Dear Editor;

The Daniels Town Board is considering some residents' request to allow ATVs on town roads. Personally, I would rather that not be allowed.

ATVers often ignore laws and restrictions pertaining to their operation, and often are inconsiderate of private property. ATVs are noisy and recreational use of town roads is bound to disrupt the peace and quiet of our rural life, especially on the weekends when the county is flooded with cabin owners and guests seeking thrills.

I don't want ATVs on the roads. But, I recognize the dilemma that ATVers face in getting from homes or cabins to the trails they legitimately use. So, I am not against consideration of a town ordinance that would permit ATV use of town roads under strict conditions.

The first concern is safety. Because of their size, ATVs are more difficult to see than a car or pickup, and safety demands that they travel at much slower speeds. Thus, a car or pickup traveling at legal speed will normally come up quickly on an ATV traveling in the same direction. If they happen to be on a hilly road, an accident could easily happen. The ATV and whoever is on it will always lose.

    For safety's sake, therefore, I would require that any ATV operating on town roads must have one of those orange safety flags flying high, require that they have a low maximum speed limit, and no operator below the legal driving age for driving cars should be allowed on the road unless in the company of an adult licensee.

The second concern is road maintenance and property damage. ATVs could tear up road shoulders requiring the town a greater expense for road maintenance. And, ATVers seeking thrills are certain to go off the road onto private property. Some will argue that the road right-of-way is theirs to use as they see fit (legally, that's not so). Others simply won't give a hoot that they are damaging private property, ditches, and culverts.

The third concern is nuisance. Last summer, a local weekend resident's guests decided that our road would make a nice race-way. Two ATVers raced back and forth just for the fun of it. It was loud, obnoxious, and illegal. But, I suspect that if Daniels allows ATVers on town roads, we'll see a lot of that unless it is prohibited by ordinance and enforced.

    The Daniels Town Board meeting on June 10 was packed with ATV advocates who pressed for a quick decision. The town board wisely held off. It should ask for residents' views again at its July and August meetings, consult with the Burnett County Sheriff and Burnett Corporate Counsel, and then make a carefully-considered decision.

There are probably some economic benefits to Burnett County from allowing ATVs on town roads. But the Daniels Town Board's first responsibility is to the welfare of its permanent residents.

Boyd Sutton

Siren