Supervisors approve permit for ATV ride, discuss management arrangement for Upper Iowa River

by Bob Beach

During its regular meeting Monday, June 29, the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors approved a permit application from Harpers Ferry Boosters, Inc. to host an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) ride that will include the use of both private land and sections of Allamakee County roads.
Dennis Blocker of the Allamakee Off-Road Association said that the $500 permit fee that the Harpers Ferry Boosters agreed to pay seems like a lot of money for a one-day ride and encouraged the Board to move towards allowing ATV use on all County roads. Chairman Larry Schellhammer responded that the $500 permit fee only covers the County’s cost for additional insurance for the ride, adding that no one wants to expose the County to additional liability by making ATV use legal on County roads but the problem is that the machines themselves are labeled by their manufacturers as “for off-road use only.”
Blocker presented the Board with an ordinance adopted by Buchanan County which allows ATV use on County roads, saying that with the passage of the ordinance, “they’re off the hook” with regard to liability issues. He added that he wishes the State would pass a law to allow ATVs on public roads and that by not doing so, the State is missing out on “millions of dollars” in tourist revenues currently being enjoyed by Minnesota and Wisconsin, where ATV use is allowed on public roads.
Winneshiek County Supervisor John Beard, who was in attendance for another agenda item, told the Board that while Winneshiek County had given permission for an ATV ride to utilize its County roads, after receiving input from law enforcement, public safety officials and recommendations from ATV manufacturers, the Board will not be permitting any future rides.
Chairman Schellhammer said that while the Board is “leaning towards” allowing ATV use on County roads, the Sheriff, County Attorney and County Engineer are all “leaning away from it,” adding that “We have more work to do before we can go countywide.”
Winneshiek County Supervisor Beard later addressed the Board about forming a Water Management Authority for the Upper Iowa River. He said that based on weather patterns over the last several years, northeast Iowa can expect to be dealing with flooding more frequently. He suggested that Allamakee, Winneshiek and Howard Counties, along with area towns and water conservation districts, join to form a 28E organization to address flood mitigation and water quality issues, which would create eligibility for federal money for flood mitigation projects. Supervisor Dan Byrnes said that he would support Beard’s effort and encouraged him to seek support from the entire Upper Iowa River Watershed, which includes portions of Minnesota. Chairman Schellhammer and Supervisor Dennis Koenig also expressed support for the formation of the organization. Beard said that he would continue to meet with other entities within the watershed with hopes to gather for a meeting in the future.
The Board also met with Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick, who addressed the Board regarding safety and security issues at the courthouse. In light of a recent fall on the steps at the north end of the courthouse, Mellick suggested that the north parking lot be closed to the public and used for employee parking only to encourage courthouse visitors to use the main entrance on the east side of the courthouse and the handicap-accessible south entrance. Mellick also suggested removing the maple tree on the southeast corner of the building, both because it is unsafe and to make way for a handicap-accessible walkway between the front of the courthouse and the south entrance.
During public comment time, Ric Zarwell of Lansing warned the Board of the danger presented by increasing train traffic through New Albin and Lansing, calling the long trains filled with petroleum products “rail bombs." He encouraged the Board to attend a public safety meeting August 26 to learn more about the issue.
In other business, the Board met with Coordinator of Disabilities Services Kim Waters, who updated the Board on a recent meeting of the County Social Services Board. The Board also passed a resolution for the destruction of noxious weeds and approved disabled veterans homestead tax credits, some of which had been previously denied under a State law that has since been revised to allow the credits.