Posted on

Snowmobile purchase is debated by Edgar trustees

The Edgar Village Board on Monday debated whether to buy a new snowmobile for the Edgar Area Trail Supporters (EATS) that would be used for grooming cross country ski trails in the Scotch Creek Woodland Preserve. Money for the purchase would come from Shortner Trust Fund donations.

Trustees came to no decision, referring the matter to the village’s Parks Commission.

Bruce Kralcik, president of EATS, said his organization uses an older, Skidoo Skandic snowmobile for grooming trails and said a new machine would be more reliable. Cost of the snowmobile is approximately $15,000.

Trustees said they appreciated work by EATS to take care of the village trails, but two trustees, Jon Streit and Patti Schuett-Schroeder, were hesitant to buy a new snowmobile for EATS use when other volunteer organizations, such as the Edgar Softball Association, do not get use of village equipment.

Village administrator Jennifer Lopez questioned Kralcik about storing the current Skandic, purchased in the past with a Shortner Trust Fund grant, in his backyard rather than in a secure village shed.

Kralcik said EATS currently insures the snowmobile. He said he is able to access the snowmobile easily and can be grooming trails within minutes after leaving his yard. He said picking up the snowmobile on a trailer from the village compound would be inconvenient.

Kralcik, who developed trails on what previously was Midland Powder Co. land, has groomed ski trails and cut the grass on walking paths for years without compensation. EATS, he said, raises money annually with a raffle and snowshoe race. These funds are generally sufficient to pay for fuel, insurance and repair for the Sandic and also a Ranger that pulls a mower.

Board members questioned whether a regular snowmobile could be used to groom trails. Kralcik said yes, but that he has burned up three of his own snowmobiles in the past grooming village ski trails. He said he is done personally investing in grooming equipment.

Board members further questioned whether other equipment could be used to groom the trails. Kralcik said no, that other equipment would not fit on trail bridges. He said trail bridges were purposely narrow to prevent, as has happened in the past, a pick-up truck “doing doughnuts” on the Edgar High School football field.

Kralcik said EATS could help pay for the new Skandic, but its funds are limited. The organization has $2,500 in the bank, he said.

Lopez said the village receives an annual payment from the Shortner Trust Fund but, in the last couple of years, the money has been banked instead of spent on a project.

In other board business:

_ Board members approved $27,185 in cracking sealing and chip sealing work from Lake Asphalt Maintenance, Medford, and Scott Construction, Inc., Lake Delton.

_ Police Chief Tyler Geske said he hopes to apply for a federal grant to purchase body cameras for officers.

_ Board members agreed to hire Ehler’s and Associates for $15,000 to help the village issue debt for an upcoming wastewater treatment plant project.

_ Trustees voted to have Kerber Rose continue as the village auditor with a low, three-year bid of $13,600, $14,100 and $14,600 for the next three audits.

LATEST NEWS