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Sheriff asks committee to pursue ordinance after crashes involving unlit buggies; committee requests legal guidance
Summary
Sheriff Joe Konrath reported rising complaints and accidents involving animal-drawn vehicles and asked the committee to sponsor a county ordinance; committee members recommended consulting Corporation Counsel and the Amish community spoke about lighting, manure and road maintenance donations.
Sheriff Joe Konrath told the Marquette County Judicial & Public Safety Committee on Oct. 7 that complaints and accidents involving animal-drawn vehicles have increased and asked the committee to sponsor an Animal Drawn Vehicles ordinance similar to one adopted in St. Croix County.
Konrath said many Amish groups in the county have complied with state Act 228 lighting requirements, but an older sect in the Westfield and Oxford area does not use lighting or slow-moving-vehicle signage. He asked the committee to consider a county ordinance to address the safety gap; the committee recommended the sheriff consult Corporation Counsel for guidance.
Lt. Aaron Williams, identified as the county’s Emergency Management liaison to the Amish community, confirmed outreach efforts and said meetings and talks with area bishops had been considered. Members of the Amish community and other citizens spoke to the committee, raising concerns that also included manure on roads and sole protection; attendees noted they contribute funds to Buffalo Township to help with road maintenance.
No ordinance text was proposed or voted on at the meeting; the committee’s recorded action was to direct the sheriff to seek legal guidance. If the sheriff pursues a formal ordinance, it would return to the committee for drafting and a vote.
