A rider drives an ATV along a county road in Wisconsin. Sauk County Board members unanimously approved an ordinance Tuesday that allows for all county roads allowed per statute to serve as ATV and UTV routes and crossings for riders.
All Sauk County highways are now open for ATV and UTV traffic.
Sauk County Board members voted unanimously in a 27-0 consensus Tuesday to allow for all of the roads to be open for routes and crossings. The ordinance shifts from the previous approval process, which required sponsorship and the installation of signage on designated routes.
Members of rider groups throughout the county showed up to express their approval of the change, from longtime trail manager of the Honey Creek ATV Club Dick Meier to Sauk City resident Timothy Esbe, who said the change would eliminate confusion.
“UTV riders are, for the most part, law-abiding and a respectful lot,” Esbe said. “Approving all highways will prevent riders from inadvertently finding themselves in route pickles. It will reduce that uncertainty. It will also increase accessibility.”
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Sup. Bob Spencer, who also serves as president of the Baraboo Bluffs ATV Club, abstained from the vote. Sup. Tim Teelin also abstained. Sup. Brandon Lohr and David Clemens were absent.
Other ATV trail proponents argued that the piecemeal process of approval has hamstrung some riders. Dan Fleming, Sauk Ridge Runners ATV Club, said some people “can’t even get out of their driveway” because they live on a highway which doesn’t allow for ATV riders.
“It really gives people access to get to villages,” Fleming said.
Sup. Terry Spencer, a member of the Highway Committee who submitted the change for consideration, said the ordinance has been considered for more than a decade. As a former Sauk County deputy, Spencer said it is difficult for officers to understand where riders are allowed to be if the regulations apply to some roadways but not others.
“This ordinance is going to clarify a lot of things going on in the county,” Spencer said. “One of the worst things we could do to our law enforcement agencies is leave doubt on where they’re going to do the enforcement.”
Sup. Smooth Detter commended ATV groups for patience and professionalism. During discussion, Detter moved to include wording that allows municipalities to recommend that the committee temporarily suspend designated routes, which was passed 28-0.
Sauk County Sheriff Chip Meister said law enforcement officers “really don’t have a problem” with riders causing problems. He said there can be issues, but “it’s typically fairly isolated” and pointed to riders who do not live in the area as the usual culprits.
Sup. Bryant Hazard, who is also a member of the Baraboo City Council, wanted to know how quickly the change would go into effect.
“If the city of Baraboo has a bone to pick with ATVs… they can’t do much about it other than appeal to the committee and wait for it to go through the process,” Hazard said. “Is that true?”
Highway Commissioner Pat Gavinski said the change would not be immediate.
“The routes would not become active until they’re properly signed,” Gavinski said. “So tomorrow nothing is going to change because the signage, as it is now, is going to stay. It will probably be a month, at least, before we get additional signage up. There is time for municipalities to react to this.”
The change would mean highways within municipalities must allow ATV and UTV traffic. Like Baraboo, which has not allowed for recreational vehicle trails to be installed in the past. Mayor Rob Nelson submitted his concerns in a June letter to Gavinski.
“I am strongly opposed to making such a change at the current time,” Nelson wrote. “As mayor, I don’t feel that extending stub routes into the city will benefit our residents and I have concerns that it could create confusion and serious safety issues, both for car traffic and ATV users themselves.”
Though he did not speak to common council members due to time constraints, Nelson felt “a majority of alderpersons would also be unlikely to favor this step right now.”
Routes for ATVs and UTVs are included in a series of items being considered as the city currently formulates its new strategic and comprehensive plans, Nelson said, rather than as a separate issue.
GALLERY: Sauk County Board of Supervisors proceedings
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Supervisor Marty Krueger tells fellow Sauk County board members that he can't support a measure reducing the number of supervisory districts until he sees the census numbers.
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Sauk County Supervisor Timothy Reppen questions whether a measure to reduce the number of supervisors also means a reduction in committee size during the July county board meeting.
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Laying out early numbers
Sauk County Finance Director Kerry Beghin gives the first quarter financial report to county board members during the May board meeting alongside County Administrator Brent Miller at the West Square Building.
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Sauk County Supervisor Michelle Bushweiler speaks from behind a partition and mask during the April board meeting.
