ATV use on Castanea Township roads discussed in Special Meeting Monday night
By Christopher Miller
CASTANEA TOWNSHIP – Castanea Township residents met at the township building Monday night to voice their opinions on the proposed idea of allowing ATVs to use public roads within the township.
“Tonight is just a conversation between the township residents and the supervisors,” township supervisor Brandon Coleman told the crowd of 30 or so in attendance.
“This meeting is for residents to voice their opinion on the matter, and no questions will be answered, all of your comments will be considered tonight and discussed at a future date. We were asked months ago to look into this option and we want to hear your statements so we can research answers to your questions.”
Originally brought forth to township supervisors by resident Keith Masorti, the question was in regards to riding in the community to visit with people and taking care of neighbors snow removal if asked.
Residents in attendance were mostly in favor of the idea, with many points brought up against.
“This is too dangerous with traffic and kids riding those mini bikes already on the roads,” a resident said. “I think it is a disaster waiting to happen.”
Other comments made against the notion were out of concern for safety such as snow plows dodging ATVs on the roadways during significant snow events, how to monitor the use of ATVs on roadways, who is responsible for accidents on resident’s property,
Suggestions were also made to, “deal with the current problems of people speeding through our neighborhoods and trespassing,” saying that, “this would only add to our problems and it might be over our heads right now to allow ATVs on the roads,” a resident said.
Other opponents mentioned that there has to be “additional rules and regulations so it is not a free-for-all for those wishing to ride their machines in the community,” and that ATVs are not designed to be run on regular road surfaces.” Other concerns were voiced regarding holding the appropriate insurance on the machines if used on township roads, or even possibly paying for an annual sticker to prove that the user is indeed a township resident.
“Let me make it known that this is only for Castanea Township residents, not anyone who just wants to park their trailer and ride on the roads,” Coleman said.
Along with Chapman Township who has a similar ATV use policy in place, another municipality within Clinton County that allows ATVs on their roads while not being connected to any trails is Porter Township.
Most people in attendance are in favor of the idea.
“I think it’s a great idea for myself to be able to do work with my machine around the township and for friends and family, it is easier for me to throw my chainsaw in the back and clean up a tree for a neighbor, and this could also be a good revenue-maker for the township to charge for an annual sticker that could easily be checked to ensure the user is a township resident,” a resident commented.
Other residents mentioned that the idea of using ATVs on township roads is perfect for snow removal, in case of flooding and snow emergencies, gathering firewood, and economic opportunity.
“If a trail system were to open up around us this could be huge for the area,” another resident said. “I am more worried about some of the cars driving and speeding down our roads than ATVs.”
The general consensus was that there would need to be rules in place, a minimum age limit required to ride on township roads, restrictions on when they could be used within the township limits, and township residency.
County Commissioner Jeff Snyder was in attendance to express his advocacy for ATV trails, but also said that, “this is a problem for ATVs to be running on public roads when they are not connected to trails.”
“I am not aware of any trails connecting to Castanea, and this is nothing that the county has initiated, I would not support this myself.
The question of whether or not this could be voted on and put on the ballot was also brought up.
“Unfortunately we are too late for it to be on the ballot for November, we talked about that and we were not soon enough to get a referendum on the ballot,” Coleman said. “We had the conversation to put it out to the people for a vote, but I have all of the information we need to look into this idea.”
“Would it be wrong of us to ask you, the supervisors, your opinion on the idea of riding ATVs on the roads,” a resident asked.
“There are certain purposes for it,” Coleman said. “I bought mine for work and trapping, and there are times I have had to ride my machine on the road because the roads were so bad going up to the tower, but I will go with the majority of the people.”
Supervisor Gradel, not being an ATV owner, said that he learned a lot from the people on Monday night, but he was elected by the people and what the majority wants he will vote with after more research has been conducted.
Residents looking to share additional information with township supervisors are asked to send an email to: supervisors@castaneatownshippa.gov
