Isle Royale ATV Club
Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
The Annual General Meeting:
CANCELLED
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Club Update
June 11, 2021
Dan Fraser was contacted by the Sydney Airport Authority earlier this week as a result of damage to their property. Dan, Judy, Allister MacLean, President, Marconi Trail Blazers, and Jim Surette, Vice-President, Marconi Trail Blazers met with management of the Airport Authority on June 8th to discuss the damage. Airport Management explained that someone tore a trail sign out of the ground and used the end of it (encased in concrete) to smash in the wall of the pump house. Other damage included a wet area that ATVers were using for a mud hole, a torn out stop sign that enters the road going into the airport, and graffiti sprayed on the pavement. They indicated that there have been other incidents of damage during the past six months that they did not report to us. Management and the Board of Directors are quite upset over the time and cost of tearing down the pump house to avoid possible injury to others, and to repair the torn-up areas. The insurers of the Airport authority are in the process of reviewing the insurance policy. We were told that we are in jeopardy of loosing Land Use Permission to cross this property. A written proposal outlining how we can help the Airport Authority address these issues was requested and will be drawn up and submitted to them in the near future.
Dan and Judy went out to the airport on Thursday and put the signs back up. Additional signs have been ordered advising people that they are on: “Private Property - Stay on the Trail”. These will be ready by early next week and will have to be erected as soon as possible.
Over the past month we have been informed of damage to private property at the Airport Authority and the Drag Raceway and disruption to some residents who live along the Coal Town Trail. These three trails provide ATV riders in the Glace Bay and New Waterford areas access to most of the trails in our jurisdiction. The Isle Royale Club and the Marconi Trail Blazers are working together to address these issues. We cannot afford to lose access to these trails. The solution to this problem has to include all ATVers. Please spread the word that this behavior is not acceptable; people must stay on the trails and obey all posted signs.
Judy Giovannetti, President, Isle Royale AT Club
Allister MacLean, President, Marconi Trail Blazers
Today, Allister MacLean, President of the Marconi Trail Blazers, Judy Giovannetti, President of the Isle Royale ATV Club and myself, Dan Fraser, Past President of the Isle Royale ATV Club were summoned to the Cape Breton Drag Raceway by the owners/operators of this facility. You may ask, why I (Dan Fraser) was summoned-well, it is because, I negotiated and secured Land Use Permission from the owners/operators so that the ATV Club could build a trail along their property.
You will see that some idiots have smashed all the windows in this bus. A bus that cost the Drag Race facility operators money to purchase and the bus is a very important part of their operation. The bus was actually left open for anyone to drop in to warm up or rest but, NOT TO DESTROY.
Unfortunately, I do not have a photo of the large culvert that was stolen from the site, dragged by an ATV up over the large hill and onward to who knows where. A very expensive culvert that is required on the site to control water issues. But, once again, idiots believe they can take what they want, ride where they want and while doing so, have no regard for the hard work volunteers put into running the Cape Breton Drag Raceway, which draws racers from around the maritimes into our community. And, the money these hard working volunteers might make during a race event must go into paying land taxes, a mortgage on the property and upkeep such as placing culverts, asphalt, signage and other necessary expenses.
For those of us who respect and appreciate the relationship the two ATV Clubs have had with the Cape Breton Drag Raceway, we are now faced with the Land Use Permission being revoked. Yes, that's right-we are faced with the prospect of losing this most important connector trail from New Waterford and outward to reach Framboise on the trail system built by the two ATV Clubs.
Someone must know who these idiots are that ruin a good thing for the sensible people who ride an ATV for the fun and enjoyment and who appreciate that land owners have been very generous to us by providing permission to allow us to build and use a trail on their property. This particular trail, known as the Lingan Trail cost in the neighbourhood of $50,000.00 and a great deal of free work by Club members to cut trees and brush and other trail building activities. Consider the loss in dollars and more significant, the loss of permission to continue to use the trail. Allister and Judy are now working with the facility owners to try and come to an agreement to allow us to continue to use this important trail. Please help, lets identify the people who are causing so much trouble for the rest of us in our community as we try so hard to do the right thing on behalf of land owners. Dan Fraser, Past President, Isle Royale ATV Club.
