(Spirit Lake)– The issue over whether or not all-terrain vehicles should be allowed to operate year-round on city streets in Spirit Lake is once again alive and well.
With one exception, it was the concensus of the city council Tuesday to refer the matter to the city’s Public Safety Committee for a recommendation. Councilman Steve Balm, a member of that committee, was against the council re-visiting the issue. Councilman Jeff Thee, also a member of the committee, said he is in favor of the council reconsidering the issue and said he wanted the committee to address it.
The council referred the matter to the committee after hearing from several members of the public, all of whom were in favor of the council reconsidering the issue. Brad Price, a Spirit Lake businessman, told the council it’s important the city show support for its largest employer, Polaris Industries, which makes the machines…(Click here to hear comment from Price.)
Tony Peterson told the council allowing year-round usage of ATV’s makes sense, adding there have been no issues under the current ordinance allowing them to be used on city streets on just a few months during the winter. He says the fact ATV’s had no issues flies in the face of the numerous complaints the city receives each year about snowmobiles…(Click here to hear comment from Peterson.)
No one who spoke at Tuesday’s meeting expressed opposition to the city re-visiting the issue.
No timeline was given as to when the Public Safety Committee would bring a recommendation back to the council.
