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Resident urges county enforcement and route change after years of ATV dust, noise and safety complaints
Summary
A Crosby resident told the board that an ATV trail adjacent to his property has generated dust, speed and safety problems for more than two decades; he said county sign installation and limited enforcement have not solved the issue and asked the county to conduct a site visit and consider relocating the route or increased enforcement.
Pat McDermott of 15806 Miller Lake Road told the board during open forum that an ATV trail runs adjacent to his property and has caused years of dust, noise and safety problems.
McDermott described multiple incidents in which trail use brought “tailings” and dust onto his small lot and said riders repeatedly ignore stop signs and speed through the area. He told the board the ATV club that maintains the trail had placed signs years after the route began and that county and sheriff staff had inspected the area; he also said he previously spoke with land department staff (Tom Strack) and that the sheriff has responded to calls but recorded no violations during follow‑up patrols.
“My understanding is I got to have insurance to ride those trails… they go come out and off the trail which is probably maybe 10, 15 miles an hour… They hit that plowed road. They just gun it out of there. And veil of dust behind them,” McDermott said. He said dust from the trail “creates the dust” that forces him to clean his house daily with windows open, and that binder materials (a sodium chloride binder) were previously applied in one area to reduce dust.
County response and next steps
Board members told McDermott they had inspected the area with land department staff and that the sheriff had been out twice without documenting violations. The chair said the commissioners would “work with those clubs and see if we can't get something done,” and told McDermott, “We will carry the water for you.” Commissioners asked county staff and the sheriff’s office to perform a site visit and to discuss enforcement or route adjustments with the ATV club.
Provenance: public comment by Pat McDermott at transcript block beginning 377.53 and follow‑up comments from county staff and commissioners through block ~1003.
