County adopts ATV ordinance |
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| Written by The Daily Journal |
| Thursday, October 29, 2009 |
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Laurel Beager Many of the roads within Koochiching County will be open Nov. 1 to all-terrain vehicle use, thanks to adoption of an ordinance by the Koochiching County Board. The county board Tuesday adopted the ordinance which allows ATV use on roads under county jurisdiction. Under the ordinance, ATVs must operate on the extreme right side of the road and may not exceed 20 miles per hour. The ordinance expires Nov. 1, 2010, after which the board may reinstate it. The first year of the ordinance is intended to serve as a trial period, during which information about law enforcement actions and other concerns regarding the operation of ATVs on the county-maintained roads will be collected by the Koochiching County Sheriff’s Office. In addition, the ordinance notes that complaints about misuse of the ordinance received by county commissioners will be recorded. “Excessive complaints or problems as determined by the Koochiching County Board of Commissioners shall result in termination of this ordinance,” the ordinance notes. The board and staff developed the ordinance, with input by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, in an effort to allow ATV users to access municipalities and the amenities they offer off the Blue Ox Trail. At a public hearing conducted on the ordinance last week, several people involved in the tourism industry voiced support for the ordinance, saying it could boost the number of visitors to the area by allowing access to motels, restaurants and gas stations, among other places. DNR Conservation Officer Darrin Kittelson told the board during the hearing he had concerns about safety and urged ATV users to become familiar with state laws on ATV use. -- Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites     |
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Community Voices
“During the past decade, I have personally had six out of seven elk hunts ruined by the careless intrusions of ATV operators. This epidemic has forced me to abandon one prime hunting area after another, only to encounter the same situation elsewhere. The shameful part of this picture is that the overwhelming majority of these ATV’ers are young and healthy, not decrepit or physically challenged. Maybe these riders would be more respectful of other people's outdoor experience if they knew we could ID them." - Bill Sustrich, Colorado Backcountry Hunters and Anglers |
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