Chocolay residents sue DNR

Chocolay Township, MI – A number of Chocolay Township citizens have banded together to file suit against the Department of Natural Resources. The 75 residents oppose a snowmobile trail in the area. Doug Cornett is executive director of Northwoods Wilderness Recovery and is sponsoring the effort. He says the residents are angry because snowmobiles travel past their homes at all hours, at times going as fast as 100 miles per hour. He says residents feel the snowmobiles are not only a nuisance, but a threat to the safety of their neighborhood, and they have a record of disturbances that has been maintained by Chocolay Township Police to back up their claims. Cornett says snowmobilers have a right to trails, but they shouldn't be so close to residents' homes. Cornett says the safety issues imposed by irresponsible snowmobile use are the top priority in the lawsuit. Chocolay residents will next present briefs outlining their complaints.