VIROQUA, Wis. – The Viroqua City Council 5-3 to reject a proposal to amend a city ATV/UTV ordinance that would allow the use of the recreational vehicles on Main Street. The city previously approved an ordinance that allowed the use of the vehicles on all city streets, but specifically barred their use on Main Street. The proposed amendment would have eliminated the provision keeping them off Main Street.
The amendment came to the council without the approval of the Public Safety Committee where it was first introduced, but the proposed amendment moved onto the council for consideration because of a provision that allows any council member to ask for an issue to be placed on the council agenda. Alderperson Seth McClurg asked that the issue be sent to council after his motion to approve the amendment failed to get a second at the Public Safety Committee earlier this month.
City Administrator Nate Torres explained that the issue was brought forward by Mayor Justin Running and some on the council who had gotten feedback from some businesses along Main Street, including Gasser’s bar, that ATVs and UTVs were no longer able to get to their property because a route previous used was no longer available. McClurg explained that Croell Redi-Mix is no longer allowing the vehicles to use their property to cross Main Street and access those businesses.
“There had been access allowed through the backside of Croell concrete, but then they decided they did not want to continue that access for concern of the safety of the Trucks,” said McClurg. “And this initially brought up the idea of amending the ordinance.”
Alderperson Steve Willis said he was opposed to the amendment for a couple of reasons, one was that even with the change the vehicles would not be able to access all businesses.
“Partly why I’m not in favor of this is because we can only allow it within our jurisdiction on Main (Street),” said Willis. “Which is basically the North Side Kwik Trip to Rusk, and like 14 (State Highway 14). So that leaves this big ambiguity of, we’d have signs that say you can’t go further. So you wouldn’t be able to go to the VFW directly. You’d have to go through the neighborhood, right? You couldn’t get to the golf course. You couldn’t get to J (County Highway J) because once it hits four lanes. It stops. It’s kind of abrupt. So there’s still businesses within our community that you wouldn’t be able to hit even if we allowed it.”
Willis said he also feels the vehicles are unsafe in a four lane or divided highway situation.
“To me on the north side of town, where it does become two lanes I just feel like it’s already challenging enough in an automobile where you’re seen,” said Willis. “Currently, we don’t have a stop at the wall Walmart area. But then it goes from one lane to two and according to the law, you are supposed to stay on the absolute right side of the road, but if you’re going to turn into McDonald’s up the way, its just to me, it seems unsafe.”
Alderperson Kristal Welter said with all the changes to the downtown traffic, it is not a good time to add UTVs to the mix.
“It doesn’t make sense,” said Welter. “And I said then, when you mentioned that Croell is worried about their trucks interacting with ATVs and UTVs, and we’re going to put them on Main Street?So I’m just, I’m concerned about the safety on Main Street right now, and that change, maybe it’ll get better and people will get much more acclimated, that could be down the road, but not right now.”
Police Chief Rick Niedfeldt said he will support the ordinance whatever the council decides but did not have an opinion on the issue either way.
“I’ll support it,” said Niedfeldt. “I’m just here for facts and numbers. So, in a nutshell I could see where the businesses would like to see it. Because from the fairgrounds all the way to McDonald’s, is the ones that are being affected. Those are the ones I could see the argument. But I could see both ways, just whatever the law or whatever you guys change for the ordinance.”
McClurg and others pointed out that many surrounding communites allow UTVs on their Main Street, including that that are State Highways.
“Yes, but we make the decision for our town,” said Willis.
Alderperson Todd Spaeth said he feels the UTVs are safer than other vehicles.
“I’ve said it before we passed the ordinance I think they are safer than a vehicle,” said Spaeth. “There’s less blind spots. You can stop quicker, react quicker. I guess the issue was others being able to see him. Maybe that’s an issue. I don’t know. I’ve never had a problem.”
“Why are we even putting them on the same street as a huge semi?” asked Willis. “That’s why I don’t understand, right? We allow them on every other street in town.”
“I think it was brought up because of the businesses to Justin and maybe Seth,” said Spaeth. “But I know people have been approached by the businesses, and that’s kind of why this all got started.”
“I haven’t heard from any of them,” said Willis. “I don’t know if you have. I haven’t heard from, no one’s been in the room saying they’re for it.”
Alderperson Andrew Bergum made a motion to deny the amendment and the council voted 5-3 with Bergum to deny the amendment.
Alderpersons Bergum, Hubbard, Hood, Welter and Willis voted to deny the amendment. Alderpersons McClurg, Spaeth and Kirking voted against the motion to deny the amendment.
Alderperson John Thompson was absent from the meeting.
Add comment