May 25, 2025
VIROQUA, Wis. – A proposal to allow the use of ATVs and UTVs on Main Street did not pass the Public Safety Committee, but the proposal will be sent to the full City Council for consideration in the near future. The committee had asked the city attorney to draft an amendment to a city ordinance that already allows the use of ATVs and UTVs on all city streets, including State Highway 56 where there is a designated speed of less than 35 M.P.H., but the ordinance specifically states they are not allowed to operate on Main Street.
The committee discussed the proposal to change that ordinance to allow operation on Main Street, and a draft amendment was brought back to the committee on May 20. A motion to delay review of the amendment until October did not pass the committee because of a lack of a second, but Alderperson Seth McClurg requested the proposal be sent on to the full City Council for their consideration, without a recommendation from the Public Safety Committee.
Alderperson Steve Willis raised a concern that if the change were implemented what would happen with traffic where State Highway 14 turns into four lanes at both ends of town. Willis asked how ATVs/UTVs would make left turns in the four lane areas. Police Chief Rick Niedfledt said they would use the center “twiddle” turn lane like all other traffic.
“That just seems downright scary,” said Willis.
Alderperson Kristal Welter said she would like to see the decision delayed at least a year while people get used to the new traffic patterns through town that recently were changed before ATvs/UTVs are added to the mix.
“I guess my whole thing is, I can ride my bike on (Highway) 14 but I don’t do it,” said Willis. “But I legally can, but I don’t do it because it’s probably not safe. And that’s my whole point with this. It’s like you can literally go on any other street in town, maybe just stay off of 14. That’s the way I feel.”
Mayor Justin Running said the issue came back because there were some businesses along Main Street that were not able to have traffic from ATVs/UTVs at their business like other businesses in town.
“The reason this came back was the constituent had called me and I told him they needed to call John (Thompson), as the Chairman of Public Safety, and talk to him about it,” said Running. “That’s why it came back here. And I think Rick (Niedfeldt) shared before, I don’t care one way or another, but there’s been a few business owners that have asked that we reconsider it because they’re (ATVs/UTVs) not able to access their property. Originally, Croel Ready Mix had agreed to let them come through their parking lot to get to Gassers and Culvers and O’Reilly’s and those places. And what I’d heard is that they changed that last winter. They didn’t want them coming through (Croel Ready Mix) because with the trucks, those big trucks have to watch in their own parking lot for these things, and whatever. So that’s why it was back.”
“I wasn’t aware that that was closed down, but I do find it odd that Croel doesn’t want ATVs and UTVs to be, maybe be in danger of being run over by their trucks but we’re going to put these things on 14,” said WIllis. “I just to me, it seems bizarre.”
“I think it was just their own private property,” said Running. “I would assume, an insurance agent at some point maybe got involved and said, well, you shouldn’t have them driving on your property. But again I’ve heard from Kale (Park and Rec Director) and different ideas about maybe if the Park and Rec ever got a UTV to water flowers, and if we can’t allow them on Main Street, I think that we can’t allow ours on Main Street either. So it’s just food for thought, right? Like, if we’re going to want to do that, we should probably consider this. If we’re not going to ever want to do that, then it’s fine the way it is. Because you can get almost everywhere, right? Like there are a few businesses that you can’t access and there are businesses that I think would appreciate the opportunity to have people access them. But you know, it’s I think we have the benefit here in Viroqua, being the last community like us to do these things. So there is a lot of examples out there where they’re allowed on four lane roads, on state highways that are busy communities. Sparta, Tomah, Reedsburg, Prairie du Chien, Black River Falls, not to say that just because all those communities are doing we should, but I think a lot of the safety concerns. But as far as like 14 going north or south out of town, people have that same issue with Highway 56. I drive out 56 you get to the where the speed limit changes, and you have to turn around and drive back into town. You can’t continue on to another road. And I don’t see a lot of people doing that, other than farmers and people who have the exemption where they can drive it on the highway. There’s UTVs on the highway all the time around here, but it’s that farming exemption. So that’s why again, I think this is here because there was businesses and constituents that would like it explored further.”
McClurg made a motion to postpone review of the ordinance until October 1, 2025 and that motion did not receive a second. McClurg then made a request to move the issue onto the full council as is allowed under council rules. The proposed amendment will be brought to the council at a future meeting.
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