Braidwood ATV fans battle ordinance

Mary Baskerville

BRAIDWOOD -- Residents united Tuesday night to oppose a proposed ordinance that would have regulated the use of all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles and off-road motorcycles.

At issue were the more than 100 complaint calls investigated by Braidwood police in June, July and August.

The proposed ordinance was posted on the agenda Friday, and by Tuesday night had generated enough buzz to fill every seat in the council meeting room and line the walls with residents intent on keeping their ATVs rolling.

Before the ordinance was even considered by the council, public comment was strong, with many saying the ATVs are part of the small-town character.

'ATV in my front yard'

Nichole Cassem, a 15-year resident, said she lives in Braidwood because it is "a small-town community that we love." Four-wheelers are respectful of their neighbors, she said.

Rechelle Tribe urged the council not to approve the ordinance, commenting that she commutes an hour "just to live in our small town."
Another resident urged the council not to "keep taking away things from the kids."

Commissioner Mike Grace earned the applause of the crowd when he said, "I have an ATV in my front yard."

Acting police Chief Brandon Myers said the issue is that the police department doesn't have the resources to respond to the large number of calls about ATVs. The complaint calls about ATVs cost the department $4,900 and amount to "5 percent of all of our calls -- dealing with ATVs."

After the meeting, Meyers said, "Without order, we truly don't have a community." The calls direct the limited resources of the department "away from criminal matters," he said.

The council said it heard the people and did not take action on the ordinance, opting to table the ordinance for further review, Mayor Sue Grygiel said.

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Source: http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/news/2096351,4_1_JO11_ATV_S1-100311.article

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