Expanded Minocqua ATV route gains final board approval

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7/24/2012 6:44:00 AM
Expanded Minocqua ATV route gains final board approval
New route will remain closed for use until ATV club posts signs

By: Joe VanDeLaarschot - Reporter

The Minocqua Town Board gave final approval last week to expanding ATV routes within town borders.

The board had held lengthy discussions on the controversial issue during at least three previous meetings so the second and final reading Tuesday night of the amended ordinance detailed the additional routes and the board’s final vote took just a few minutes.

The new routes will not be open for use until the Lakeland ATV Club completes posting the necessary signs.

The new portions of the route given final approval Tuesday are:

• An extension of about eight miles of Manhardt Road northeast to Camp Nine Road.
• An extension of about three miles on Camp Nine Road east to Cedar Falls Drive.
• An extension of about three miles from Cedar Falls Drive south to Cedar Falls Road.
• An extension of about six miles on Cedar Falls Road southwest to the town of Minocqua from the boundary with the town of Little Rice.

The route approval sunsets each year, meaning the ATV club must seek annual approval. That gives the town the option of not re-opening the routes if there are problems or concerns.

The ATV club must work with the town on deciding on what type of signs will be posted and where they will be placed.

At an earlier town meeting the ATV club agreed to help Minocqua Winter Park officials in putting up gates at Lake Marie and Manhardt Road so ATVs would not be driven over some of the park’s cross country ski trails.

The club also agreed to work with Winter Park officials in displaying signs near the nature conservancy area that will inform riders of the sensitive area (Winter Park Pines Conservancy Area) being located there and instructing them to stay on the trail.

In a final vote, supervisors John Thompson and Sue Heil, in addition to town chairman Mark Hartzheim, voted in favor of the additional ATV routes. Supervisor Bryan Jennings was the lone no vote. Supervisor Billy Fried was absent from Tuesday’s meeting but had previously voted in favor of the proposal.