It might not have been the most ideal year for snowmobilers, but the City of Cottage Grove is working to make sure when the snow flies in coming years, riders will want to keep the city on the map of destinations.

In November, the City Council passed an ordinance amending city code to prohibit snowmobiles along 70th Street west of Keats Avenue because of increasing vehicle traffic on the thoroughfare.

At that time, representatives of the East Cottage Grove Snowmobile Club and the Star Trail asked the city not to cut off that transportation route. City council members pledged to work to open up more area in Cottage Grove in the future.

Earlier this year, club representatives met with the city’s Public Services Commission to get the ball rolling.

Public Services Commission members present at that meeting were Robert Campbell, Robert Dornsbach, Kent Griffith, Jeff Podoll and Ron Kath, along with council member LaRae Mills. Jeremy Goebel, president of the Cottage Grove Snowmobile Club, along with John Udstuen and Chris Voligny of the Star Trail were on hand as well.

City Public Works Director/Engineer Ryan Burfeind told the group that the commission wishes to meet with the snowmobile groups on an annual basis.

Udstuen said that the snowmobile groups promote tourism in the community and encourages people getting outside.

City Economic Development Director Christine Costello said the city works hard to promote the community through its tourism bureau with the use of lodging tax dollars. The city has a new website to promote activities in the city, and that page contains a link to the Star Trail.

One problem the snowmobile groups has is that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has stopped funding individual clubs, so their trails aren’t represented on the DNR map.

Commissioner Kath expressed the opinion that Cottage Grove needs to do what it can to keep snowmobiling alive in the community.

Minutes of the meeting state, “Kath thanked the club for their service and stated he grew up in a family that enjoyed snowmobiling. He showed gratitude to the club for all their hard work and shared his disappointment that the community is losing a portion of the trails to development. Kath wants to make sure Cottage Grove keeps some of the trails so future generations can enjoy the sport.”

Tsuen pointed out that snowmobile trails are a benefit to developers. He shared that a Univer5sity of Minnesota study showed that one person on a snowmobile provides about $20 in revenue to the community.

“Udstuen stated this is how important this sport is to the community, and the message needs to be heard,” the meeting minutes state.

Udstuen said that in an area like 70th Street, snowmobiles and pedestrians should be allowed together.

“Many trails including the Munger Trail already successfully do that. Udstuen added people should not shy away from sharing the trails. Bicycles drive next to motorized vehicles on the road,” minutes state.

These feeder trails lead to the larger trail system and allow people who live in Cottage Grove’s new developments to get to trails.

“As we move ahead, the club asked the city to see the benefit of snowmobiles,” minutes state.

City staff recommended that the snowmobile club meet twice annually with the Public Services Commission, once in April to address any complaints from the prior winter and to discuss new development in the community. The second meeting would be held in September to approve the snowmobile map.

It was reported that there were a couple complaints this year, but not many.