Council will revisit ATV rule proposals

John Skipper

MASON CITY — The City Council will consider additions Tuesday night to the ordinance it approved in January concerning all-terrain vehicles on city streets.

The ordinance allows ATVs on city streets to travel to and from snow-removal jobs.

City Administrator Brent Trout said at the time that state law did not require ATV operators to have liability insurance. His preference was for the city to wait for the state law to be changed before adopting a city ordinance.

But the council approved the ordinance and the Legislature did not change the state law.

Most of the proposed changes allow the ordinance to apply to spring and summer activities instead of just for snow plowing.

The proposed changes include:

• Anywhere the ordinance refers to all-terrain vehicles the words “or utility vehicles” will also appear.
• Allowing the use of ATVs/UTVs for turf management and landscaping.

“The changes account for the other form of vehicle that is currently purchased to do work such as plowing and landscaping,” said Trout.

• Specifying engine sizes and weights for ATVs and describing guidelines governing UTV classifications.

Trout said the Iowa Department of Natural Resources does not require UTVs to be registered. The proposed change in the Mason City ordinance would require UTVs to be registered when the DNR makes it a requirement.

In a memo to the council, Trout said, “The Legislature did not change the requirements to require insurance for ATVs or UTVs so this remains a status quo as it was during the initial ordinance approval.

“I therefore maintain my concerns about this ordinance but recommend approval of the changes as presented.”

In other business Tuesday, the council will consider updates in city codes to bring them up to date with international building, mechanical, energy conservation, residential and fire codes.

Also, Councilman Max Weaver has asked for discussion time to talk about the proposed $1.5 million Commerce Center, to be built with state funds approved by the legislature, and the development of a multi-purpose facility/arena in Mason City.

The council meets at 7 p.m. in the Muse Norris Center at North Iowa Area Community College.

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Source: http://www.globegazette.com/news/local/article_c2c87948-4055-11df-ac7c-001cc4c03286.html

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