City Commission Gives Trail Authority OK to Open Trail #2 to ATV's

IRONWOOD, MI - Tuesday, June 30, 2009 - Two issues were discussed at last night's grueling three hour Special City Commission meeting -- opening Trail #2 through Downtown Ironwood to ATV use and the Water Meter Reading contract.

The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance, an item that has been strangely missing from all special City Commission meetings. Mayor Bruce Noren asked City Clerk Karen Gullan to, in the future, make certain that the Pledge be included at all City Commission meetings, not just the regular ones.

Following the Pledge, roll call was taken. All five City Commissioners were present: Bob Burchell, Tom Laabs, Bruce Noren, Gemma Lamb and Suzanne Toth. Also at last night's meeting were City Staffers: Scott Erickson, City Manager; Karen Gullan, City Clerk; Bob Tervonen, Utilities Director; and Dan Petersen, Community Development Director. Representing the media were Ralph Ansami, Daily Globe; Arvo Toolonen and Lou Bonagura, IronwoodInfo.com and yours truly.

Although this wasn't a Public Hearing on opening Trail #2 to ATV use, Mayor Bruce Noren opened the meeting up for public comment, realizing that there were some very deep feelings on the issue from both sides. Noren pointed out that many people live along the trail and that many people ride the trail and are concerned about continued use of the trail. Currently ATV use on City-owned property is against the law, however, the City has been extremely lax about enforcing the ordinances that forbid such use. Several times throughout the evening, Mayor Noren (and others) suggested that the only way the City could control problems with people using the trail is by allowing them to use it.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I guess, anything pretty much goes in Ironwood! If you break the law long enough, the City would rather change the law to allow for your illegal activities than enforce it. What good are any laws if they are not enforced? Now, as the regular readers of the Chronicle well know, I am a big supporter of our Public Safety Department. I think we have a great police force and I think the world of Director Bob Erspamer. With that said, I cannot understand why 4-wheeler use has been allowed to continue on City-owned land especially considering the large amount of residents along the trails who are very distraught over the situation.

Before Noren opened the floor to public comment he gave his usual "civility" lecture, warning those in attendance to treat one another with respect and dignity. Noren then allowed comments from the audience alternating between people who are in favor of opening the trail and those who are opposed to it.

The list that follows gives reasons stated both for and against the proposal to open the trail.

