JAY – Selectmen agreed Monday to look at town-owned property to see where the Andy Valley Riders Snowmobile Club could have a piece of land to build a garage to store grooming equipment.

Any decision would need to go before voters for final approval.

There had previously been talk of the club constructing a building behind the old Ames portion of the Jay Plaza, across the former railroad bed trail. The town had planned to develop an industrial park on its 34 or so acres of land there but it didn’t work out. Selectmen had also previously considered selling the land.

Club member Duane Gross said members would like to build a garage to house a 46-foot Piston Bully snow groomer town voters bought for the club years ago. Highway Department foreman John Johnson said voters agreed to buy the groomer for $47,000 and immediately turned it over to the club.

The groomer is currently housed outside.

The building would not be a clubhouse, Gross said. They would like to meet there to make their work plan but no social events would be held there.

However, Gross asked if it would be feasible to construct the building near the salt shed at the highway garage. They would probably need a building 50-foot long and at most 30-foot wide, he said.

They currently have a small building there, he said.

Highway Foreman John Johnson said the club is already at the property line where that building is located.

The club’s equipment is kept at members’ homes for the most part and they would like to get the equipment all in one place.

Johnson said the club currently buys diesel fuel from the town at the highway garage and they are billed just like all the other town departments.

Gross pointed out that the club pays 100 percent of maintenance costs for the upkeep of its equipment.

They would put in a concrete floor for the garage and eventually would like to get electricity, water and sewer lines there.

Selectman Amy Gould suggested they look at where the best place would be for the club to build a garage.

Besides behind the plaza, there is also land behind the transfer station.

“I would like to see them find a piece of property,” Selectman Tom Goding said, since they are willing to build a building.