Committee ordered to study recreational UTV/ATV in Jasper County

The Jasper County Board of Supervisors has ordered the creation of a committee to study the possibility of allowing the recreational use of all-terrain and side-by-side utility task vehicles on rural county roadways.

Supervisor Brandon Talsma has taken on the issue for the supervisors, and at the March 12 board meeting recommended a committee with three proponents of open UTV and ATV use and three opponents to get a balanced opinion. The committee will also have one supervisor and one representative from the Jasper County Attorney’s Office to tackle any legal questions. The goal is to produce a draft ordinance ready for a public hearing.

The board announced at its Jan. 24 meeting it would be considering a change to the current county ordinance which prohibits ATV and UTVs on county roads, except for farm utility work which is already allowed by Iowa Code.

When addressing opponents who attended last week’s meeting, Talsma said he’s aware of the passion on both sides of this issues but argues the lack of dedicated trails for ATV use in Jasper County is causing local riders to travel outside the county to ride, hindering individuals and families who want that amenity in the community and limiting another means of economic growth.

“A lot of people who take advantage of these trails throughout the state — who do have their side-by-sides, UTVs and ATVs registered with the (I)DNR to be able to use the state’s trails — are hesitant to do that because it’s not legal in our county,” Talsma said. “If they get pulled over they won’t be allowed to register with the state anymore.

“... I don’t think it’s right to tell the 95 percent of them who are going to abide by the law and be legal, ‘no,’ because of two or three percent who might abuse it,” Talsma added.

It’s not yet clear what Jasper County’s version of an ATV/UTV ordinance would like, and any recommendation made by the committee will be subject to full Board of Supervisors approval before it could be enacted. However, Talsma and board vice chair Doug Cupples did provide a few details of what could be in a possible ordinance.

It would set limits. The ordinance would likely outline a set “season” for recreational ATV/UTV riding, and riding would only be allowed from sunrise to sunset. Talsma said it would only add a $2,000 cost to the county liability insurance.

Allowing ATV’s for commercial use is becoming more common in Iowa.

The Newton Daily News previously reported 43 of Iowa's 99 counties have some type of ordinance allowing and governing ATV and/or UTV use on county roadways. The most populous is Clinton County with 49,166 people.

Clinton County’s Board of Supervisors passed its ordinance in July 2017. There, county leaders put in restrictions including:

• Every rider must have a valid driver’s license.

• Under the age of 16 must take an Iowa Department of Natural Resources safety course, carry that safety certificate on board and can not operate the vehicle after sundown.

• Are required to register the vehicle with the IDNR and display that registration visibly.

• Must have proof of $50,000/$100,000 liability insurance.

ATV/UTV owners in Clinton County obtain permits to operate through the IDNR and are only permitted to be on county roadways or shoulders, not in the ditch or road foreslope. Violation of the ordinance in Clinton County is subject to a $100 fine.

There is no set deadline for the Jasper County ATV/UTV committee to do its work, and there have not been any officials nominations to the committee by the Talsma or the board.

Contact MIke Mendenhall at 641-792-3121 Ext 6530 or mmendenhall@newtondailynews.com