ATV FEE DISCOUNT IS BEING MULLED

[JZO]

ATV fee discount is being mulled
MULTIPLE PERMITS: Lewis County hopes to hike sales next year among trail users
By STEVE VIRKLER
TIMES STAFF WRITER
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2010
ARTICLE OPTIONS
LOWVILLE — Lewis County officials are considering offering a discount to all-terrain vehicle enthusiasts who buy multiple trail permits this year.
"My hope is that we gain increased sales from it," said Legislator Richard C. Lucas, R-Barnes Corners, chairman of the legislative Economic Development Committee.
The county from May through October operated its inaugural permit-based ATV system, contracting with the Lewis County Chamber of Commerce to sell permits at its Web site, its South State Street office and at several businesses.
Permits cost $40 for each ATV owned by a member of a club in the Tug Hill Adirondack ATV Association and $80 for each machine owned by a non-member.

While those rates will stay the same for each household's first permitted ATV, the county is proposing to charge only $20 for each additional ATV owned by a member of the same household, Mr. Lucas said.
"Some people have as many as five or six machines," he said.
Legislators will consider the tentative fee change following a public hearing on the matter at 5 p.m. March 2.
Mr. Lucas said the proposed multi-machine discount stems from discussions among his committee and officials from the chamber and the Tug Hill Adirondack ATV Association.
Other possible changes to the fee schedule were brought up but won't be implemented this year, he said.
"We'll get through another year and then re-evaluate it at that time," Mr. Lucas said.
•   Lewis County in 2009 sold 2,016 permits, resulting in more than $81,000 in revenue to

[JoeR]

I think that's a good idea.  Weekend, or 3 day permits should be considered too. 

Joe

[JZO]

Joe,

I did some research on the short permits weekend or 3 days and Hatfield McCoy did away with their shorter time frame permits as it was an administrative issue to maintain the different pass. I believe they now have one permit which has a cost for resident and non resident. For the 2010 season I believe this will be the only change in permit cost.

[JoeR]

I'm pretty sure Hatfield McCoy did away with them a year ago.  They had a rate increase last year too.  The locals were griping about it quite a bit, but I don't think it effected their permit sales. 

On a related note, have you ever checked out the maps and signage for the HM trails?  It it second to none.  If you have a map for the trail you were on, you could safely ride all day without looking at it.  As soon as you wanted to go home you could figure out your location in a second.  They are very nice.

Joe

[JZO]

Bob has been down to HM to see how they are set up as I was unable to go as family issue kept me home.  I believe the first goal is to get the 18x18 signs installed and Bob is working on nameing the Reforestation trails.

Joe

[mirageags]

in a related question , i bought my trail pass for this year, for the bike,but now my wife has a 4 wheeler. since im already a member of tug hill wheelers now, how much will it cost me to get one for the wheeler?

[JZO]

You will have to fax or email a copy of your registration to the chamber to show that both machines belong to the same household and you will pay $20.00 for the second registration.

[JoeR]

You will have to fax or email a copy of your registration to the chamber to show that both machines belong to the same household and you will pay $20.00 for the second registration.

That's good news for folks with more than one machine, and it's fantastic news for families.  Congrats on making it easier for the people that are spending a lot of money to go off-roading....not that all of us don't, but if you were a family of 5 the Permits alone would put a dent in the wallet.

Joe

[mirageags]

You will have to fax or email a copy of your registration to the chamber to show that both machines belong to the same household and you will pay $20.00 for the second registration.

oh sweet, i thought they were not doing that this year. thanks for letting me know!!

[JZO]

This is only the second season with the permits and this is a big change and folks need to work with the chamber to get the bugs worked out. If anyone has a issue that they feel it didn't get takeen care of please send me a email as I work well with the chamber. Also please keep in mind to get the $20.00 permit you must go through the chamber.

[dirtdame]

I haven't been to H/M since '05 when they were just getting their huge trail system underway so I can't remember the signage.  The place I went to in GA had a good system with good signs.  It's not as big as H/M so it's difficult to compare the two. 






and my personal favorite:

[PJ]

This is great news!!
I didn't get a permit last year for various reasons... but We will be getting them soon for this coming season.

[JZO]

Legislators OK multiple-ATVs permit discount
VOTE IS 8-1: Harrisville lawmaker says Lewis County residents should get break
By STEVE VIRKLER
TIMES STAFF WRITER
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2010
ARTICLE OPTIONS
LOWVILLE — Lewis County legislators on Tuesday approved a multiple-machine discount for all-terrain vehicle trail permits, although one lawmaker argued that county residents should get a break first.
Legislators by an 8-1 vote adopted a law providing a half-price discount on permits for the second through fifth machines purchased by members of the same household, with all ATVs having to be registered to the same mailing address.
The county will charge the full price for the first permit and any additional ones beyond the fifth machine.
Full-price permits cost $40 for an ATV owned by a member of a club in the Tug Hill Adirondack ATV Association and $80 for a machine owned by a nonmember.
Legislator Philip C. Hathway, R-Harrisville, opposed the resolution, while Legislator Richard C. Lucas, R-Barnes Corners, co-owner of the Montague Inn, abstained.
"It seems to me we should lower the fees for Lewis County residents, since they paid for it," Mr. Hathway said of the county's ATV trail system.
"We did use taxpayer money to establish it," agreed Legislator Jerry H. King, R-West Leyden.
Mr. Lucas, chairman of the legislative Economic Development Committee, said the idea of a resident discount was discussed more than a year ago, before the permit-based system was established.
However, determining whether permit applicants are county residents would be difficult, since nonresidents could easily register their machines or establish a post office box in the county, he said.
"I think it's a bookkeeping nightmare," Mr. Lucas said. "And it would cost more to administer."
Many local families will benefit from the multiple-machine discount, which has the support of the Tug Hill Adirondack ATV Association, he said.
Mr. Lucas said that he hopes to have the "perfect plan" in place down the road but that such changes can't be implemented all at once.
Mr. Hathway said he may not have the long-term vision of Mr. Lucas and is looking at the situation too parochially.
"But I think if we're going to do something, we should do something for our people first," he said.

[Phantom]

All they need to do to prove residency is require a copy of the tax bill for resident discount.

Now that the discount is in place I may actually permit our bikes... I still want to see maps first.

[mirageags]

ditto the maps will be great. i know my way around brantingham very well, but i dont know where the new connection to tug hill is. cant wait to see all that!