Jackson County committee holds ordinance on all-terrain vehicles for language revisions

The Jackson County Anti-Crime Committee moved to hold Ordinance 5983, a measure addressing all-terrain-vehicle rules in Jackson County Code section 5269, after members said the ordinance’s language needed refinement.

The chair of the Anti-Crime Committee read the ordinance into the record as “Ordinance 5983 … related to the subject of all terrain vehicles.” Committee members said earlier drafting work with staff and referenced participants had not yet produced final language. Legislator Sean Smith said staff and others were still working on “some minor tweaks” and recommended a hold because the bill’s sponsor was not present to speak for it: “I… guess I would have to recommend a hold since he's not here to speak on his own behalf.”

Legislator Sean Smith formally moved to hold the ordinance; Legislator Jeanne Lauer seconded the motion. The chair announced, “We have a motion to hold from Legislator Smith and a second from Legislator Lauer.” No roll-call vote or recorded tally appears in the committee record; the committee adjourned at 1:33 p.m.

Committee discussion focused on narrowing the ordinance language so it would not inadvertently include vehicles that are properly on public roads or unintentionally apply to rural roads. The transcript records participants Mr. Abarca and a person identified as Whitney as being involved in drafting or review, and committee members asked whether the county counselor’s office was present for final wording checks.

No final substantive action or amendment to Ordinance 5983 was taken at the meeting; the item was held for further drafting and sponsor participation. The committee provided no schedule in the record for returning the item.

The Anti-Crime Committee handled one ordinance at the session and adjourned shortly after the motion to hold was made.