Dunn County ATV/UTV Assoc. proposing route through Elk Mound
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By LeAnn R. Ralph
ELK MOUND — The Dunn County ATV/UTV Association would like to have an all-terrain vehicle/utility task vehicle route through Elk Mound.
Eldora Deraad, representing the Dunn County ATV/UTV Association, spoke to the Elk Mound Village Board about a route through the village during the public comments portion of the March 6 meeting.
Deraad handed out a map to village board members indicating that the route could enter Elk Mound from the west on 530th Street and then head south on 890th to connect with already established routes south of County Road E.
The route north out of Elk Mound to the Town of Elk Mound could take county Highway H/Holly Avenue, she said.
Since Holly Avenue also is Highway H, Dunn County would be in control of the county highway, said Terry Stamm, village trustee.
According to Wisconsin law, villages have jurisdiction over county highways if the speed limit is 35 miles per hour, Deraad said.
When asked if the Town of Elk Mound had approved a route yet for the ATVs/UTVs, Deraad said she would soon be making a presentation to the town board but the town board was waiting to see what the village decided in order make the best connection with the village route.
ATV/UTV drivers do not need a license, but the state is “working on it,” Deraad said.
In addition, the state has a new law pending if someone lost his or her driver’s license because of driving while intoxicated, that person would not be allowed “to recreate with a motor,” which would include motorcycles and ATVs/UTVs, she said.
ATVs/UTVs can only travel at 35 mph and also cannot operate at night, Deraad noted.
In about 90 percent of Dunn County, the ATVs/UTVs can only operate from April 1 to December 1, she said, adding the ATV/UTV Association would pay for the signage on the route through Elk Mound.
Steven Abraham, village president, directed the issue of recommending an ATV/UTV route through the village to the public safety committee.
Deraad said she would be willing to attend the public safety committee meeting to provide more information to committee members.
Deborah Creaser-Kipp, village trustee, is the chair of the public safety committee but was absent from the meeting, so a public safety committee meeting could not be scheduled while Deraad was at the village board meeting.
Elk Mound Police Chief Chad Weinberger suggested he meet with community stakeholders, Deraad and other members of the Dunn County AT/UTV Association to determine the best route through the village before going to the public safety committee.
Other business
In other business, the Elk Mound Village Board approved a 2018 budget amendment in the amount of $40,000 for the Skid-steer purchase. The village board had previously approved the purchase and a loan for the purchase but had not yet amended the 2018 budget to account for the purchase.