Trustee seeks to expand ATV/UTV routes to 35‑mph county and state roads; trustees ask for map and public vetting

Trustee Ron Gant asked the Village of Salem Lakes board to consider expanding the village’s ATV/UTV ordinance to allow operation on county and state roads that have posted speed limits of 35 miles per hour or less, and trustees asked staff to prepare a route map and public outreach materials before any ordinance change.

Gant said the village’s current ordinance limits ATV/UTV operation to 25 mph and that neighboring municipalities such as Twin Lakes and Randall have adopted broader allowances. He said a local donor would pay for signage and that the expansion would be selective, limited to stretches posted at 35 mph or lower.

Village legal counsel outlined a statutory constraint: while municipalities may extend ATV/UTV operations onto certain highways, designation of state trunk or connecting highways requires Wisconsin Department of Transportation approval. Trustees asked for a visual map showing current permitted routes and the additional county/state segments Gant proposed so the board and public can evaluate safety and traffic interaction. One trustee suggested an advisory community vote or broader public outreach because the change would be “a huge change,” and members discussed the practicality of route endpoints where speed limits change.

No ordinance change was adopted at the meeting; trustees directed staff to produce a map and consider posting it for public comment and to return with more detailed recommendations.

Ending: Trustees asked staff and Trustee Gant to provide a marked map and options for public engagement; counsel cautioned about statutory requirements for state trunk highways and limits on the use of referendums for non‑fiscal matters.