Sawyer County committee debates opening ATV/UTV routes, awaits response from LCO

Sawyer County Public Works Committee members discussed possible action on opening ATV and UTV routes on county roads and whether to await a decision by Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) after an attorney general review.

The discussion took place during the committees regular meeting; committee members said LCO will address the issue at a meeting next Tuesday and the committee intends to revisit the item at its October meeting to consider next steps.

Why it matters: opening county roads to ATVs and UTVs affects access between businesses, county commerce and travel on and near the reservation, and could require coordination or agreement with LCO.

Public comment and committee remarks emphasized two competing concerns: members who want to coordinate with LCO and wait for the attorney generals guidance, and members who said waiting risks another year with printed maps that contain incorrect routes. In public comment, Tim Davison, speaking for the Sawyer County Snowmobile Alliance, urged expanding routes countywide to improve access between businesses and to boost commerce: "I just I think it'd be very beneficial to law enforcement. I think it'd be beneficial to everybody in the county to take our time and plan this out and get all roads opened up so we can have better commerce throughout the county."

Committee members reported continuing communications with LCO. One committee member said he had a meeting and had reached out again this week; the attorney generals office is scheduled to discuss the matter next Tuesday. After that, the committees stated preference was to see the attorney generals findings before taking final action. However, another member said the committee had waited 18 months for progress and warned that delaying could leave county maps incorrect when the county prints new maps next month at an estimated cost of about $20,000.

A proposal discussed during the meeting would remove an LCO approval requirement and leave opening county roads to county authority alone; that change has not been adopted and would require further review. Committee members also discussed contingency steps if LCO does not act: placing the item on the full county board agenda as early as the next Thursday meeting was suggested so the board could consider action if LCO does not move.

Committee members noted reservation-specific rules already limit nighttime riding on reservation roads; one committee speaker said a reservation resolution limits riding between midnight and 6 a.m., and that the county should be aware of such time limits when voting on routes.

No formal motion or vote on ATV/UTV route openings was taken during the meeting. Committee members agreed to place the item on an October agenda and to await the attorney generals review before committing to a final action.

Looking ahead, committee members said they will track the attorney generals guidance, and the committee intends to return to this topic at its October meeting and may place a resolution on the full county board agenda if LCO does not act.