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Dane County commission reviews 31 public comments on Chapter 71 ice ordinance, seeks first‑responder input before drafting changes
Summary
The Dane County Land and Water Resources Commission heard a staff summary of 31 public comments on Chapter 71—Dane County’s ice and inland waters ordinance—and asked staff to seek more input from first responders and municipal officials before asking corporation counsel to draft proposed language changes.
Members of the Dane County Land and Water Resources Commission reviewed public feedback on Chapter 71, the county ordinance governing use of vehicles on ice and inland waters, and discussed next steps but took no formal action to change the ordinance.
A staff summary presented to the commission said the county received 31 comments from residents, several municipalities and one out-of-county recreation organization. Themes included differing views on existing weight and flotation requirements, whether to allow utility task vehicles (UTVs) in addition to all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), limits on riders, speed and distance-from-shore requirements, and consideration of changing climate patterns that shorten freeze periods.
The commission also received written input from enforcement agencies. Dane County Marine and Trail Enforcement and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) staff recommended limiting allowed vehicles to those registered through the Wisconsin DNR, removing some weight and flotation inspection requirements for implementation simplicity, and requiring personal flotation devices for users of vehicles on ice. The enforcement comments also urged consistency in how weight limits apply across Dane County lakes.
Commission members asked staff to seek further comment from first responders and municipal agencies before advancing proposed ordinance language. Commissioners suggested contacting the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, local fire and EMS crews, and the City of Madison for their operational perspective on rescues and enforcement. Commissioners and staff also discussed whether mobility devices such as all‑terrain wheelchairs and newer e‑bikes should be explicitly addressed in any updated language.
No formal motion to adopt ordinance language was recorded during the meeting. Commissioners discussed a possible recommendation that the county work with corporation counsel and marine/trail enforcement to draft proposed updates; they emphasized that staff should gather additional input from public safety agencies before that drafting step.
The commission scheduled additional outreach and said the topic will return to a future agenda when staff report back with first-responder and municipal comments.
