DARLINGTON - The Cheese Country Trail has become a popular route for ATV and UTV enthusiasts. The trail travels from Monroe, through Browntown, South Wayne and Gratiot on its way to Darlington and concluding in Mineral Point.
But some residents on the south edge of Darlington who want to access the trail, instead of following the city routes like those on the north side of Pecatonica River, must load their ATVs into a trailer and haul them just a few short blocks due to state law. The citizens and Darlington Police Chief Jason King decided it was time to change that.
"We had asked the (Department of Transportation) for a waiver for the half-mile stretch, and they said no. The next step was to change the law," King said. "We gave our concerns to (Sen. Howard) Marklein and (Rep. Todd) Novak. I've worked with Mark and Todd many times and they are excellent to work with, and we got a speedy response."
Current law bars ATVs from driving on state highways. Wisconsin 23 in Darlington shares a half-mile stretch with Galena Street on the city's south side and cuts through part of the city, as does the river. Residents on the south edge of town are not able to directly access the ATV trails because of the law.
Late last month, Marklein of the 17th District successfully put a bill through the state Senate that could have a direct effect on the City of Darlington, Senate Bill 392. Novak of the 51st Assembly District authored a companion version of the bill, AB 485. The new bills would give municipalities the opportunity to allow ATV/UTV access when the highway runs through town and the speed limit is below 35 mph.
"Chief King emailed me early this year to see if there would be a way for municipalities to decide whether a small section of State Highway within the boundaries of a municipality could be part of a larger ATV/UTV route system," Marklein wrote in a blog post dated Oct. 27.
King also said that changing the routes only where speed limits are 35 mph or under will help ensure safety.
The trail has been a boon for the city, with many tourists stopping along their travels, especially during the weekends, according to Marklein. But King said that changing the law was not meant for out-of-town passersby, but for local residents.
"There are residents that want to take a Sunday drive. They are not people that just want to come in here and tear up the streets," King said.
Marklein noted that Darlington isn't the lone city to have this issue.
"This challenge is shared by other small, mostly rural, municipalities throughout the state where State Highways are also main roads through town. As ATV/UTV trail riding grows in popularity, this issue becomes a challenge in more municipalities," Marklein said in the blog post.
If passed, the bills would not automatically open the highways for ATV use, King added. It would only allow municipalities to individually vote on their own ordinance.
A public hearing for AB 485 was held Oct. 24. If approved, the bills would need to be signed by Gov. Scott Walker.
But some residents on the south edge of Darlington who want to access the trail, instead of following the city routes like those on the north side of Pecatonica River, must load their ATVs into a trailer and haul them just a few short blocks due to state law. The citizens and Darlington Police Chief Jason King decided it was time to change that.
"We had asked the (Department of Transportation) for a waiver for the half-mile stretch, and they said no. The next step was to change the law," King said. "We gave our concerns to (Sen. Howard) Marklein and (Rep. Todd) Novak. I've worked with Mark and Todd many times and they are excellent to work with, and we got a speedy response."
Current law bars ATVs from driving on state highways. Wisconsin 23 in Darlington shares a half-mile stretch with Galena Street on the city's south side and cuts through part of the city, as does the river. Residents on the south edge of town are not able to directly access the ATV trails because of the law.
Late last month, Marklein of the 17th District successfully put a bill through the state Senate that could have a direct effect on the City of Darlington, Senate Bill 392. Novak of the 51st Assembly District authored a companion version of the bill, AB 485. The new bills would give municipalities the opportunity to allow ATV/UTV access when the highway runs through town and the speed limit is below 35 mph.
"Chief King emailed me early this year to see if there would be a way for municipalities to decide whether a small section of State Highway within the boundaries of a municipality could be part of a larger ATV/UTV route system," Marklein wrote in a blog post dated Oct. 27.
King also said that changing the routes only where speed limits are 35 mph or under will help ensure safety.
The trail has been a boon for the city, with many tourists stopping along their travels, especially during the weekends, according to Marklein. But King said that changing the law was not meant for out-of-town passersby, but for local residents.
"There are residents that want to take a Sunday drive. They are not people that just want to come in here and tear up the streets," King said.
Marklein noted that Darlington isn't the lone city to have this issue.
"This challenge is shared by other small, mostly rural, municipalities throughout the state where State Highways are also main roads through town. As ATV/UTV trail riding grows in popularity, this issue becomes a challenge in more municipalities," Marklein said in the blog post.
If passed, the bills would not automatically open the highways for ATV use, King added. It would only allow municipalities to individually vote on their own ordinance.
A public hearing for AB 485 was held Oct. 24. If approved, the bills would need to be signed by Gov. Scott Walker.