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Onalaska staff to survey residents before deciding on ATV/UTV road access
Summary
City staff have been vetting ordinances and consulted the DNR; they plan to include a resident survey with the late-June water bill to gather preferences before making a recommendation on opening city roads to ATVs/UTVs.
City staff told the Onalaska Common Council on May 12 that they are developing a resident survey to inform whether the city should allow ATVs and UTVs on local streets, and that no formal recommendation will be made until resident input is collected.
City Administrator Rick Niemeyer, summarizing work by a staff task group, said staff have reviewed ordinances from other municipalities and recently spoke with a Department of Natural Resources warden about state rules and implementation. Niemeyer said the work group is drafting survey questions that will ask residents not just whether they want ATV/UTV access but whether they favor licensing, route restrictions and other specifics.
"So that's kind of where we're at," Niemeyer said, adding that the intent is to include the survey with the next water bill. Finance staff said the bill is slated to be mailed around June 29 so residents would receive it in early July.
Members of the public and local business owners spoke to council during public input. Miranda Peterson, introduced herself as president of the Coulee Cruisers ATV/UTV Club, urged the city to adopt an ordinance under Wisconsin Stat. 23.33 permitting ATVs/UTVs on roads with posted limits of 35 mph or less and cited a state economic-impact report and a recent increase in allowable vehicle weight. "We're welcoming new opportunities for our local businesses to thrive," she said. Paul Sobkowiak, representing the Coulee Golf Bowl, told the council opening roads could attract riders who patronize local restaurants and entertainment businesses. Gary Holcomb, a club member and property owner, said opening roads would ease winter access and support club-led rides that benefit local businesses.
Niemeyer said the survey will be used to inform next steps and that the work group will analyze results and return to council with options. "If this were to happen, would you want licensing? How much?" he said, describing the types of clarifying questions staff are drafting.
Council did not take formal action to change ordinances at the meeting. Staff signaled a multi-step process: draft survey questions, mail with utility billing in late June/early July, analyze resident responses, and then present recommended options to the council.
