Open ATV route plans contrast with temporary spring weight bans

“So going to opening the roads I’m still opposed, but I guess my voice doesn’t matter because it’s a county issue?” a concerned Wilson town resident voiced at the March 9 regular town board meeting at 7 pm, just off County G at MM. The town board (minus the Treasurer) and four citizens were assembled on site at the town hall, with input on a county proposal Chairman Daniel Meyer said that the township roads were already open to ATVs, whereas the town board had no legal jurisdiction over county roads that ran through the township. On the agenda for resident feedback was a county plan to open County D going north to Boyd; Highway G north to the Chippewa County line; H from Chippewa to Bridge Creek; and MM east from Hamilton Falls Road to Clark County. But while the town board had no authority over county roads in Eau Claire County, that didn’t mean it was indifferent.

“If you’re both opposed to opening these roads that’s certainly your prerogative and it should be noted,” Meyer told the resident and a man wearing a “Border Patrol” hat, with the board minutes for the night being sent to Eau Claire County. As to one reason for the voiced opposition, it was noted that many didn’t follow the 35 mile per hour speed limit, while another town resident spoke of people who drove “like idiots,” and the knowledge was likewise shared by Meyer that ATV drivers had even been seen going side-by-side in twos over hills—along town roads where vehicles traveled in both directions. A representative of the Wilson Wheelers ATV Club on-site March 9 disputed the viewpoint that would seem to lump all ATV us-

See ATV PLAN, Page 3

As this view of Tower Road in Wilson shows, the Spring thaw is here. Tower Road is among those in Wilson to have a temporary weight limit this season, with the lighter portion in the road’s center standing out due to moisture. Need we say more? Staff photo. ATV PLAN

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ers into bad company.

“In spite of what you see, 95 to 99 percent of people who drive ATV/UTV are trying to follow the laws,” he said, as they knew doing so was a way to protect ATV privileges. Meanwhile, personal confrontation of those breaking ATV laws wasn’t advised or always advisable.

“Our answer is to get the license plate number and turn it in,” the spokesman from Wilson Wheelers said. Some Club members had tried to confront others alone, and been “threatened with bodily harm” as a result. Best to let the law do its job. Speaking of which, just what was the law?

One town board member related that an (unnamed) law enforcement deputy had told area ATV users to go in the ditch along County H rather than having to write a ticket, with Wisconsin statute 23.33 (4) 7. (e) allowing for use alongside county highways in the event that the area is a designated ATV trail. While not presently the case, the proposed opening of County H in Eau Claire County would effectively fall under the said paragraph.

“That’s why the ditch is the way it is,” the town board member said of the wear down at Bridge Creek. Another member, meanwhile, noted that there was more ATV traffic on town roads than on county highways.

“No one goes on blacktop unless they have to,” Supervisor Aaron Vizier said, with the spokesman from Wilson Wheelers in basic agreement. “Right,” he said, “because it’s hard on your tires.” With comment touching on a new business that had opened recently on Hamilton Falls Road just off MM, the spokesman said that being business and ATV-friendly was a state measure.

“The state starting eight years ago with Scott Walker has been really about getting the ATV roads open and helping businesses,” he said, with hearing closed and Chairman Meyer putting the matter to a vote.

“I don’t see any problem,” Supervisor Ed Shilts said of opening county roads in Wilson to ATV traffic.

“I have no objection,” Vizier seconded. That being the case, the minutes with citizen objection would be sent to the county. So when might the stated county roads through Wilson open?

“I’m hoping four months,” the representative from Wilson Wheelers said in response to a question from Meyer about length of time working with the county to get things rolling along the avenues in question. Then it was on to the Hamilton Falls Park: new bathrooms and a playground!

“The club will donate the materials and the labor,” the spokesman from Wilson Wheelers said. “We’re going to go with green shingles on the bathroom also,” he said. The bathrooms are to be paid for by the DNR through ATV revenues. Meyer wasn’t about to argue with free material and labor. A bench saying “Wilson Park” from Excel Steel in Stanley is also planned, with the suggestion being made to “bore down” for anchor in frost rather than just doing a slab. The same resident voicing opposition to ATVs on county roads, meanwhile, said that the playground should be kept, as it was used by a local Anabaptist religious group. The resident voicing playground support was not visibly from the said group, based on outfit. For those who might contemplate park mischief meanwhile, there are cameras—or maybe not?

“How do you know their aren’t?” Meyer told a town resident who asked about putting cameras in the park, given potential the threat of vandalism. The man in the “Border Patrol” hat pointed out to the town resident that signs announcing cameras were at the park, while the question of putting ATV speed limit signs at the township borders was also broached.

Then there was COVID—it had screwed up a lot, including DMV registration.

“They told me to do it on the computer,” one town resident stated after being sent home from the Department of Motor Vehicle for trying to register his trailer, adding. “I’m not a computer guy.” Driver’s tests were still taking place through the DMV, meanwhile, and Wilson Supervisor Vizier had good news to share for a potential solution to DMV office difficulties due to COVID.

“Stanley Police do licensing,” he said, with decentralization offering a save after getting home “I think I’ll go there then,” the town resident said.

The local licensing operation through the Stanley PD is headquartered at Stanley City Hall at 353 South Broadway Street, with ordinary tab renewals also offered at the Stanley Travel Stop at 600 South Broadway Street in case the police services are unavailable.

Last but not least at the March 9 meeting were town road weight bans, with Tower Road and Stoney Lonesome among those to be on the lookout for signage along. Geological speculation was made by Chairman Meyer as to the existence of a ground spring or other feature being near Tower Road, as the hill always seemed to break up and give the town trouble at spring thaw time. Meanwhile, Lonny Roth had sent the township a bid offering his roadside maintenance services for $60 per hour, while speculation that the last sand and salt load received by the township had contained too much sand compared to salt, as it had been hard to break up in the cold.

On account of the upcoming April 6 primary and effective ban on board meetings that same day, the next Wilson town meeting will be April 13, with town board members doing a town road tour prior to this on the same day. The annual Wilson meeting, meanwhile, is set for April 20th.