Public health officers speaks
Public Health Officer Treemanisha Stewart speaks during the February meeting of the Sauk County Board of Supervisors, providing an update on COVID-19 cases and vaccines.
Speaking on ATVs
Bob Spencer of the Baraboo Bluffs ATV-UTV Club expresses gratitude for support from the county during the March meeting of the Sauk County Board of Supervisors at the West Square Building.
Peper speaks
Sauk County Supervisor Brian Peper speaks during the February meeting of the county board of supervisors. Peper said Brian Desmond, who was recommended to be the next county corporation counsel, "seems like a well-qualified gentleman."
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Sauk County Supervisor Tim Reppen listens as fellow supervisor Rob Nelson talks about an amendment he proposed to the 2021 budget during the November meeting of the Sauk County Board of Supervisors.
Lohr questions
Sauk County Vice Chair Brandon Lohr asks a question about the district attorney's office during a board meeting in September where DA Michael Albrecht asked for approval to petition the state for funding of more than two positions within his office. A grant expiring in mid-2021 would leave him with five attorneys while state guidance indicates he should have 7.26 based on his caseload.
Hiring process
Interim Administrative Coordinator Dave Bretl tells the Sauk County Board of Supervisors about the hiring process for the first county administrator during its meeting in September.
McCumber listens
Tim McCumber, who oversees the Executive & Legislative Committee poised to make a decision about the new county administrator, listens during the Sauk County Board of Supervisors meeting Aug. 19 in the county board room. McCumber advocated for a restructuring from the current administrative coordinator to allow for more policy decisions to be made by board members.
Sauk County Supervisor Rob Nelson
Sauk County Supervisor Rob Nelson talks about his amendment to the resolution stating that the county has no authority to issue a mask mandate during a July 2020 board meeting. Nelson supports a resolution that would allow Sauk County Health Officer Tim Lawther to proclaim a mask mandate based on his authority to protect the public from contagion. The amendment was defeated on a 5-24-1 vote.
Sauk County Board swearing in
Supervisors Peter Kinsman of LaValle, from left, Rebecca Klitzke of Rock Springs, Del Scanlon of Reedsburg, and John Dietrich of Reedsburg, take their oath of office in May 2020 at the Sauk County Board meeting.
Screnock swears in
Sauk County Circuit Court Judge Michael Screnock swears in county supervisors in May 2020 at their first in-person meeting since March of that year.
Krueger outlines
County Board Supervisor Marty Krueger, who also oversees the Finance Committee, outlines the budget process during their October meeting in the county board meeting room of the West Square Building.
Miller speaks
Shawano County Administrative Coordinator Brent Miller answers a question about budget priorities in September during the public forum in the Sauk County board room to decide between four finalists for the newly created county administrator position. Miller was ultimately chosen and began with the county in October.
Sauk County Board meeting
The Sauk County Board of Supervisors approved the hiring of outside special counsel to represent and advise the board throughout investigations and possible litigation the board is currently facing during the February 2020 meeting.
Sauk County Board emergency
Sauk County Vice Chairman Bill Hembrecht is seen on a video screen while fellow county board members convene during their March 2020meeting in Baraboo. Six other supervisors phoned into the meeting. The board voted to suspend its rules to allow for supervisors to phone into board meetings amid COVID-19 concerns.
Sauk County Board vaccine vote
People register to speak during the public comment portion of a December 2020 Sauk County Board meeting, during which members considered a resolution to support the end of personal conviction waivers for vaccinations in schools and day care centers. The board voted against the motion.
Public comments on vaccine waiver
More than 40 people registered for public comment at a December 2020 meeting of the Sauk County Board of Supervisors. A majority of the speakers addressed a resolution the board voted on to support the state Legislature ending the use of personal conviction waivers for vaccinations, which allows for parents to opt out of having their children vaccinated before entering school or day care centers.
Sauk County Board of Health
The Sauk County Board of Health considered a resolution to request that the state legislators remove the use of personal conviction waivers used at public schools and day cares for parents to opt out of vaccinations in December 2020. Residents of Sauk and surrounding counties attended the meeting to oppose the resolution.
Editor's note: The article was changed July 20 to reflect the type of roadways open to ATV and UTV riders under the adopted ordinance.
