New UTV ordinance is approved by the Winneshiek County Board

UTV enthusiasts will be able to ride their vehicles on many Winneshiek County roads in the future.

Winneshiek County Supervisors on Monday read a proposed UTV ordinance, then waived further readings and voted 3-2 to approve the ordinance. 

Local ATV/UTV enthusiasts had worked with county officials to get the ordinance passed.  They had talked with other nearby counties which have similar ordinances, as well as with people who could speak about the economic impact of tourism by UTV riders.

The new ordinance will allow UTV riding on county gravel roads with 200 or fewer drivers per day, as measured by the Iowa Department of Transportation.  17 county roads with more than 200 vehicles a day will not be included in the list of allowable roads.  UTV owners would need to be insured under a separate policy once they leave their premise.

Supervisors John Beard and Dean Thompson voted against the ordinance.  Beard did not give his reasons, but Thompson said he is worried allowing UTVs on the county roads "negatively affects the safety of rural roads."