About ♦
The Cook County ATV Club was formed in November of 2002 and currently has about 600 members. That’s about 15% of our entire county’s population, more than 1 person for every 10 people. Many of these members are business owners who have a vested stake in Grand Marais’ future, many are private citizens, and all of us use or own ATVs for a variety of reasons. We have members from all sections of the county, and from many walks of life.
Board of the Cook County ATV Club
Mickey Brazell, President – mudbog@boreal.org
John McClure, Vice-President – jmcclure@boreal.org
Rhonda Silence, Secretary – ATV@rideupnorth.com
Melissa Smith, Treasurer – sawridges@boreal.org
Vilnis Neilands – vilnis@erperry.com
Gene Lashinski
Steve Fleace – sfleace@financialconco.com
The Cook County ATV Club’s major goals are:
* To identify areas where ATVs can be ridden legally
* To promote responsible riding through youth education & Tread Lightly programs
* To provide a positive impact on Cook County’s economy
* To provide opportunities for social activities for ATV users
The ATV Club is currently working towards:
* Opening the North Shore State Snowmobile Trail to ATVs
* Identifying and mapping DNR & Forest Roads open to ATVs
* Creating a trail system of designated forest roads and snowmobile trails that can be used by ATVs.
* Developing a technical riding area in Cook County
What do you get when you join the Cook County ATV Club?
You get a committed group of people working with the US Forest Service, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Grand Portage Band, and Cook County Commissioners to identify roads and trails that we can ride on—and fighting to keep existing trails open.
Through our club member’s efforts, we passed a county ATV ordinance that allows ATVs to ride on the inner ditch bank and shoulder of almost all county roads.
You get someone to represent ATV interests at the Grand Marais City Council (YES, it IS legal to ride in the city!)
You get ATV Club members assisting with certified DNR Youth ATV Safety Training, to help keep the kids in our community safe.
Your membership helps fund scholarships for kids that can’t afford the ATV Safety Training fee & provides an ATV Club t-shirt for all kids who complete the training.
You support a twice-annual Highway 61 Adopt-A-Highway Clean-up (and you’re invited to join the clean-up – it’s fun).
You establish a connection with the ATV Association of Minnesota, the Arrowhead Coalition for Multiple Use, the Conservationists with Common Sense, and Blue Ribbon Coalition.
You get a VOICE! There is strength in numbers. If ATVers want to continue to ride on public lands, we need to stand together & speak out for trails!
Read Our Newsletters
Download the May 2010 Newsletter HERE (under 1 MB)
Download the May 2011 Newsletter HERE (under 1 MB)
