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Oneida County committee to gate Kelly Fire Lane, convert Gobler Lake Road to ATV/snowmobile trail
Summary
The Oneida County Forestry, Land & Recreation Committee approved gates and monitored public access for Kelly Fire Lane after concerns about failing culverts and vandalism, and voted to convert Gobler Lake Road to a snowmobile/ATV trail with signage and gates.
The Oneida County Forestry, Land & Recreation Committee voted April 14 to install gates and retain public access to Kelly Fire Lane while converting Gobler Lake Road into a snowmobile/ATV trail.
Chair Robert Almekinder and committee members approved a motion to install gates with the ability to close Kelly Fire Lane as needed, allow continued access for hunters and recreational users, and monitor conditions before deciding whether to add the road to the County Forest Road inventory. Forestry staff will return with a final recommendation in July.
Forestry staffer Nemec told the committee Kelly Fire Lane "is a really nice road; however, the biggest concern is right in the middle of the road are three large culverts that have been listed as failing at a replacement cost of $100,000 (rough guess)." Nemec said the road is important for forest-management operations, but the culvert condition and maintenance funding were central concerns in the discussion.
After an initial motion by Supervisor Ives to immediately adopt the road into the County Forest Road inventory was rescinded, Almekinder’s motion to install gates and keep the road open passed unanimously (second by Schultz). The committee also agreed the Little Rice ATV Club will perform limited grading twice this year to help maintain the route.
On Gobler Lake Road, committee members agreed the narrow, winding profile made the route better suited to trail use. The panel approved converting the road to a gated snowmobile/ATV trail (motion by Briggs; second by Ives; unanimous), and discussed gate locations, signage and potential ATV program funding.
Jim Kocher, president of the Little Rice ATV Club, offered limited maintenance assistance, and club member Larry Hammond raised concerns about vandalism and the cost of gate and culvert replacement.
The department will monitor conditions on both roads and report back to the committee when it brings a final recommendation for Kelly Fire Lane in July. The committee took no immediate action to add Kelly Fire Lane to the County Forest Road inventory at this meeting.
