A probable repair for a damaged snow groomer; Groomer was funded through an exchange, a $ 100,000 loan to the county | Best Stories
The Chetek Snow Flyers Snowmobile Club groomer tractor will be repaired after being damaged in a collision with a train on February 9. No one was hurt.
“The groomer tractor will be repaired by our dealer, unless the insurance specifies otherwise when quoting,” said Sue Schmidt of the Chetek Snow Flyers Club.
Currently, the trail conditions are good for driving. All trails are open, but some areas can be difficult due to detours, she noted. While more snow would be welcome, “the cold weather helped. The snow is lighter at the southern end of the county, ”Schmidt said by email on Monday, February 15.
The Rice Lake Snow and Dirt Club and the Barron Snow Bears Snowmobile Club have offered to help clean up the trails in Chetek. “We’ve worked together in the past and it’s great to have backup when we need it,” Schmidt said.
In September 2020, the County Barron Supervisory Board approved a loan of $ 100,000 to the Chetek Snow Flyers Club to purchase a New Holland tractor with a front loader and Zuidberg track system. The county also approved a similar loan of $ 115,000 for the Rice Lake Snow and Dirt Club.
According to county documents, Lulich Implement sold the tractor to the Chetek Snow Flyers for $ 235,982, which was offset by $ 135,983 from the trade-in of the club’s old New Holland tractor.
The terms of the 10-year loan with the county included annual payments with an interest rate of 1% over local government investment rates and proof that the equipment was properly insured.
A request for an accident report from the Barron County Sheriff’s Department was not returned by the Tuesday February 16 deadline.