure its future.
Thank you and hope to see you on the trail!
By: Mark Stadem, Brainerd Nordic Ski Club Board President
April, 2014
Many cross country skiers that ski on groomed Grant-In-Aid (GIA) funded trails found throughout Minnesota, (primarily outstate) aren’t aware how the funds that are generated by their purchase of the MN Ski Pass are shared and spent amongst these trail systems. I’ve had many people over the course of my five years as president of the Brainerd Nordic Ski Club either ask me how the funds are spent or make assumptions as to “how they think” or “thought” it works.
I’d like to shed some light on why all cross country/Nordic sports enthusiasts NEED to support their local ski clubs/trail associations that make a majority of Minnesota’s groomed cross country ski trails possible.
First of all, these clubs/associations are made up of volunteers that administer the GIA funds that are collected from the purchase of the MN Ski Pass. These grants are awarded after applying each May for the following “ski season”. Not all ski trail systems are maintained by a club or trail association. There are a few counties/municipalities remaining that apply and receive GIA funds with Crow Wing County (Larson Lake) being one of them.
To “legally” ski any GIA funded trail, cross country/nordic skiers aged 16 years and older must purchase a MN Ski Pass. A non-pass holder can be sited by any Conservation Officer if caught on these trails without a pass.
Another point to make is that there can be no additional charge to use a GIA funded trail system, just the MN Ski Pass. You do not need to be a “member” of any organization to use a GIA Funded trail.
There are three types of passes that can be purchased. They are; the Daily, Annual and 3-Year passes. The costs are: $5.00/Daily, $20.00/Annual & $55.00/3-Year.
The Annual and 3-Year passes can be purchased at any ELS (Electronic Licensing Station) station (if they sell fishing licenses, etc., they’ll sell ski passes) and the Daily can be purchased from a variety of non-ELS providers. The Northland Arboretum is one provider in our area that sells the daily pass.
The MN DNR does not hold the power to raise or lower the cost of the MN Ski Pass; they only administer the Ski Pass Fund. Legislative action is the only way an increase can be implemented. The last time this was done was three years ago and it was by request to the MN legislature by ski organizations around the state due to the increase in operating costs. The cost of a pass hadn’t been increased for several years, yet clubs were confronted with steadily increasing equipment and fuel costs.
The funds generated by your purchase of the pass are collected and held in one “pot” that is designated for the maintenance and grooming of GIA Cross Country/Nordic Ski Trails in Minnesota. A portion of these funds ($75,000.00) are used to groom trails in the state parks and some state forest trails. Most important, there are NO general revenue monies that supplement this fund, i.e., no County, MN or Federal tax dollars.
Each spring counties, cities, townships, and private trail organizations (i.e., ski clubs & trail associations) apply for a grant from these GIA funds. A majority of those entities that apply for these GIA funds are local ski clubs and trail associations. There is no “automatic” annual application or reward; these groups must apply each and every spring for the following fiscal(grooming season) year.
Clubs and trail associations are “sponsored” by a local unit of government, usually a county. And I’ll state this again, these clubs/associations are groups of volunteers from your local community that give of their time and energy so groomed ski trails are available.
The Minnesota DNR does not maintain or groom ski trails except for some state parks and a few in state forests lands! You will not see a MN DNR staff operating a groomer outside of these state parks or forest lands. Nor will there be MN DNR Parks & Trails crews out on the trails in the fall preparing them for the coming ski season. This is all done by club volunteers willing to donate their time and resources to see that this work is done and the trails ready for snow, whether we get it or not!.
The grants that each organization receives are strictly scrutinized; they can only be spent for specific trail related expenses and must be accurately recorded. These records are then subject to scrutiny by the local government sponsor and the MN DNR for accuracy when submitting a “request for reimbursement” form.
Reimbursement rates are not at 100% of cost. They are either 90% or 65% of the total cost associated with grooming or fall trail maintenance and other related expenses. The actual “grooming” done on snow is reimbursed at 90% of the total cost. Liability insurance is 90% or a maximum of $1500.00. (The BNSC’s Liability insurance is considerably higher than the max.) That is to say, for every $1.00 spent by a grant receiving organization, they will be reimbursed $0.90. The grant does not allow the reimbursement for repairs of machines or equipment. Grant recipients cover all these costs. BNSC covered $2500.00 in the 2013/14 ski season.
For the fall trail work, including the rental of equipment (tractors w/brush hogs & mowers, stump grinders, brush saws, etc. that volunteers don’t usually own outright), the reimbursement rate is 65% of cost. That 65% also applies for all other “allowable” reimbursable costs such as signs, administrative, maps, facilities, and acquisition and relocation costs.
This leaves a shortfall of either 10 cents or 35 cents for every dollar spent, to the clubs/trail associations to cover. Clubs/trail associations can cover this shortfall by a combination of your membership dues and your direct trail related volunteer time. Most of that in the BNSC is done during the fall trail work. A volunteers time is considered an “allowable” cost, and the rate is determined by what equipment they may or may not (labor) be operating.
So, my message is that if you ski on a GIA funded trail, “legally” you have to purchase a MN Ski Pass (if 16 yrs. old or older). In addition it could be said that if you enjoy at any level the use of these trail systems, it would be a “moral responsibility” to support your local ski club/trail association by becoming a member. And if at all possible, a volunteer. The members of your local club will appreciate your presence and support in any way that you can provide. It can be a fun and rewarding community experience.
Two more thoughts I’d like to leave you:
By purchasing a MN Ski Pass each and every season, snow or no snow, can and will do two things for Nordic Skiing in Minnesota. It will send a message to the state that this activity/sport is fully supported by the states Nordic Ski Community because of all the benefits that your community receives participating in it. The other is that the Ski Trail GIA Fund will be better funded to meet the demands that maintaining the current trail systems require, and possibly provide additional trail funding (i.e., more trails) sometime in the future. There has been a “freeze” on any GIA Funded ski trail development (increase in the total miles/K available state wide) for the past several years because of the lack of funds generated over time. As frustrating as a “low” or “no” snow season can be, please purchase a MN Ski Pass! The 2013/14 season has come in as one of the highest generating seasons to the GIA Fund ever. Let’s show our support every year!
And lastly, I like to say, we Nordic Ski enthusiasts/participants need to support any organization that supports our activity. It could be a parking fee to cover the cost to plow; a membership because they offer the “place/space” (Northland Arboretum) for our trail systems.
You get the picture. The activity/sport we are passionate about and enjoy comes at a cost, and we need to support it to ensure its future.
Thank you and hope to see you on the trail!