HomeMy WebLinkAboutSUNFISH LAKE PARK TRAIL GROOMING BUDGET - Policy
SUNFISH LAKE PARK TRAIL GROOMING BUDGET INFORMATION
Trail grooming cost estimates:
Washington County maintenance staff estimates that it takes about 4 hours to groom the
trails at Sunfish Lake Park. This is typically done by one maintenance worker and the
trail groomer. An estimate for a grooming event is then based on the following:
Labor: $45 / hour
Equipment rental: $65 / hour
$110 x 4 hours = $440 per grooming event.
Estimated DNR trail grooming reimbursement rate: $75.00
$75.00 x 4 hours = $300 x 90% = $270 per grooming event.
The net cost to the city for a grooming event is estimated at $170.00
The City applied for a total grant request of $6,123.38 and received $4,064.00. The grant
request included $4,469.04 for routine maintenance (reimbursed at 65%) and $3,600 for
grooming (reimbursed at 90%). Routine maintenance activities include activities such as
summer mowing, clearing and trimming of trails, driveway grading and plowing, etc.).
It appears that the city expended about $850 for 2 grooming events in 2009 and nothing
in 2008.
PROPOSED SUNFISH LAKE PARK SKI TRAIL GROOMING POLICY
The frequency and timing or trail grooming is determined by the Public Works
Superintendent The decision to groom is based on snowfall, temperature and use.
General guidelines are as follows:
Grooming should be done as county staffing permits following any snowfall of 4
inches or more. Grooming should not be done at the expense of over-time pay.
Grooming should occur when traffic is light, preferably early in the week.
Grooming when temperatures are above or near freezing should be avoided.
The operating budget should reflect a provision / goal of grooming the trails
approximately once a week over the course of the winter, or about 12 times.