Report #4
March 5, 2008

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT BY RAY BURTON

March 5, 2008

Governor John Lynch
State House
Concord, NH 

Dear Governor Lynch,

As is my yearly custom, I conducted a snowmobile informational tour in coordination with the Trails Bureau, Division of Parks in the Department of Resources and Economic Development. This year's tour was held Friday, February 22, 2008.

The Trails Bureau Director, Chris Gamache, Trails Bureau Supervisor Mike Weeks, and his staff provided an 8 AM briefing in Tamworth, New Hampshire.  NH Fish and Game Conservation Officers Captain Marty Garabedian, Lt. Jim Goss, and US Senator John Sununu were present along with Gail Wolek from NH Parks, Jenny Burnett, of the White Mts. National Forest, Pemi District Office, Craig Mayo, President of the NH Snowmobile Ass'n, Gail Hanson, Executive Director of the NH Snowmobile Ass’n, Beverly and Jeff Blach, Grafton County Snowmobile Directors, and Harold Parker of Sen. Sununu's staff.  Carroll County Snowmobile officials included Tom Willard, Greg Dearth, and Dave Bowles.

Chris Gamache and his staff briefed the group on the newly instituted 911 emergency response system that is underway on Coos County Trails and will be unfolded in the next two years throughout Northern New Hampshire’s trail systems.

The group assembled onto snowmobiles at White Lake State Park in Tamworth and traveled a total of 49 miles throughout the Carroll County Trails System. A lunch was provided by the Wolfeboro Snowmobile Club at their winter snack restaurant.

Observations throughout the day include:

Signage through the 49 miles of trails was very visible and could be read quickly and easily and provided riders with a sense of security.  

NH Fish and Game Conservation Officers conducted a speed check (no tickets were issued to our group!)

There were many people out riding on this clear and cold day.  Riders were all courteous and observed hand signals to alert those on the trail of the number of sleds in a group.

Having done this tour annually for past 15 years, I believe citizens throughout New Hampshire can take pride in this system of 7000 miles of trails available to riders.  Chris Gamache and his entire staff –at both the DRED Office and the Field Staff, can be very proud of their work.
We are also fortunate in having a great partner in the NH Snowmobile Association, White Mt. National Forest, NH Fish and Game and the Office of Vacation and Travel to promote and distribute trails maps now with emergency 911-response information.

Sincerely yours,

Raymond S. Burton
Executive Councilor

C.c. George Bald, Allison McLean,
Senator John Sununu, Alice DeSouza, Chris Gamache, Jenny Burnett, Craig Mayo

View photos of the tour!

Represents all the towns and cities in Coos and Grafton counties as well as the cities and towns of Albany, Alton, Bartlett, Belmont, Center Harbor, Charlestown, Chatham, Claremont, Conway, Cornish, Croydon, Eaton, Effingham, Freedom, Gilford, Grantham, Hale's Location(unincorporated place), Hart's Location, Jackson, Laconia, Madison, Meredith, Moultonborough, New Hampton, Newport, Ossipee, Plainfield, Sanbornton, Sandwich, Springfield, Sunapee, Tamworth, Tilton, Tuftonboro, Wakefield, and Wolfeboro.
For additional information on the cities and towns in this district, go to www.nh.gov/municipal/.

Councilor Burton may be contacted at two locations: his State House Office at 603-271-3632, rburton@nh.gov;and at his home office at 747-3662, ray.burton4@gte.net.