Board takes up question of ATVs on village streets

FREDONIA — The Fredonia Village Board asked village staff to draft an ordinance allowing all terrain vehicles and utility task vehicles on village streets last week.

The details of the ordinance have not been worked out, Village Administrator Christophe Jenkins said, including whether the vehicles would be allowed on all streets or only some roads and whether riders would be required to have a driver’s license or simply complete a state-run ATV operation program.

The ordinance proposal was sponsored by Trustee Tiffany Bartz, who said allowing the vehicles would bring the village into conformity with neighboring municipalities and support Fredonia businesses.

“I’ve been on the Village Board for a little over a year and a half, and during that time I’ve had many citizens ask about using ATVs and UTVs,” she said.

At the meeting, the Lakeshore ATV/UTV Club presented the board with an ordinance similar to those approved by the villages of Belgium and Random Lake and the Town of Belgium.

“The ordinance proposal is simply allowing another form of transportation,” club member Kevin Peiffer said.

Safety was a major concern for several trustees, especially since state law allows children as young as 12 to drive an ATV with parent supervision.

Representatives from the Lakeshore club said allowing ATVs could be achieved in a safe way.

“We are all about safety. We have family, friends and neighbors that drive these,” Peiffer said, noting that modern all-terrain vehicles are designed for road conditions and are equipped with radial instead of rubber tires.

He said smart cars are often smaller than modern UTVs, which are two or four- seat vehicles, noting one car he recently saw was eight inches narrower and six inches shorter than his UTV.

Peiffer and five other club members are volunteers with the Trail Ambassador program that is partnered with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

The ambassadors patrol trails, frequent all-terrain vehicle routes and check road and sign conditions.

While the ambassadors don’t have the ability to ticket law violators, Peiffer said, “you get to carry these fancy little badges” and be able to call into the 24/7 communication center.

“It may seem a little odd, but it helps to make sure we’re all doing this the right way,” he said.

The Lakeshore club is hoping to host ATV training certification courses later this year, he said.

Trustee Kurt Meyle Jr. said the ordinance is essentially a question of citizen’s rights.

“This is America. We have freedoms. This is about exercising those freedoms,” he said. “There’s quite a groundswell of people supporting this.”

Belgium Village President Pete Anzia said allowing the vehicles “is a great asset for businesses” because residents from neighboring municipalities would be able to stop at village events and restaurants on their ATV trips.

Anzia said Belgium hasn’t had any injuries or issues with the vehicles since the village approved a similar ordinance in 2021.

Trustee Don Dohrwardt, who cast the only dissenting vote, said the benefit to local businesses is negligible.

“ATVs and UTVs are not economic development tools. They might make the tavern guy rich or sell a brat, but they aren’t economic development tools,” he said.

Jenkins said village staff members will work with the village marshal and attorney to determine the wording of the ordinance before it is reviewed by the village board at the next meeting.

Lakeshore’s proposed ordinance includes three restrictions, including a ban on ATVs between 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., a ban on intoxicating substances within the vehicle and  required liability insurance for operators.

The village board may add additional restrictions. The final version of the ordinance will be reviewed at the first village board meeting of September.