Board of Supervisors discusses recent ATV/UTV ride that utilized County secondary roads

by Bob Beach

During its regular meeting Monday, September 21, the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met with Dean Anderson and several supporters of allowing ATV/UTV use on the County’s secondary roads. Anderson said that a recent ride sponsored by the Harpers Ferry Booster Club was very successful and well attended, with 104 registered riders and over 200 individuals participating, adding that despite very little advertising, the event attracted visitors from all over Iowa and Wisconsin. Anderson told the Board that since making an initial request that the County’s secondary roads be opened up for ATV/UTV use, supporters have done everything the Board requested, including organizing a ride along a specified route, establishing an ATV club and addressing the Board’s concerns about insurance.
Board Chairman Larry Schellhammer said that he had heard a lot of positive comments about the recent organized ride and that he has heard no complaints about such events. However, he said that he has heard some “push back” on opening all County roads to ATV/UTV use. He reported that he had consulted with the County’s insurance carrier and learned that the County’s current coverage would cover future rides at no extra charge. He added that while he would not support allowing ATV/UTV use on all County roads, he would support a trail system, suggesting a loop through the county.
Supervisor Dan Byrnes also said that he had heard nothing but positive things about the recent ride. He said that his primary concern about allowing ATV/UTV use on all County roads is safety, noting that ATV/UTV manufacturers themselves are concerned about their machines being used on roads, adding that 49% of deaths resulting from ATV/UTV accidents occur on roads. He said that he would not support allowing ATV/UTV use on County roads and suggested that the group investigate the possibility of establishing trails on State land within the County.
Supervisor Dennis Koenig said that he very much enjoyed riding along with Anderson on the recent organized ride and that he recognizes the economic development opportunities that would be created by allowing more ATV/UTV use in the County, but that an organized ride is different from opening up all the roads for ATV/UTV use. “People are going to be people,” he said. “You can’t hold their hands all the time.” Like Chairman Schellhammer, Koenig said that he would support use of County roads to connect a trail system.
Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick also said that he would not support a blanket policy of allowing ATV/UTV use on all County roads, but that he would be supportive of a trail system that could be patrolled for safety. He added, however, that whether the Board decides to adopt a blanket policy or a trail system, there will be incidents and the Sheriff’s Department is prepared to deal those incidents.
Chairman Schellhammer thanked Anderson and others who have put so much work into the issue, adding, “We’re moving this conversation in the right direction.”
The Board also met with Coordinator of Disabilities Services Kim Waters, who updated the Board on a recent County Social Services stakeholder meeting, during which the statewide Medicaid “modernization” was discussed at length. Waters said that four managed care organizations (MCOs) were awarded Medicaid contracts by the State. She said that beginning October 1, Medicaid recipients would need to enroll with one of the four private companies that would be taking over managing Medicaid services from the Department of Human Services. She said that many concerns about the new system had been raised at the meeting, notably that the MCOs will determine which services they will cover and have the option of eliminating services mid-year, which will make it difficult for Medicaid recipients to chose the MCO that’s right for them.
“Something’s got to give here,” said Supervisor Dennis Koenig. “The State saves $50 million but the costs will either shift to counties or people will lose services.”
Allamakee County Attorney Jill Kistler met with the Board to present a consolidated Code of Ordinances, Zoning Ordinance and Relief Ordinance. She said that amendments passed as separate ordinances had been incorporated into the existing ordinances and unused ordinances had been deleted, but no substantive changes had been made. The Board approved the first reading of all three documents and will consider their final passage at the Board’s next regular meeting, which will be held at the Postville Public Library next Monday, September 28.
In other business, the Board heard from a representative of the Northeast Iowa Humane Society who reported that the new pet adoption center in Decorah is offering its services to five counties in northeast Iowa, including Allamakee, and municipalities to house stray and lost animals, which could replace the dog pound service the County currently uses at a lower cost and would also include services for cats. The Board also accepted and placed on file the Case Management cost report for fiscal year 2015 and the fiscal year 2015 financial statement from the First Judicial District Department of Correctional Services.