b'Trails ReportBy Matt Tetreault, VAST Trails Administrator Grant in Aid requests to utilize theFinally, is the Debrushing Grant inat Farrs Field (Route 2) in Waterbury, limited funding we have in the mostAid Program.These applicationsVT. Additional information about the appropriate manner that ultimatelyroll into the VAST office at the sameevent is on our website.gives all the membership out there thetime as the Construction Grant in AidAs I engross myself with the most bang for their buck.applications at the end of June. Thevarious Grant in Aid Programs and There is a good possibility that somefunding for this program is derivedapplications, I always try to stick to of the projects can be trimmed down,from the sale of each TMA and rangesthe middle of the road. If everyone but as you may have imagined, it isfrom $30,000 to $40,000 annually.walks away from the program difficult to shave off $280,000 easily.This program is to aid clubs in thesomewhat happy, but not completely There is not enough peanut buttermaintenance of the brush and woodyirate, or completely happy I have for the bread for this picnic. I amdebris on their trail system. Nothingdone what I needed to. I know that not sure I should be mentioning theis more annoying than trees laidsounds odd, but it is somewhat review process and picnic in the sameinto a trail after a heavy snow, treestruthful. I first separate out the wants sentence, but we will go with it forscratching or breaking mirrors andand the needs and then fund the now. strobe lights off the groomer, or faceneeds to the best of my ability as Again, this is typical of theslappers tugging at your snowmobilefunding allows. Sometimes this means Construction Grant in Aid Programsuit as you ride along the trail.only funding part of the project or and like the Equipment, there is aDespite the efforts of the Debrushingasking the club to only complete part delicate process of reviewing theGrant in Aid Program, these thingsof it or seek lesser bids on the project. grants and making fair decisions thatstill occur as you well know. Like theIt can be unsettling for the club, but make the most sense for the overallother grant in aid programs therewhen the work is completed for less, trail system. A great deal of time,are policies that dictate how thethey walk away somewhat happy. follow up phone calls and e-mails areprojects are prioritized. This grant inI do not mind being removed from all part of the process here.aid program is a bit simpler than thesomeones Christmas Card list others and enables clubs to debrushbecause they are a little unhappy, but I The high price of pressure treatedup to 1/3 of their entire trail systemdo mind being stabbed in the parking lumber and the cost of raw materialsannually, with the idea being, a brushlot because they are irate! As President is a major factor in the large gaphog or similar type equipment willTeddy Roosevelt noted in 1901, speak between what has been requested andeasily handle 3-year-old growth.softly but carry a big stick. Although what we have for funding. I am notVAST typically funds 25-50President Roosevelt was referring to even going to try to understand it orDebrushing Grant in Aid applicationsthe way in which he handled foreign get into it here, but ultimately it seemsannually, and there are alwayspolicy at the time, this adage is very to be a supply and demand sort ofmore requests than there is funding.relevant in how grants are handled thing mixed in with a little greed. I amHowever, there is usually not a largehere at VAST. Difficult decisions must hopeful the price of pressure treatedgap between the two, and it can easilybe made in a soft manner, but when lumber and other raw materials willbe made up in most cases. I have notit comes time to defend them the big decrease before the clubs order andreviewed all the Debrushing Grantstick should be at the ready. In this pay for it while completing projectsin Aid applications for the seasoncase the big stick is the Bic pen I use this fall. I feel this possibility will beyet, so at this point I cannot evento sign off on the projects before they the largest factor in shaving downtell you how many there are. Basedare paid!the $280,000 deficit during this yearson the stack I am looking at next to round of the Construction Grant inmy computer, I would guess 40. TheEnjoy your summer!Aid Program. budget for this year is $35,000 so those Once the clubs are notified of the40 or so applications had better fit decisions for their grants there is a lotwithin that parameter! of paperwork that flies back and forth,So, the next few weeks will be thankfully via e-mail most of the timespent prioritizing these projects and now. The final piece is a copy of allgetting paperwork back to the clubs. receipts and invoices associated withThis back and forth will continue each project so that we can accuratelythroughout the remainder of the pay the legitimate amount owed tosummer while some emergency each club for the work completed. Theprojects begin to come out of the completion of the work is also verifiedwoodwork. The last-minute land with a signature by the County Trailchanges which result in closures, Coordinator, a volunteer position inheavy rains taking away a culvert, etc. each county. As previously noted, weThe fun never stops! have some decent systems in place toThere is also the Annual Meeting to ensure your TMA dollars are beingprepare for. Here is my plug for it. It spent wisely. will be held, Saturday, September 11 thSummer 2021 | 13'