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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Stevens Co. may let ATVs on road

Stevens County commissioners will conduct a third public hearing Monday night on a proposal to open many county roads to all-terrain vehicles.

The idea is to encourage tourism by making it easier for ATV riders to go between small towns and recreational areas.

“Stevens County certainly can’t be said to have an economic boom going on here,” so officials are heeding advice to turn their economy from timber to tourism, Commissioner Merrill Ott said.

Some, however, are concerned about safety, noise, dust and other possible problems from allowing ATVs on public roads.

Sheriff Craig Thayer said he has heard from a number of concerned property owners, and he worries that many county roads weren’t engineered for as much conventional traffic as they carry, much less a mix of cars, trucks and ATVs.

The proposal would require ATVs to meet all state requirements. It would exercise the county’s right under state law to designate roads for ATV use if the roads provide a direct connection between cities of 3,000 people or less “an off-road vehicle recreation facility,” such as a trail, campground or park.

The proposal calls for opening sections of roads with access for Forest Service land. It lists some roads that would be opened and notes others could follow.

Monday’s hearing will be at 6:30 p.m. in the Stevens County Courthouse in Colville.

More information, including a list of the roads to be opened, is available on the county’s Web site: www.co.stevens.wa.us/pressrelease/press/pr.htm# CONTINUED_Public_Hearing _on_proposed_OHV_ordinance _-_August_20th.

Comments may be emailed to commissioners@co.stevens.wa. us or mailed to County Commissioners, 215 S. Oak, Room 214, Colville WA 99114.