Trending
BELLEFONTE -- The Snow Shoe Rails to Trails Association brings tourists from Centre County and beyond beginning each spring and throughout the fall.
With that in mind, at Tuesday's Board of Commissioners' meeting, the commissioners unanimously passed a four-year contract agreement between the SSRTA and the Centre County Sheriff's Office to enforce motor vehicle laws, promote safety and trail regulations.
"We're up there to keep it a safe environment," said Centre County sheriff Bryan Sampsel. "We make sure people have their insurances and all their Rails to Trails stickers, make sure they have registered vehicles, stuff like that. It really helps out in the Snow Shoe area, the Philipsburg area. It's been a great."
Under the agreement, ATVs and motorcycles must have a valid license plate, liability insurance, helmets and a valid SSRTA registration sticker. The SSRTA agreed to pay the county based on the hourly rate, including salary and all benefits of the sheriff's deputies and mileage.
The contract, which will run from Jan. 1, 2020 through Dec. Dec. 31, 2023 was moved to next week's consent agenda.
Sampsel said that the agreement doesn't have much of an impact on his office as the patrols only take place on weekends.
"They have special weekends every month and we get two or three weekends every month from April through November," Sampsel explained. "Usually, our last weekend up there is the first weekend in November."
Sampsel said that they rarely encounter problems while on patrol in the area.
"There will be people who don't have their registration stickers or proper insurance, things like that," Sampsel said.
The Snow Shoe Rails to Trails was formed in 1999. It is maintained largely by volunteers and those using it to pay membership dues. According to its website, the trail is for walkers, bikes, equestrians, ATVs and snowmobiles. Dirt bikes, however, are not permitted because they are not registered with Pennsylvania or DCNR. Since they cannot carry insurance, they are not allowed on the trail.
According to SSRTA secretary Larry Mayes, the partnership works very well.
"We work very well with Bryan and his staff," Mayes said. "I think it all works out good ... for everyone."
As the SSRTA continues to expand, its growth may not only impact Centre County, but Clinton County as well.
"It brings a lot of people in from out of town. There's a big financial impact. If you go up there on the Fourth of July or a busy weekend, the place is packed with campers. It's crazy," Sampsel said.
Rails to Trails is part of the North Central Initiative, which is operated out of Clinton County, with the Clinton County commissioners and the Clinton County Economic Development Association.
In other business, the commissioners approved:
-- Tentative revisions to the 2020 Centre County budget in the amount of $84,523,185 of which $82,313,948 is for the operating budget and $2,209,237 is for capital reserve. The budget will now be advertised for public inspection.
-- To split costs with Bellefonte Borough for a 2020 Census banner that will hang in downtown Bellefonte. Cost of the banner is $730. The county will be responsible for $365 for the vinyl banner, which will be created by Victorian Signs.
-- A contract with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission for PA Automated Licensing Service (PALS), which allows electronic fund transfers from the county to the Commonwealth. There is no cost for the contract for a period of five years, beginning upon final execution. The contract was moved to next week's consent agenda.
-- A contract renewal with Central Square Technologies to provide annual maintenance and support for the Finance Plus software. The contract total is $37,562.15 for the period of Feb. 1, 2020 through Jan. 31, 2021. The item was also moved to next week's consent agenda.
-- A Hazardous Emergency Response Preparedness Report as part of a single application for assistance through the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. Data contained in this report can be used to determine grant eligibility under the Hazardous Materials Response Fund. The item was also moved to next week's consent agenda.
The commissioners will meet again at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at the Willowbank Building in Bellefonte.