Winneshiek County ATV/UTV ordinance will be introduced to the County Board Monday morning

A crowd of over 100 people jammed into the Danan Lansing Building at the Fairgrounds Thursday night to learn more about a proposed ATV/UTV ordinance for Winneshiek County.

41 counties in Iowa already have such an ordinance.  Organizers Adam Thornton and Jeremy Bjerke think Winneshiek County ought to be the 42nd county.

The proposed ordinance that they will introduce to county supervisors Monday calls for allowing ATVs/UTVs to operate all year on gravel roads, from sunrise to sunset.  Operators would have to pay a license fee for their vehicles.  The ATVs and UTVs would be allowed to travel paved county roads just in order to reach other gravel roads.  All operators would have to have a driver's license.

Jeremy Bjerke told the audience Winneshiek County communities are missing out on a lot of business by not having such an ordinance.  A University of Wisconsin study of three southwest Wisconsin counties found an economic impact of over $15 million a year from their ordinances.

Thornton said a petition in support of such an ordinance in Winneshiek County already has almost 1,500 signatures in a 30 day period.  He said such an ordinance would include "reasonable, understandable, practical" regulations.

Audience members also spoke in favor of such an ordinance, with several Allamakee County residents saying their ordinance has been a big success.  Decorah City Administrator Chad Bird said the City of Decorah might also consider such an ordinance.

Monday's discussion of the proposed ATV/UTV ordinance would be held in the Courthouse Annex at 11:00 a.m., although it might be moved if a large crowd attends.