BY: TIM JAQUES/THE TRIBUNE

The Supervillage Trailblazers Snowmobile Club of Belledune will get a grant of $35,000 from the village to buy the land on which sits their clubhouse, as well as about 200 or more acres of surrounding land.

The request was granted, subject to conditions, at the Aug. 4 meeting of council. It had been up at a previous meeting, but was adjourned so that councillors could look into the matter further.

The land, near the protected Jacquet River Gorge, is currently for sale.

It is owned by a Bathurst company that is no longer in existence. The club feared that it might be sold from beneath them, and that if someone else bought the land, it might be clearcut. The club pointed out the economic benefits it provides, employing people in the winter when employment in the village is at a low point.

On the recommendation of CAO David Hughes, who was not present, the grant was approved subject to five conditions.

1. should the club become insolvent, land will revert to the ownership of the village of Belledune; 2. should the club be sold, the $35,000 will be repaid to the village; 3. no clearcutting or commercial harvesting on the property will be permitted; 4. the deal is subject to the village finding sufficient funds in the budget for this grant; 5. a formal memorandum of understanding will be drafted by the village's legal counsel and put into effect.

Legal counsel must also be satisfied as to the current legal status of the club to enter into such an arrangement.

The motion was passed unanimously. Councillor Mario Lapointe was not present at the meeting either.