NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 5, 2016
MEDIA CONTACT: Vic Lund, Traffic Engineer
218-625-3873
ATV draft ordinance ready for review, public hearing set
ATV operators could legally drive their all-terrain vehicles on St. Louis County Roads by Memorial Day Weekend, if the County Board approves a new proposed ordinance as drafted. St. Louis County Commissioners today scheduled a public hearing on the proposed ATV ordinance for Tuesday, May 24, at 9:45 a.m. The hearing will take place during the County Board meeting, which will be held in the Hibbing City Council Chambers, 401 East 21st Street, Hibbing.
The draft of the proposed St. Louis County ATV Ordinance is posted
on the County website at stlouiscountymn.gov/atv.
Among the key points, the draft ordinance:
- Provides for ATV operation on all roads outside cities.
- Provides for a permit process for county roads within city limits. In these instances, the county will confer with the city.
- Provides for a permit process for any county roads on an as-needed basis. This will be issue driven and will be a collaborative process with the ATV clubs.
- Does not include conditions for speed, headlights, helmets required under the age of 18 and unsafe operation, because they are already covered by state statute and rules.
- Provides a mechanism for the County Board to close or restrict roads if needed.
- Provides a mechanism for the Public Works Director to close roads quickly in the event of damage or safety issues. These actions are subsequently reviewable by the County Board.
- Provides for an Official All-Terrain Vehicle Map that will be posted on the county website. This will be the document that road users and enforcement refer to. It will be updated as needed through action of the Executive ATV Permit Committee or as a result of County Board action.
Recent changes to state law give counties the authority to regulate the use of ATVs on county roads. Last fall, the County Board voted that an ATV usage policy is needed, recognizing that there are many ATV trails within the County that would require use of County Roads to travel from one trail to the next.
The public is encouraged to provide feedback on the draft ordinance. Anyone unable to attend the public hearing may submit comments by email at atv@stlouiscountymn.gov; or my mail to: ATV Ordinance, c/o St. Louis County Public Works, 4787 Midway Road, Duluth, MN 55811.
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