Several meetings ago, Marshall County Commissioner Mike Delp brought forward a complaint of dirt bikes doing damage to some of the trails in the county’s Memorial Forest on State Road 17. He also noted their riding on the sand dunes under the high-intensive power lines in the easement.
Commissioner Kurt Garner suggested also including the county forest at Mill Pond when the County Attorney creates the ordinance.
On Monday Attorney Jim Clevenger presented a drafted of the ordinance that would prohibit all motorized vehicles in both county owned forests.
Commissioner Garner suggested modifying the ordinance to permit motorized vehicles with prior written authorization of the commissioners, noting that when they sell wood in a logging operation they may use motorized vehicles to transport them.
Commissioner Delp said he worked with a volunteer group last weekend in the Memorial Forest picking up trash and leveling out the ruts made by the dirt bikes.
Greg Hildebrand, a neighbor of the Memorial Forest told the commissioners he sees lots of families drive their side-by-sides and quads down to the grounds and use the facility for picnics and outdoor recreating. He said, “I’d hate to see you guys shut it off to people recreating because, before, when it was unwelcoming there, there was a lot of illegal activity going on in there.”
Delp said the knobby tires are causing deep ruts and exposing roots. He said he’s in favor of people hiking and riding horses in the forest but he’s not sure why 4-wheelers and dirt bikes should be in there racing around.
The county commissioners will consider the ordinance on first reading at their July 2nd meeting. Anyone wishing to speak in favor or against banning motorized vehicles from the Memorial Forest or the forest at Mill Pond should attend the meeting, send a written response or contact one of the county commissioners.
