Supervisors say no to ATVs on county roads

BY BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

Zach Duncan asked, and the Henry County Board of Supervisors answered.

During their March 22 meeting, Duncan asked the supervisors if they would consider allowing travel of all-terrain vehicles on county gravel roads if he presented a petition in support of it.

At their meeting Thursday, supervisors said, by consensus, that they were going to follow Iowa Code on the topic. That means no ATV travel on gravel roads unless certain conditions are met.

?I haven?t heard any support for it and think we should follow the Code of Iowa,? Supervisor Greg Moeller said. Moeller said he received three phone calls ? all in opposition to allowing such travel.

Supervisor Chairman Gary See said such an ordinance would be difficult to write. ?I will go with the Code of Iowa as there isn?t sufficient support to continue discussion on it.?

Marc Lindeen, supervisor co-chairman, made it unanimous, saying, ?I would prefer to leave it the way it is.?

The supervisors said they received a total of five phone calls and one visit from residents opposing ATV travel on gravel roads and no phone calls or visits supporting it.

Board members did not comment on what they would do if a petition was presented requesting the use of ATVs on gravel roads.

Iowa Code section 321.23A spells out exceptions for usage of ATVs on gravel roads and highways. The section allows the following exceptions for travel on roads.

? The operation is between sunrise and sunset and is incidental to the vehicle?s use for agricultural purposes.

? The operation is incidental to the vehicle?s use for the purpose of surveying by a licensed engineer or land surveyor.

? The all-terrain vehicle is operated by an employee or agent of a political subdivision or public utility for the purpose of construction or maintenance on or adjacent to the highway.

? The all-terrain vehicle is operated for the purpose of mowing, installing approved trail signs, or providing maintenance on a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle trail designated by the department of natural resources.

Iowa Code does allow an all-terrain vehicle that is owned by the owner of land adjacent to a highway, other than an interstate road, may be operated by the owner of the all-terrain vehicle, or by a member of the owner?s family, on the portion of the highway right-of-way that is between the shoulder of the roadway, or at least five feet from the edge of the roadway and the owner?s property line.

When making his request, Duncan said a number of neighboring counties were considering allowing all-terrain vehicles on county roads, and that Van Buren County had approved ATV use on county roads.

It was a light agenda for the supervisors Thursday. The board also signed a proclamation declaring April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, and approved a liquor license for Jet Stop Salem Stub.

Board members meet again in regular session on Tuesday, April 5, at 9 a.m., in the Henry County Courthouse.