After a longtime volunteer resigned from cross-country ski track setting in Sundre, council has decided not to assume responsibility, but rather open it up to others willing to volunteer.
ìSince the 1990s, the cross-country ski trails have been track set by a volunteer in the community,î said Jacci Hager, the town's manager of community services, in a report to council.
ìThis fall (2013) our dedicated and much appreciated volunteer has resigned from their efforts of track setting and the Town of Sundre must now consider its position of support of cross-country skiing in our community and how, or if, it will continue.î
The decision not to assume responsibility was made at the council meeting on Jan. 20. Coun. Paul Isaac said he would like to see a passionate volunteer take on the role, rather than town staff members. Mayor Terry Leslie agreed.
Hager said there are people who have already stepped forward willing to work out a deal to take on the role voluntarily.
ìAdministration has received comment and email from some of our avid trail users, inquiring about track setting this season and how the Town of Sundre will provide this to the community now that our volunteer is no longer able to provide the service,î she said.
During the meeting, there was also discussion that with the amount of snow that has fallen this season it would have been busy for track setting, accumulating more hours than the average season.
Last season there was roughly 25 hours accounted for, with each set taking roughly five hours to complete. Hager said the track needs to be reset after every five centimetres of snowfall.
She proposed the Town of Sundre assume ownership of the track-setting machine, along with the responsibility of track setting.
In 2010, a four-way partnership was formed between the town, River Valley School, the school's parent council and the school's cross-country ski club to purchase the machine.
River Valley School staff members have maintained responsibility and ownership of the machine since.
ìWith the reorganization of the arena operating hours and the community services staffing schedule, administration has established the availability within our existing staffing resources to assume the track-setting responsibilities,î she said.
However, she said the staff members available to assume track setting also assist the operational services department with street and sidewalk snow removal.
ìThe priority for track setting needs to be established in conjunction with snow removal to provide direction and understanding to the public and staff.î
She added that the trail system is widely utilized. A survey that was conducted during the town's Master Recreation Plan process in 2013 showed that more than 55 per cent of household respondents use the trails. It also showed that 72 per cent of school respondents use the trail system.
ìThis utilization occurs year-round, due to the strength of the volunteerism and active lifestyles in our community and school system,î she said.
ìWith the snow accumulation we have thus far, there is high interest in the ability to get outdoors and use our trails.î
"This fall (2013) our dedicated and much appreciated volunteer has resigned from their efforts of track setting and the Town of Sundre must now consider its position of support of cross-country skiing in our community and how, or if, it will continue."Jacci Hagercommunity services
