Supervisors discuss proposal for ATV/UTV use on County roadways

by Bob Beach

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met Monday, April 27 with organizers and members of the newly-formed Allamakee Off Road Club to discuss a proposal to allow the use of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and other off-road recreational vehicles on some County secondary roads. Under the group's proposal, ATV use would be allowed on all gravel roads in the County with hard-surface roads used only for crossing or access to the nearest gravel road.
In addition, the group's proposal suggests a $30 fee for a two-year permit for County residents and a $25 one-year permit for non-residents, with the fees shared equally between the club and the County. Basic safety rules are also included in the group's proposal, such as following the same rules of the road as other motorized vehicles, requiring helmets for riders under the age of 16, seat belt use, and licensing and registration requirements.
Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour said that there are still many unanswered questions about safety, noting that even according to ATV manufacturers the vehicles are not recommended for use on roadways. He said that he would prefer that off-road options be explored, such as establishing an ATV park, organizing rides on designated routes or establishing a trail system similar to what the local snowmobile club has done.
Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick said that he is not opposed to the club's proposal but pointed out that the Sheriff's Department will ultimately be responsible for the enforcement of any ordinance the Board may pass and to investigate any accidents that may occur. He said that the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) receives the majority of the registration fees for ATVs but it does not enforce regulations nor investigate accidents unless they occur on State land, noting that ATV use is not allowed on DNR land.
Both Mellick and Ridenour said that they would consult with their respective counterparts in Buchanan County, where an ordinance similar to what the club proposed is in effect.
Jane Regan of Leschensky Insurance told the Board that if the County were to pass an ordinance to allow ATV use on County roads, there would be a per-mile charge added to the County's liability insurance premium, saying that lawsuits would be inevitable. In terms of ATV users' personal insurance, Regan said that the liability insurance on a recreational vehicle is not the same as liability insurance on an automobile and that because ATVs are not designed to be used on roadways, accidents that occur on roadways would not be covered.
Board of Supervisors Chairman Larry Schellhammer said that the group had done what the Board had asked, which was to organize a group and present a formal proposal for the Board's consideration. He said that the Board is not opposed to the group's proposal but that some legal and liability issues would need to be discussed before moving forward.

The Board also met with Coordinator of Disabilities Services Kim Waters, who reviewed a recent meeting of the County Social Services Board (CSS), the governing body of the mental health and disabilities services region of which Allamakee County is a member. She said that much of the discussion involved managed care and the region's proposed crisis stabilization and sub-acute care facility in Waterloo. While CSS will continue to move forward with its plans for a crisis stabilization facility, managed care is also on the horizon.
Supervisor Dennis Koenig, who represents Allamakee County on the CSS Board, said that CSS has been out front on many issues and that the region is ultimately helping people in need of services. With regard to managed care, Koenig said that he would not like to see CSS move in that direction because as companies get "bought up by corporate America," services fall away while prices continue to rise.

In other business, the Board signed a proclamation declaring April to be Sexual Assault Awareness Month and a memorandum of understanding regarding the Iowa Partnerships for Success grant to reduce underage drinking. The Board approved the contracts and bonds for several Secondary Roads projects and the detour route for the Dairy Days parade in Waukon June 1. The Board also set Monday, May 18 at 9:30 a.m. as the date and time for bid letting for a bridge deck replacement project on Bethel Road north of Cherry Valley Drive.