SHAWANO, WI- ATVs, and UTVs will soon be seen in the city of Shawano.
The Shawano Common Council passed the ordinance with some changes during their council meeting on Wednesday. The vote ended up being unanimous by the time it was taken.
The original ordinance included allowing ATVs and UTVs in the City of Shawano, as long as operators drove at speeds of no more than 10 miles per hour on non-preferred (or designated) routes. It also stated that preferred routes could be operated on at the speed limits posted and operation would be limited to 16-years or older on both ATVs and UTVs in the city.
City Administrator Eddie Sheppard said the council needed to decide if that would change, starting with speed limits.
“The concern that we are hearing about that is not only is that really slow, but those machines are not necessarily designed to go at that slow of a speed,” Sheppard said.
Alderperson Lisa Hoffman said she wanted guidance from someone who is experienced operating an ATV or UTV and Interim Mayor Rhonda Strebel said she has that experience.
“Is it easy to go that slow,? asked Strebel, “absolutely not, but it is out of respect for the community.”
Strebel said that she felt that the issue that needs to be addressed is the age of operation for an ATV. State Statute says operators of ATVs in the city need to be at least 12 years of age and have proper classes or training on operation and be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or person of at least 18-years of age.
“It is still a big piece of equipment and there is still a lot of power behind these things. A 12-year-old does not have a lot of experience. Driving in the city is different than driving in the county, it’s not a backroad, there are more people, more cars, more pedestrians, so I am not in favor of changing the age.”
Alderperson Lisa Hoffman and Sandy Steinke responded by saying that decision should not fall on the city.
“I feel like that is the parent’s decision to make, not ours,” Hoffman said. “If a parent does not feel that the child is ready, they are not going to put them on one,” said Steinke.
“We need to follow state statute,” said Seth Mailahn. “If I am 18-years old and I want to take my 15-year-old brother out and ride with him, I am taking responsibility for that. That should be on me, not on the city of Shawano.
“It’s hard for an 18-year-0ld to have that responsibility,” said Strebel. “That is not for us to decide,” Mailhan replied.
The Council was advised by the City Attorney that if they wanted to change any part of the written ordinance, they should request the change and vote on the new ordinance at their next meeting.
Listen to the Discussion on the ATV UTV Ordinance below.
The council took a hand count poll to see where the majority favored when it came to speed and age of operation. The majority agreed that the speed limit should be 20 miles per hour on non-preferred routes and the age should be 12 or older for ATVs, following state statute. The recommendation for those changes was made to the City Attorney and he was able to adjust it by the end of the meeting.
The council voted 6-0 to approve the ordinance with a 20 mph speed limit on non-preferred routes and operations allowed for those 12 and older on ATVs as long as they have the proper classes and training and are with an adult that is 18 or older.
One question that was brought up was insurance. The council was informed that by approving operations for as young as age 12, it would not be possible to require insurance to operate since 12-year-olds are not able to obtain insurance.
The ordinance will go into effect upon publication which is intended to be April 23, 2021.
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