The Eagle Valley's snowmobile club and grooming society want to take their industry to the next level, but are unable to do so without help from the district and the community.
It may have not been their intent when they arranged to appear before council at Monday's committee of the whole, but representatives of the Eagle Valley Snowmobile Club and the Eagle Valley Snowmobile Grooming Society wound up explaining why they are seeking a grant in aid to the tune of $15,000 from the District of Sicamous.
Coun. Fred Busch told club president Dan Morin, grooming society president Tim Corless and general manager Gord Bushell, that when the grooming society started, there was some projection as to when it would be self-sustainable. Busch said he was concerned about the seeming "never ending parade of asking for money."
Bushell said operations could be sustainable right now provided things remain status quo.
"We can survive," said Bushell. "We may not do as much maintenance, we might not do any improvements to the parking lot areas."
Bushell and Morin explained that sledding in Sicamous is currently at something of a stalemate, incapable of further expansion without first dealing with parking limitations at the area's four major grooming areas, Queest, Owl Head, Blue River and Eagle Pass.
"If you look at Owl Head, Queest and Blue, at every one of those we have some sort of parking-related issues," said Morin. "We would be looking for some support as those issues come to the forefront."
Read more in the Jan. 18 Eagle Valley News.