Council hears ATV issue

The issue of young ATV riders in Milledgeville continues to be heated issue in Fayette County. The Washington C.H. City Council discussed the issue with concerned citizens at the city council meeting last night without reaching a solution.

Milledgeville Village Councilman Larry Anderson brought his grievances before the council, citing the law as a deciding factor in the issue.

"Its just the law," he said. "Can I grow marijuana? No. (Underage kids) shouldn't be allowed to ride ATVs. Why is it any different?"

Milledgeville Mayor Ron Anderson asked for the council's backing of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department if the sheriff arrests of one of the underage riders.

"If the sheriff would happen to arrest someone, we want (city council) to release a statement backing the sheriff," he said.

Ron cited the danger of unsupervised and underage riders as another concern.

"I'm just afraid someone's going to get hurt," he said. "I don't want that on my conscious and I'm sure (the city council) doesn't either."

Renee Curry, a parent of one of the young ATV riders, said her son has a right to ride his ATV and kids have ridden ATVs in Milledgeville for 20 years.

"My son has a right to ride," she said. "He loves ATVs. He likes to ride. I know it's dangerous. I don't know what the solution is."

City Councilman Mark Pitstick said that the city should not get involved in the issue.

"The city of Washington C.H. does not want to get in the middle of a feud between the citizens of Milledgeville," he said. "I don't know if (a city council meeting) is the correct forum to discuss this."

City Council Chairman Ben Roby agreed.

"Frankly, there isn't anything we can do tonight," he said. "There's no way we're going to tell the Sheriff not to enforce the law. I can't imagine stepping over that line. (The city of Washington C.H.) just happened to own a strip of land intended for Rails to Trails. This is a Milledgeville thing. This is not a Washington C.H. thing."

City Manager Joe Denen suggested the issue be discussed further at the Milledgeville Village Council meeting on Nov. 19.

Source: http://www.recordherald.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=132262&TM=33960.2

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