Last Updated: Friday, February 20, 2004 1:16 PM CST
Opponents say ATV vote sends strong message
By Daily News Staff
Opponents of the use of ATVs on public lands are proclaiming victory.
Three days after Vilas County voters answered a referendum on ATV use in the county with a resounding thumbs down, a pair of Northwoods groups that campaigned against the proliferation of ATVs say the voters message should reverberate beyond the small northern county.
"The vote sends a clear message to the (Vilas) County Board and the rest of the state that when voters have the choice between protecting their public lands or allowing ATVs, they come out strongly in favor of protecting our precious forests and lakes," said ECCOLA (Environmentally Concerned Citizens of the Lakeland Area) member Jim Wise.
"If a conservative, rural, county that touts itself as the snowmobile capital of the world rejects ATVs, then it is quite possible that they aren't welcome anywhere else where the voters have a choice. Until the ATV industry cleans up its tragic safety record and public agencies do a better job of preventing existing ATV abuse, the backlash against ATVs will only grow."
In a release to area media, representatives of Northwoods Citizens For Responsible Stewardship (NCRS) called the vote "monumental."
"This vote should send a clear message to elected officials from Eagle River to Madisonand beyond," said spokesman Jim Knuth. "Considering the ATV money that was spent, and that this is the snowmobile capital of the world, this win is monumental."
The advisory referendum asked "Do you favor allowing the operation of All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) on Vilas County forest land and Vilas County owned land in Vilas County?"
According to final numbers, 63 percent voted no while 37 percent answered yes.
Because the referendum is only advisory, the county board still has the option of allowing for the construction of an ATV corridor in Vilas County. Proponents of the corridor say it will not harm the environment and could be an economic boon for the county. ATV club members also insist they would police the trails in order to curb any unruly behavior.
Vilas County Forestry Committee Chairman Steve Doyne told the Daily News Wednesday his committee will reconsider the ATV issue in March or April.
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