Supervisors set public hearing for Floyd County ATV ordinance

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

People who would like greater access for their ATVs on Floyd County roads – or who, perhaps, would rather not share the road with the all-terrain vehicles – will have a chance to offer input on the question later this month.

The Floyd County Board of Supervisors has been discussing allowing ATVs and UTVs on county roads since last spring, and at its regular meeting Tuesday morning the board set a public hearing on a proposed county ordinance for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 26.

The supervisors examined the proposed ordinance in depth at a meeting in April, and this week set the public hearing with little additional discussion.

“We’ve made some adjustments and we can always amend it after the fact if we find something needs to change,” said Supervisor Linda Tjaden.

Supervisor Chairman Roy Schwickerath noted that ordinances need to pass at three separate readings after the public hearing, so there will be plenty of opportunity for people to let the board know what they think.

Supervisor Doug Kamm said many other counties have already addressed the issue.

“It’s one of the things where we’re in the middle of the pack. There’s 50-some other ones that have passed it already,” he said. “It’s not like uncharted waters here.”

The ordinance would allow ATVs on most hard-surfaced and gravel roads in the county except for state highways, minimum maintenance roads and roads that are in areas controlled by Floyd County Conservation.

There would be a 35 mph maximum speed limit, drivers would need at be at least age 16 and have a driver’s license, and they would need to carry proof of liability insurance or other financial responsibility.

Drivers under age 18 would need to have completed an ATV certification course and carry the certificate with them.
Violation of the ordinance would be a county infraction punishable by a civil penalty of up to $750 on the first conviction, and up to $1,000 on subsequent convictions.

Also at its regular meeting Tuesday, the board:

• Set a public hearing for 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, May 26, for the first reading of a proposed Floyd County floodplain ordinance update.

• Approved awarding the county’s annual audit to Gardiner + Company for the next three fiscal years. Gardiner’s Charles City office is the current financial auditor for the county, and proposed continuing that job at a cost of $30,750, $31,500 and $32.250 for each of the next three years.

The only other bidder was the Office of Auditor of State, which proposed performing the three annual audits for a price of $37,750, $39,550 and $41,350.

• Briefly again discussed when the courthouse departments might start returning to a more normal schedule, but took no specific action. Supervisors agreed that county services are being provided as needed and they would wait to see what the state and county COVID-19 numbers do in the coming weeks.