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County increases ATV-UTV routes

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The Crawford County Board had a photo taken prior to Tuesday morning’s regular meeting. In row one are: Mary Kuhn, Board President Tom Cornford, County Clerk Janet Geisler and Geri Kozelka. Row two: Larry Kelley, Greg Russell, Carl Orr, Gari Lorenz and Wayne Jerrett. Row three: Derek Flansburgh, Gerry Krachey, Rocky Rocksvold, Brad Steiner, Buzz Esser, David Olson and Wade Dull. Donald Stirling and Duane Rogers are not pictured.

By Ted Pennekamp

 

The Crawford County Board  approved additional routes to its ATV-UTV trail system at its regular meeting Tuesday morning. 

There were 35 total routes listed in the amended ATV-UTV ordinance, including various routes involving Highway 27, Highway 131, Highway 171, Highway 179, County B, County C, County D, County E, County H, County J, County K, County N, County S, County U, County W and County X.

Highway Commissioner Dennis Pelock said amending the ordinance to add more routes is the first step. He said the state, the towns and the villages need to also approve the new routes. Also, ATV-UTV route signs need to be posted on the new routes to make them official. 

The speed limit for ATVs or UTVs on the routes is 35 mph or lower as designated. A person needs to be 16 years of age and have a regular driver’s license in order to operate an ATV or UTV on the routes.

ATV-UTV operation on the designated routes and trails shall be in accordance with the provisions of Wisconsin State statutes, the Wisconsin DOT Administrative Code, the Wisconsin DNR Administrative Code and all applicable municipal ordinances.

In other business, the board approved of the creation of a Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. Supervisor Larry Kelley was the lone vote against the measure. Supervisor Duane Rogers was absent.

Treatment Court Coordinator Monica Horner spoke to the board and said the principle mission of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) is to improve the administration of justice and promote public safety through planning, research, education and community-wide coordination of criminal justice initiatives utilizing evidence-base decision making. 

The initial membership of the CJCC will be Judge Lynn Rider, District Attorney Tim Baxter, Sheriff Dale McCullick, County Board President Tom Cornford, Clerk of Courts Donna Steiner, Prairie du Chien Police Chief Chad Abram, Horner, the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Probation and Parole and the State Public Defender.

Horner said the CJCC is necessary to effectively qualify for state and federal grants to provide effective programs for adult and juvenile offenders. She said 51 counties in Wisconsin have a CJCC. She also said a CJCC will make communication better between the various county departments involved.

Supervisor Larry Kelley said he was against the CJCC because it just adds another layer of government.

Judge Rider disagreed, saying the CJCC will not be more government but will be more effective government because of the better communication and coordination between departments.

In further business, the board unanimously voted to deny a claim by Crossing Rivers Health. Crossing Rivers Health claims that construction of the Bridgeport Highway Project in the town of Bridgeport led to pond build-up that is destroying 40 to 50 acres of property value owned by Crossing Rivers Health.

Highway Commissioner Dennis Pelock said the claim is not true and shouldn’t have even been put forth. Pelock advised the board to deny the claim.

“The flow of water has not changed,” said Pelock, who noted the county has aerial photos that show the property entirely underwater before the highway project began. He also said Crossing Rivers Health had pledged $100,000 to the town of Bridgeport regarding the highway project but then failed to pay. In addition, Pelock said Crossing Rivers Health built a retention pond that doesn’t drain. He said they should have built a detention pond like Nathan Plaza did that drains into the city sewer system. Nathan Plaza also built their land up higher before they began construction.

County Attorney Mark Peterson also advised the board to deny the claim. Peterson said it is early in the claim process which might continue.

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