City considers street routes for off-road vehicles
By Angie Landsverk
The city of Waupaca is discussing whether to allow people to drive through the city on all-terrain vehicles and utility-terrain vehicles.
“This was requested about 18 months ago,” said Mayor Brian Smith. “It never really made it out of the mayor’s office.”
The reason it is being brought back now is because three of the four surrounding towns have already approved it, he said.
Another one is discussing it, the mayor told the common council on July 16.
Smith said the city could talk about designating certain streets as routes for ATVs and UTVs.
“We already have an ordinance for snowmobiles,” he said.
If area towns are embracing the idea, it could increase tourism down the road, said Ald. Paul Hagen.
Ald. Scott Purchatzke noted the number of commercials he sees on television for the vehicles.
Other cities, including some larger ones, are already allowing them on designated roads, he said.
Purchatzke described it as an “up and coming form of recreation.”
Police Chief Brian Hoelzel said if the city decides to allow ATVs and UTVs on certain streets, the city has to look at doing so in a safe way.