FARMINGTON — Selectmen on Jan. 9 unanimously supported LD 1156, the Maine Trails Bond Initiative that if passed will provide funding for outdoor recreation.

Marc Edwards, regional outreach coordinator for Natural Resources Council of Maine [NRCM], came to the board requesting approval for Town Manager Erica LaCroix to sign a letter of support that would go to state legislators to show state-wide support for the bond.

“To date almost 460 towns, organizations and other entities and businesses have signed on to the letter, quite a few in Franklin County,” he noted. It would be a bond for $30 million over four years that would be available for development, design, maintenance and building of trails throughout the state, he stated.

Edwards said 50% of the funds would be dedicated to multi-use trails like the Whistle Stop Trail that goes through Farmington, Down East Sunrise Trail and other similar trails. The rest would be split equally between dedicated motorized – snowmobile and ATV trails – and dedicated non-motorized – hiking – trails, he stated.

“That has actually changed over time,” Edwards said. “Originally it was going to be a 20/30 split but as we have been going around and talking to communities, to folks, especially in western Maine and Franklin County where I am based, there were some concerns that the 20% match was going to put these funding opportunities out of reach for some smaller communities, snowmobile clubs and the like. So we brought that down to a 10% match.”

The program would be run similar to Land for Maine’s Future, administered by Bureau of Parks and Lands, Edwards noted. The bureau would receive applications and distribute program funds, he stated. It would benefit snowmobile and ATV clubs such as those in northern Franklin County, many of which are struggling with membership and capacities, especially after the floods in May and December last year, he said.

“This will certainly help communities that depend on trails, whether they be snowmobile, ATV, hiking, biking, cross country skiing, what have you,” Edwards noted. “Money would also be available for trail head improvements, access to trails. Come spring there is going to be a need for a lot of maintenance and with this $30 million bond it would really be a boon.”

Once the bill goes through the legislature, the application process will be streamlined after concerns about the need to hire grant writers and with the application process itself were raised, Edwards noted. The bill will go before the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee which includes Sen. Russell Black of Wilton who is a sponsor of the bill, he said.

Selectman Joshua Bell asked if the bill would go to a referendum vote should the legislative body pass it.

“It’s a bonding issue, we need two-thirds of the state legislature to approve it and then it will be sent to voters,” Edwards replied. “We have enjoyed some pretty broad bi-partisan support.”

“It definitely seems like it would help snowmobile, ATV clubs but also in this area hiking, even walking trails,” Bell said. “It is amazing the number of people that utilize the Whistle Stop Trail here. The University of Maine at Farmington built some trails, but it would be nice if we ever get our bridge across the Sandy River maybe some of the dollars here could connect all of that.”

Part of the bond would be for transportation that doesn’t necessarily have to do with recreation, such as connecting Whistle Stop Trail with businesses, Edwards noted. Matching funds can come from in-kind donations and community TIF moneys, he said. Towns can apply for funds to develop trail systems, he stated.

“The good thing about this is by supporting this, it still has to go to Maine voters,” Edwards continued. “People will ultimately be able to decide this issue.”

Selectman Dennis O’Neil asked if ATV clubs have been involved.

Sometimes, Edwards replied, noting there is a new Maine ATV organization that has given support. ATV and snowmobile clubs are short staffed, don’t have funds, he stated.

For those with outdoor facilities and trails there isn’t a lot of funding opportunities in Maine which makes it difficult for a lot of trails, Matthew Foster, Farmington Parks and Recreation director, noted. Other states do an excellent job of maintaining trails, adding trail heads, parking lots, restrooms and signage, he said.

“If you go to Tumbledown, Angell Falls, anywhere else, those places are really difficult to find,” Foster stated. “There is not good signage. When you get there a lot of the parking lots have huge potholes. Even just having a [portable restroom] so people could use those facilities. Those are the things that don’t get emphasized enough.”

Foster said people want to build something new, don’t want to put dollars into things they already have to make them higher quality.

Edwards noted the proposed bill came out of a meeting held in Farmington where trails maintenance was one of the things people pointed to as a need in Franklin County. “This is a bill that could not only benefit Franklin County but the entire state,” he said.

Selectman Stephan Bunker watched the Franklin County commission meeting where support for LD 1156 was withdrawn after NRCM opposed the appointment of Thomas “Tom” DuBois of Salem Township to represent the county on the Land Use Planning Commission.

“That issue would have nothing to do with the bond, they are two separate things,” Edwards stated. “That is something we are aware of, are watching that process.”

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