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Tazewell board refers Abbs Valley ATV route request to RDA after safety, legal concerns

Tazewell County Board of Supervisors · January 13, 2026

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Summary

Spearhead Trails sought county approval to allow ATV travel on Abbs Valley Road to Lake Wheaton, but staff measurement showed the proposed route exceeds the five‑mile trailhead limit; supervisors cited safety concerns and voted to send the proposal to the RDA and to meet with Spearhead to pursue easements and safer off‑road options.

Spearhead Trails requested permission to allow ATV travel from Abbs Valley Elementary to Lake Wheaton along a mix of roads (Abbs Valley Road, Goss Road, Mudfork Road, Healing Springs Road). County staff reported a field measurement that placed the route at about 9.6 miles to the nearest trailhead, exceeding the five‑mile radius allowed by code for roadway travel segments. Multiple supervisors voiced safety concerns about curvy, heavily‑traveled two‑lane roads and the practical difficulty of obtaining easements where needed.

Board members discussed the organization's prior efforts to secure easements to move riders off traveled roads and agreed the county should seek a recommendation from the regional RDA (Spearhead Trails' oversight body) before acting. The board passed a motion to refer the Abbs Valley request to the RDA, direct staff to meet with Spearhead leadership about easement options, and to follow up with a public hearing process if recommended.

Why it matters: Supervisors highlighted public‑safety tradeoffs when trail networks use narrow rural roads and emphasized that legal compliance with the 5‑mile rule and citizen input will guide any future approvals.