By Kevin Boneske
Staff Writer
SUAMICO – The village’s ordinance allowing all-terrain/utility-terrain vehicles (ATVs/UTVs) on a number of roadways took effect Oct. 19, but there is already an effort underway to amend it.
The village’s Health and Safety Committee received a request from residents along Hidden Lake Lane to remove a portion of the road between St. Pat’s Drive and Wandering Court from the route map.
After the committee took no action at its Oct. 19 meeting, Village Administrator Alex Kaker said the matter will be discussed again Nov. 16 by the committee.
Kaker said the committee will consider a process to use to decide whether to no longer allow ATVs/UTVs in portions of the village.
The ordinance designates the following roadways where ATV/UTV use is not allowed:
• School Lane (County B) from Pittco Road to West Deerfield Avenue.
• Flintville Road (County M) from Autumn Wood Trail to Church Hill Drive.
• Reforestation Road from School Lane (County B) to Westview Road.
• Lakeview Drive (County J) from Lineville Road to Parkland Way.
• Lakeview Drive (County J) north of Transfer Trail.
• Lineville Road in its entirety.
• Pirates Cove in its entirety.
• Cardinal Lane from Honey Clover Court to Lineville Road.
• Carolina Cherry Drive in its entirety.
• Rockwell Lane in its entirety.
Ordinance opponents expressed concerns about safety and noise.
Those who backed the ordinance – which limits the speed limit of ATVs/UTVs in Suamico to 35 mph or the posted speed, whichever is slower – stated the vehicles are allowed on more than 41,000 miles of paved roads in Wisconsin.
The local ATV/UTV club in Suamico donated $4,000 for signage installation.
The request to restrict ATV/UTV use on a portion of Hidden Lake Lane is coming from some ordinance opponents, with nine homeowners on the road who back the request stating they are willing to sign a petition to that effect, if required.
Steve Jatczak, who lives on Hidden Lake Lane and organized a group of residents who opposed the ordinance, was also among the homeowners requesting the portion of roadway be removed from the ATV/UTV routes.