Manitowoc County will be taking more time before deciding on UTVs and ATVs on county roads.
The County Board voted 21-4 to send an ordinance allowing ATVs and UTVs on county highways back to committee, which is not allowed right now.
It includes rules that would require the vehicle to be treated like a regular car and require drivers to have proof of registration and proof of insurance.
During public comments, residents said they supported the ordinance but had concerns about a couple of regulations.
Town of Eaton Chair Rick Christel had questions about signals on the vehicles and how drivers will show proof of registration if a sheriff’s deputy stops them.
“I don’t feel it’s spelled out very well in the ordinance because most people’s UTVs and ATVs are on people’s homeowners’ policy,” he told the board. “And you don’t get a card for your UTV like you get for an automobile. So that somehow would need to be specified how they want to see the insurance.”
With those concerns, Christel also told the county board that he’s not sure if the Town of Eaton would adopt the ordinance as written.
Other residents raised concerns about rules in the ordinance that are not state statutes and why the county would charge fees for UTVs and ATVs.
Discussion on the county board began with 19th District Supervisor Andrew Schwarma, who favored the ordinance, saying residents should be able to make their own choices without government interference.
“I believe we have done just that,” he explained. “We have done our homework (on the ordinance). We have looked at the information, considered the safety concerns, listened to our constituents, and taken the time necessary to understand this issue. Our due diligence has been done. At some point, we have to stop studying an issue and actually make a decision. The people we represent have been asking for this for years. The support we’ve seen is overwhelming. They are telling us, they want the ability to use their ATVs and UTVs on county roads.”
14th District Supervisor Larry Bonde brought up several issues, including how ATV/UTV registration will work and how drinking-and-driving penalties differ for these vehicles and aren’t like a regular car.
“I don’t see this as a burning issue that we have to get this all done right away super-fast,” he stated. “I know it’s been talked about for a long time, but I see enough issues here that quite honestly, I would like to see it go back to committee, iron out some of the issues that have been raised, see if we can get something closer with townships, see if we can come up with some type of enforcement plan with our sheriff’s department. It seems like we are getting ahead.”
12th District Supervisor Kevin Behnke then moved to bring a previous draft of the ordinance to the floor and make that what Manitowoc County should follow.
After some discussion about whether the Highway Committee had enough time to review what the County Board of Supervisors was voting on, 23rd District Supervisor Douglas Klein moved to send the ATV/UTV ordinance back to committee.
13th District Supervisor Jon Neils felt it was the best option.
“Call me old-fashioned but the committee where it needs to be done is at the committee,” he remarked, “And this is the board to pass ordinances approved by committees and do the best work for our people.”
The ordinance could return to the full board as soon as next month if it passes through the Highway Committee again.
Some board members hoped the process would take more time before it was brought back for a full vote.
