Mayor fined for snowmobiling in wilderness area

The title of this article certainly caught my attention when it popped on my computer today: Dear john case: Filching a biffy costs Ely mayor $3,600.  

Though you can’t tell from the title, it turns out that the mayor of Ely, MN, Roger Skraba, has had a little issue with driving motorized vehicles into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA).  He’s been cited 5 different times over the last 30 years for such violations, leading the Forest Service to ask the judge to ban him from the BWCA for at least 3 years as a result of this most recent violation. In addition to entering the wilderness on a snowmobile, he also stole a porta-potty from a Forest Service boathouse - thus the title of the article.

Unfortunately, as is often the case, the judge declined to impose such a strict penalty, because it would apparently interfere with Skraba’s day-job as a fishing guide.  I think the judge got it wrong.  Outdoor guides who break the rules should lose their privileges to enter those areas – they know better than anyone how important the resource is.  If they’re willing to damage it, they shouldn’t be allowed to access it.  Even moreso, a public figure like Skraba shouldn't have received special treatment.  For more information about effective enforcement practices, like imposing access bans, see our “Six Strategies for Success” off-road vehicle enforcement report.

Perhaps  the judge was convinced by Skraba's pre-sentencing statement?

“In a statement before sentencing, according to the Duluth News Tribune, Skraba said "the game is over" and he is done entering the BWCA or contesting federal rules covering the wilderness. "It's foolish. ... It's not fun anymore," he said, according to the newspaper.”

From this quote, and his record, it sounds to me like Skraba has issues with the very idea of protecting areas as wilderness, even if he derives part of his income from this protected area. 

Though he is still allowed to enter the BWCA, in addition to fining Skraba the judge also ordered him to pay all the back taxes he owes to the Federal Government.  Hopefully that’s an even more significant monetary hit than the $3,600 fine he was charged for this violation.  Seems this particular mayor has issues with numerous federal laws - let's hope this episode with the courts solves it, and if not, then let's hope the next judge who deals with him follows the Forest Service's recommendation to ban him from the wilderness.