Holland Town Board in ATV dispute with DNR
By Ed Byrne
The Brillion News
ASKEATON – The Holland Town Board is willing to take on the state Department of Natural Resources over the DNR’s interpretation of state law governing the use of all-terrain vehicles on town roads.
The town has an ordinance allowing people to operate ATVs on town roads, but the DNR insists that requires all town roads to be marked with signs declaring them as ATV trails.
It would mean at least 420 new signs on town roads – signs declaring each road to be an ATV trail as well as signs similar to those used to mark snowmobile trails in the woods.
Holland’s attorney, James Sickel, has a different take on the state law, and told the board on Monday that all it really needs is 28 signs on the town’s borders declaring that ATVs may be operated on town roads, or 25 signs warning ATV operators that they cannot ride on state or county highways, but can cross them.
The town said the DNR told the town that its ordinance allowing ATVs on town roads is not enough, and that each town road must be declared an official ATV trail and signed to meet DNR standards.
The town appealed to a DNR supervisor and got no relief, so now the town is working with state Rep. André Jacque, R-De Pere, who may introduce legislation to take the DNR out of the picture entirely.
“For the DNR to be insisting on 420 (signs) and really making an emphasis on enforcement … is ridiculous,” Jacque said.
Jacque told the town he has bipartisan support for a bill to allow municipalities to allow ATVs and similar vehicles on municipal streets and roads without having to meet DNR ATV trail requirements.
Jacque also has the support of Gov. Scott Walker and the Wisconsin Towns Association on the issue.
‘If this is not something we can get resolved administratively, sometimes you need to introduce a legislative solution,” Jacque said. “It defies common sense (for the DNR) to say you need another (ATV trail) sign every quarter mile … I’m willing to go to bat for the town.”
Jacque said the culture of the DNR concerns him. He cited the example of DNR wardens going door-to-door and telling people they can’t fish in the private pond on their property without a fishing license.
“Aren’t there greater enforcement priorities for the department?” Jacque said. “That’s what gives rise to a lot of these complaints against the DNR.