RUMFORD – The town will be honored later this month by the Maine Snowmobile Association and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife as Municipal Landowner of the Year.

The honor was announced at Thursday’s selectmen’s meeting by Rumford Polar Bear Snowmobile Club members Rob Cameron and Bob Stickney. The local club nominated the town for its many efforts on behalf of the club.

Cameron said the town has not only supported the club and the trail system financially, but also through its comprehensive plan, which recommended that a well-maintained and developed trail and parking areas would help the area’s economy.

The town has also helped the club acquire grants, and townspeople at town meeting voted to give the club $35,000 to purchase a trail groomer.

“Not only does the town allow snowmobile access on town-owned property, but it also makes fueling our grooming equipment an easy access,” said Cameron, who noted that Trail 17 is adjacent to the town garage.

Also, when heavy rains severely affected the snowmobile trails last December, the town. through its fire chief, agreed to apply for a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant on behalf of the club.

Last year, the goal of building a clubhouse and groomer garage came one step closer, said Cameron, when the town agreed to lease a parcel of town land for that purpose near Trail 17 for $1.

In other matters, Cameron said the town has stored the groomer when necessary, hauled snow to fill in bare trail spots and provided traffic cones and barriers during the club’s annual field day.

The award ceremony takes place at the Augusta Elks Club on Oct. 19.