Council declines to consider allowing ATVs on Lincoln Street

The last item on the agenda for the July 15 meeting of the Rhinelander Common Council was a discussion regarding the possibility of allowing all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) on Lincoln Street.

Mayor Kris Hanus said the intent of the agenda item was to determine whether or not the council had any interest in pursuing the idea.

“This is a discussion point to see if this is something we want to look into,” Hanus explained. “A couple different people came to me asking why Lincoln Street is not part of our ATV route, where every other street in the town is. The county allows ATVs on county highways. So it’s just something I want to see if the body has any appetite to look into this.”

The response from the council was a resounding no.

Alderman David Holt, who was on the council when the body voted to allow ATV use on other city streets, said he stands by the decision to exclude Lincoln Street for safety reasons.

Alderman Gerald Anderson noted that Lincoln is the city’s busiest and most highly traveled street and ATV users have access to every other street.

Alderman Steven Jopek asked for input from the Rhinelander Police Department.

Police chief Lloyd Gauthier was unequivocal in stating his opinion that ATV use on Lincoln Street would be unsafe.

He noted that an ATV club member recently asked him why ATVs are prohibited on Lincoln Street when they are allowed on Stevens Street.

There’s a clear difference between the businesses on Lincoln and Stevens streets, he noted.

“If you look at the businesses that are on Stevens Street, they are not the type of businesses where people are in and out constantly,” he noted, citing the home improvement businesses, large car lots and bowling alley located on Stevens. “There’s less in and out traffic compared to the businesses that you find on Lincoln Street. Stevens is a long straight stretch with a gradual curve where you have great visibility. Lincoln Street, you don’t have that. You have multiple hills, multiple curves, high rise, low rise, and those businesses a lot of them are in and out — grocery stores, clothing stores, the movie theater —where you have a lot of traffic, restaurants. The traffic is much heavier on Lincoln Street compared to Stevens Street.”

He also noted that ATVs are smaller and not as visible, which is problematic on a roadway frequently traveled by large vehicles.

“My reasoning is safety, safety, safety, no other reason,” he added.

The alderpersons concurred with Gauthier’s assessment.

“As a person who has driven a very large vehicle on Lincoln Street for over 30 years, I agree completely with the chief,” alderman Luke Kramer said. “Even though you’re up above, you don’t have a view spot... one of those little guys gets in front of you, you won’t see it unless it’s weaving in and out or has a flag on it or something. As safety goes, I do not think it would be a good idea to open up Lincoln Street.”

“How is that different from any other street in our town?” Hanus asked.

“Like the police chief said, there’s a lot more traffic in and out,” he replied. “I mean a lot more.”

“I would have to side with the police chief as well,” added alderman Tom Barnett. “They’re the guys who are out there seeing this. They’re the guys that have to go out there when accidents happen so if they feel it’s unsafe then I would abide by their opinion.”

“Just driving down Lincoln Street even in a car some days feels like a risk,” he added. “So I don’t think having a bunch of UTVs zipping around on Lincoln Street, our busiest in the city, is a good idea at all. I think we’re just waiting and asking for an accident to happen where people actually lose their lives from being on an ATV...”

After the discussion concluded, Hanus stated that given the input received the matter will be considered a “dead issue.”

Other business

During his update on city street projects, Mark Barden of Town and Country Engineering mentioned the utility/broadband project underway in the Timber Drive/Woodland Drive neighborhood.

“Frontier and Bug Tussel have been working out there the last few months,” he said.

The council also approved the rehabilitation of city well No. 4 due to an accumulation of bacteria and biofilm.

The rehabilitation process is expected to be completed by late August. To view the full city council meeting, visit www.hodagtv.com.

Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].