Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, in recognition of the city of Presque Isle’s ongoing efforts to promote outdoor recreational activities, has named the Star City Public Landowner of the Year.
Presque Isle was nominated by the Star City ATV Club for the city’s continued support of the organization and efforts to promote not just the ATV club, but snowmobiling and other forms of recreational activities in the community.
City Manager Tom Stevens said it’s no secret that the SCATV Club and the city have worked cooperatively over the past several years.
“We’ve (the city and club) partnered with each other to promote a family recreational activity that includes a component of economic development,” said Stevens.
For this reason, the city was recognized as Landowner of the Year by the DIFW during an Oct. 20 award ceremony at the Augusta Civic Center. The awards are held in cooperation with the Landowners Relations Advisory Board.
“The Star City ATV Club submitted the nomination. I accepted the award on behalf of the city,” said Stevens.
“We really appreciate what the city manager and the city have done for the club over the years,” said Richard Howlett Jr., club president. “Everyone is so easy to work with. It’s always been a positive relationship. We thought they should be recognized for their help.”
Stevens said the club has worked with the city for the location of trails, rider safety and speed enforcement through the Presque Isle Police Department, accessing the community and businesses and landowner access. This past summer the partnership included a new clubhouse at Arnold Brook Lake.
“The city discontinued the park portion of Arnold Brook Lake as a cost-cutting measure and recently turned it over to the SCATV Club,” said Stevens. “The club is now maintaining the park portion and using the former maintenance building as a meeting place. This has resulted in a win-win relationship for everyone.”
“Everyone benefits from this partnership,” continued Stevens.
Howlett echoed the manager’s comments. “The new clubhouse and park at Arnold Brook Lake have been a big asset to the club. It’s a great place to meet and just one of the many things we have done together.”
A second ceremony was held during City Council’s Nov. 5 meeting, with Howlett congratulating the city on being recognized as Public Landowner of the Year.
“The club was founded in 2001 and has grown from 35 family members to 115 and over 30 business memberships. We come here (before Council) every spring to ask for the same things – permission to ride on the roads, land access and more. We’ve talked to the police department and Naldo (Chief Naldo Gagnon) and work closely with the department – use the facility for safety courses,” explained Howlett.
He said the club is always talking about how Stevens and Councilman Ron McPherson (who’s also a member of the club) have supported the club. Howlett said now Chris Beaulieu, director of the Presque Isle Parks and Recreation Department, is also working closely with the club, since the club has taken over the Arnold Brook Lake facility.
“Gerry James is always helping us out as well,” continued Howlett.
Howlett said with all the help officials with the city have provided over the years, the club wanted to find a way to say “thank you.”
“We thought there must be a way to thank these people. I don’t believe we’ve ever been turned down on anything. We’ve always worked together to iron out any issues,” he said.
Howlett said the club “found out DIFW gives out these awards every year, including municipality of the year.”
“That’s when we decided to try to get it for the city,” said Howlett.
Howlett said there was more involved than just filling out some paperwork.
“We contacted Augusta. Officials came to Presque Isle and I showed them around – Arnold Brook Lake, the trails. This year two awards were given for Public Landowner of the Year, one of those went to Presque Isle,” he said.
The other went to the town of Lakeville, which was nominated by the Quad Country Snowmobile Club.
Howlett said the club values its landowners, both public and private.
“Without them, we’d be dead in the water. They’re a great asset” for tourism, said Howlett.
Howlett went on to highlight some of the reasons the club submitted during the nomination process.
“Our reasons for nominating the city included the Council’s approval to use the rail bed for a trail system, the city manager has proven to be a big help to us and other communities and Naldo has reported a drop in complaints since the city has implemented policies addressing ATV issues and concerns,” said Howlett.
In addition, Howlett said in 2008 the city donated a 2-acre lot at the club’s Park and Ride, along the Aroostook River just off North Main St., for the organization to build a clubhouse if necessary.
“The city has also given us Arnold Brook Lake Park with about six acres overlooking the lake, with a building, picnic areas, with a large parking lot and a facility that’s handicap-accessible,” he said. “That was given to us with no lease and no taxes.”
Howlett said he and the club look forward to working with the city in the years ahead.
“In the last eight years, the city has done everything possible to help the SCATV Club. I hope we have many more years working together,” he said.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
PUBLIC LANDOWNER OF THE YEAR – The city of Presque Isle was named Public Landowner of the Year by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, following nomination by the Star City ATV Club for the city’s strong support of recreational activities and its willingness to work with area clubs. Most recently the city turned over Arnold Brook Lake Park to the SCATV, providing an ideal location for the club to host events. City Council members were presented the award during their Nov. 2 session. Pictured, from left: City Council Deputy Chair Jennifer Trombley; Councilor Ron McPherson (and a member of the SCATV), holding the DIFW wildlife print and plaque the city received for being named Landowner of the Year; Councilors Don Gardner and G. Melvin Hovey; City Manager Tom Stevens; and SCATV Club President Dick Howlett.
