The KVR Mixed Trail Use Select Committee held its first meeting Sunday.

The KVR Mixed Trail Use Select Committee held its first meeting Sunday.

Trail committee chair eager to open up KVR in Princeton

Off road vehicle enthusiasts are getting in gear to open up the KVR through town limits.

Off road vehicle enthusiasts are getting in gear to open up the KVR through town limits.

Ed Vermette, who led the protest against an ATV ban on the trail that started three years ago, was elected chairman Sunday at the first meeting of the the KVR Mixed Trail Use Select Committee.

Related: Princeton council strikes committee to explore motorized vehicles on the KVR

“I’m optimistic,” Vermette said in an interview with The Spotlight. “There’s a misconception out there that this committee is to decide whether or not we are going to use the trail. That is absolutely wrong. The mandate is to decide how to use it.”

Seventeen members of the community and representatives from trail user groups were appointed to the new committee recently by council.

Vermette, who is also the president of the Princeton ATV Club, said that body is already planning fundraising to help implement mixed-trail use.

The club is hosting an off road vehicle trade show in May. “If we make a profit from that it will go to our mixed use trails initiatives and one of those is the KVR within town boundaries.”

There is also an opportunity to apply for provincial funding to make changes to the trail, so “time is of the essence” in making decisions, he said.

Vic Bartel is vice-chair of the committee.

Related: Council passes controversial ATV ban

To report a typo, email:publisher@similkameenspotlight.com.


andrea.demeer@similkameenspotlight.comLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Similkameen Spotlight