Trustees consider ATVs in town limits

Written by Mineral County Miner

Thursday, April 01, 2010

Toni Steffens

CREEDE—The Creede Town Board held a meeting to discuss using the railroad right of way through town as an ATV trail.

Currently ATVs are not allowed within the city limits. The Mineral County Sheriff’s office said that persons riding their machines in the town could be ticketed, but it does usually depend on the situation. 

Many people spoke in favor of allowing ATVs in the city. Nancy Leggitt pointed out that to go to the post office she could drive her dually truck and not save any gas, or she can drive her ATV saving a lot of gas. 

Some were interested in making a trail that would give people access to the loop at the end of town and providing a parking area for ATVs. Others at the meeting only stood up to say that they had no problem with ATVs in town. 

The town has faced the ATV question before in June 2004. At that time it was decided that the liability was too much to allow any plans to go forward. Town Manager Clyde Dooley said that much has changed since then, but their decision was made at the advice of their insurance provider and attorney. 

The next step in the decision about what to do with the property will be the recommendation that the Planning and Zoning commission makes to the town after their meeting April 8 at 5:30. 

This is part one of a two part series; please see next weeks Mineral County Miner for a more in depth look at the railroad right-of-way controversy.

Source: http://www.mineralcountyminer.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&story_id=1055&page=72

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites

State by State Momentum

Community Voices

“As a rancher who leases public lands for cattle, I’ve seen my share of cut fences and rangeland damaged by ORV use. I’ve also experienced ORV trespass onto my private lands. But I’ve had no way to identify the culprits when reporting trespass or illegal ORV use to local law enforcement. Congress should require that ORVs used on public lands have visible identification plates or decals. Doing so would remove the anonymity enjoyed by ORV riders who are bent on breaking the rules.”

- Ambers Thornburgh, second-generation rancher from Oregon who grazes cattle on his private land and adjacent lands leased from the Bureau of Land Management