Houghton County to Consider Support of a Snowbelt Tranist Commission

The Houghton County Commission will consider supporting a multi-county commission focused on expanding off-road recreation. Houghton County will consider its support of the formation of a new Snowbelt transit commission between Gogebic and Ontonagon counties. The commission will look to acquire abandoned railroad grades north of the Wisconsin – Michigan border, with the goal of increasing longer off-road recreation trails in the western upper peninsula connecting communities and opening up recreation opportunities with snowmobile and all-terrain vehicles. Upper Peninsula county leadership is aware of the economic struggles the region has faced in previous decades with the loss of mining operations. And more recent economic troubles during the COVID pandemic. A bright spot out of the pandemic for much of the region was found in the tourism industry, which has been growing in the upper peninsula. The Snowbelt Transit Commission would seek a mission of supporting the region’s winter tourism industry by further connecting recreation opportunities. Houghton County’s commission meeting will take place on the 2nd floor of the courthouse in the probate courtroom, beginning at 4 p.m. A reminder to those planning to attend that the courthouse elevator’s maintenance project has started and will be unavailable for approximately a week.