FOR	AGAINST
ATV’s bring money into the area.	Trail brings people THRU not TO Ironwood.
Changes illegal activity into legal activity.	Runs through Depot parking lot and it’s dangerous
Reduces illegal use of ATV’s on city streets.	City curbs are being damaged by ATV’s
State will take care of dust control using PEP.	Trail too close to benches & playground.
Bessemer took care of their own dust control.	Leaves gravel all over sidewalks and streets.
Ironwood only City not supporting now.	Not supported by Blueprint plan - all persons in the City were given an opportunity to voice their visions previously. DIDA endorsed the plan; Planning Commission endorsed the plan; and City Commission "wholeheartedly" endorsed the plan.
Chamber of Commerce has to turn away visitors from Hurley because the City doesn’t have ATV trails – losing out on "hundreds of thousands of dollars" in tourism.	Snowmobiles are used while houses are closed up and snow muffles the sound. ATV’s, motor bikes, etc. are used during the summer when people have their windows open.
Hurley does well with Snowmobile and ATV traffic.	There is an abundance of wildlife along these trails. Accidents with deer could be problematic.
Wood chips or recycled blacktop might help.	Speeds won’t be followed by kids.
Group needs to get legislature support to help finance improvements.	Homes permanently discolored from the iron ore dust.
Many people would like to ride ATV’s to work in the industrial park to save gas money.	Prefer use as bike, hike and walking trails.
Snowmobiles during the winter use the trail very heavily. If you travel on Luxmore Street you need to wait for the line of sleds to get through.	Dust control not always as effective as promised.
ATV’s would be here using the trail the same way as snowmobiles do – steady traffic.	Dust gets everywhere, and in order to clean it off siding, hosing down the house raises water bill.
"We live in dust!" Ironwood is a very dusty area – deal with it.	People can’t even use their decks due to the dust.
WI has speed limits because – especially at night people would kill themselves because they are idiots.	Iron ore is nearly impossible to remove.
Before Bessemer & Wakefield opened their trails, ATV riders needed to trailer their machines all the way to Marenisco.	Snowmobile speeds are not currently enforced properly.
Iron Co. WI has the biggest ATV trail in WI and they can’t even come here.	Dust control doesn’t work on iron ore.
Kids can be a problem, but enforcement needs to do their jobs. Kids do stupid things – it’s the parents not the kids.	Pedestrians are at risk.
ATV’s are the biggest growing segment of sports related machinery in the country and the world.	Deer accidents could be disastrous.
If noise, sound, speed, and dust could be controlled, could support the idea.	DNR previously promised to be patrolling our trails "all the time" – Gogebic/Ontonagon County DNR is never here.
Money is spent at lodging facilities and restaurants.	Many times called IPSD because of noise. Often can’t even hear on phone because machines so loud.
Local gas station owner said that her business benefits from the ATV traffic, stating that they buy gas.	Taxpayers pay to have enforcement that isn’t being provided. Police claim they cannot enforce infractions that happen on the trail.
Dust is not a problem for the gas station owner as her business is far enough away from the trail.	Dust control is not effective when ATV users bypass treated areas of the trail.
Many ATV users park their machines at gas station and then go across the street to eat.	Can’t report violators because of dust and high speed. Many sleds and riders look alike.
Speed zones, similar to "no wake zones" on lakes would help prevent excessive dust.	Many times ATV and other off-road vehicles leave the trails, drive on city streets to get gas and supplies.
Hurley is "kicking our asses" with tourism.	Why aren’t the trails barricaded during the summer to prevent illegal use by ATV’s?
Citations cannot be issued on "non-recognized" trails.	Business owner pointed out that dust has increase; noise has increase; etc. in 30 years of business. Kids don’t get rides from parents, they are given keys to ATV’s instead.
Dust may be a problem, but the money ATV’s bring to the economy makes the trade-off worth it.	Red Light Rally along the trails is a "drunken fiasco."`
Other neighboring communities have embraced the Trail Authority and efforts to open the trails.	Need to choose quiet community or boisterous, out of control "anything for fun" community.
There are no speed limits or stops signs on open trails so that they can be properly controlled.	Where are the revenues coming from? Where is all of this money the ATV users are spending? Or is it costing the City money? Street sweeping; police complains; picking up gravel, etc.
According to the Ottawa National Forest Snowmobile map, the trail is designated as "dual use" – for snowmobiles and ATV’s alike.	Only ATV "business" shoplifting and people attempting to break into local business.
People buy houses in the area so they can ATV.	ATV users feel entitled to use the trails and they don’t seem to follow rules.
Suzanne Toth: Recently took a trip to Marenisco and noticed that there is a huge difference between PEP treated and untreated trails when it comes to dust.	New trails will continually be formed as ATV users want to go from one part of the City to another, or they simply use City streets without fear of prosecution.
Suzanne Toth: Still sore from going 20-25 MPH on the trails.	Community is being destroyed.
Suzanne Toth: Most people will monitor their speed voluntarily.	Traveling through the center of town is bad for local businesses.
Suzanne Toth: $330/per person is average revenue to area. Many shoppers don’t pick up things while on their ORV’s, but they do come back.	Land is being eroded and destroyed.
Suzanne Toth: Very impressed with the way the Trail Authority maintains the trails.	Ruts have destroyed the trails for walking, hiking and biking.
Local ATVpeople (and others) buy their gear locally.	Tourists come to the Northwoods to see the beauty here.
Sam Davies: The trail might already be multi-use according to DNR title - 20 ft. corridor.	4-Wheeler operators have been chasing deer down the trails.
Creative Spirits owner says it his gotten business from 4-wheeler and snowmobile traffic.	When confronting violators, they swear, are rude, and throw gravel and other things at business owner.
Can Pillow Tax (Bed Tax) be obtained to maintain the trail?	Cannot control dust on newly created trails, and ATV operators are forever creating "short-cuts" through town.
	Dust is everywhere with the machines. 10 MPH or 5 MPH doesn’t matter dust is always raised by these machines.
	Unlike Hurley, Ironwood doesn’t have bars. Where do ATV riders spend their money?
	How many "lodging facilities" want filthy 4-wheelers anywhere near their lodging? Cleaning iron ore dust and other damage costs more than the money they generate.
	I want a community like the one Steve Frank described in the Blueprint plan.
	Maybe this issue should be placed on the ballot for a City vote.
	Many people are afraid to voice their opinions because of bullying by the ATV crowd.
	Informed decisions require facts, not just "gut" feelings and claims that revenues are fantastic.
	This reporter has received death treats because I stated that 4-wheelers are currently trespassing on City-owned land.
	Back in 2003, the DNR said the only money that would be available for the "snowmobile" trail required that the trails be open for multi-use. Why aren’t ATV’s allowed on the trails now?
	What is the environmental impact of PEP dust control materials?
	Thankfully, the trail that used to run between Prizm and Creative Spirits has been re-routed said the owner of Creative Spirits.
	The former trail between Prizm and Creative Spirits was a disaster. It was the only place to put snow but it was always filled with snow.
	In spring 4-wheelers throw mud, dust, and gravel everywhere.
	Since the re-route, windows can be opened, the building has new siding that will stay nice, there is a place for customers to park.
	Will dust control be in place prior to opening the trail?
	The Commission should see the environmental impact statement on PEP and other concerns before approving the trail usage.
	Previously, the City qualified to have the entire trail black-topped.
	Were all of the neighbors along the trail notified of tonight’s meeting? (Some were)
	What happens when Ironwood has their Festival? The trail now goes through it, will it be closed or will it be relocated?
	Who pays for sidewalk maintenance, road maintenance, plowing, etc.? What about those costs?
	The City’s infrastructure is a disaster. Truck repairs have been outrageous because of the poor condition of streets.

