NOVEMBER 20, 2024|
Photo – Wyoming Parks Trail Program logo – Bigfoot99 file image
This week, Carbon County officials clarified their remarks regarding the discontinuation of Wyoming State Trails Program sticker sales.
As reported by Bigfoot99, the Carbon County Treasurers Office has chosen not to continue selling State Trails Program off-road vehicle and snowmobile permit stickers. During the November 12th Board of County Commissioners meeting, Treasurer Lindsey West said the state’s decision to move permit sticker sales entirely online eliminated the county’s incentive to serve as an authorized dealer.
Following our report, Wyoming State Trails Program Manager Forrest Kamminga called Bigfoot99 reporter Matt Copeland to say that ORV and snowmobile permit stickers can still be purchased at physical dealer locations.
Additionally, Program Manager Kamminga disputed Commission Chairwoman Sue Jones’s comments regarding funding for county road maintenance.
During the November 12th meeting, Chairwoman Jones said she would be willing to reconsider the decision to stop selling ORV and snowmobile permits if the Wyoming State Trails Program provided more money to maintain the county’s road system.
Kamminga said the State Trails Program offers grant funding for road repairs, among other trail-related projects. The grant program has stipulations, however. Kamminga explained that roads cannot be paved and must be designed exclusively for off-road vehicle use.
During this week’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, held yesterday, Chairwoman Jones clarified her remarks, saying that the State Trails Program, as well as the State Office of Tourism, does a great job of promoting tourism in the Cowboy State. The issue, Chairwoman Jones said, is that the state doesn’t help maintain the roads leading to the tourism destinations, such as Seminoe Reservoir.
Chairwoman Jones acknowledged that the State Trails Program offers grant funding to maintain off-road trails. However, Jones noted that recreational vehicle users also travel on county roads, and the State Trails Program does not provide funding for that purpose.
Chairwoman Jones said the Wyoming state legislature would need to change the laws to allow counties to use tourism money for road maintenance.