Each of the Commissioners asked a number of questions of Gordy Koski in order to help them make a decision on the issue. It was quite apparent quite early on that Suzanne Toth was in favor of establishing the trail for ATV use -- she was practically a spokesperson for the cause. A member of the audience turned around and asked members of the Trail Authority if she belonged to the group. The response he recieved was, "She ought to be!"

In the end, the Commission seemed to be most concerned about dust control, however, they fell short of requiring the Authority to impliment controlling measures prior to opening the trail for ATV usage. Bob Burchell strongly urged that langauge be added to the motion which would include a requirement for the Authority to impliment dust control immediately.

The following motion was approved by a 4-1 vote of the City Commission, "To authorize the use of the existing Trail #2 as a multi-use trail, allowing the Gogebic Range Trail Authority to apply for a DNR grant. With signage to be placed according to the speed limit of 15 MPH except in areas near the Depot which would be 5 MPH, giving right-of-way to other non-motorized traffic, and best efforts made for dust control, and authorize the City Manager to work with the Gogebic Range Trail Authority to make any needed changes to the speed limit and revisit the use of Trail #2 by October 15, 2010." Gemma Lamb refused to vote in favor of the plan, stating that she was concerned about the people who lived and worked along the trail and their concerns about iron ore dust.

The Commission also discussed awarding the low bid for water meter reading to R.E.D. Construction for $1,916.20/month ($22,994.40/year). Bob Burchell stated that several people asked him why the job wasn't given to the current Blight Enforcement Officer. Erickson explained that the option was evaluated, however, bringing the Blight officer to full-time may require that the position would become a union position, therefore becoming more costly for the City. In the end the Commission unanimously voted to approve the R.E.D. Construction bid pending background checks.

Steve Frank, who was not given a chance to speak on the issue, told the Chronicle that the City could cut their meter reading costs significantly by reading the meters every three months instead of monthly. As he pointed out, most customers' water bills don't fluctuate significantly month-to-month. Estimated bills could be sent out on a monthly basis, and every third month an adjusted bill could be submitted. This simple measure would save the City over $15,000 a year, and it could have allowed the job to be given to our Blight Officer if the City wanted to do so. Having the Blight Officer serve double duties would make him that much more effective in his attempts to combat blight, as well.