City to rewrite UTV ordinance as Lincoln Street debate continues

The Rhinelander Common Council spent nearly an hour Monday discussing whether to allow utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) on Lincoln Street, but ended the May 11 meeting without a vote after a motion was made and then withdrawn. City administration announced it will rewrite the existing ATV/UTV ordinance and bring back a revised draft — leaving the door open for the council to vote on the Lincoln Street question at any time. A new draft will address the distinction between ATVs and UTVs, possible turn signal requirements, and whether to include a delayed effective date if any change is approved. Police Chief Josh Chiamulera told the council that since the city began allowing ATVs and UTVs on designated routes in 2019, his department has issued roughly 17 citations related to the vehicles and recorded five OWI cases, most connected to crashes. He noted Lincoln Street carries about five times the traffic of Stevens Street and said he was neither strongly for nor against expanding UTV access. Several alderpersons cited safety concerns, with Alderman Steven Jopek pointing to data indicating 62 percent of UTV deaths nationally occur on public roads. Alderman Tom Barnett said he could not support a change taking effect this summer given elevated traffic from multiple road construction projects. Alderman Gerald Anderson said he remains opposed to any change. Supporters, including Alderman Bob Lueder and Council President Carrie Mikalauski, argued UTVs are already permitted on every comparable city street and questioned why vehicles offering less protection — such as bicycles and mopeds — draw less concern. Lueder, who drives a UTV and described his current route to Walmart as a lengthy detour through the north side of the city, argued that UTVs are already allowed on every other comparable city street and that the question of Lincoln Street is a narrow one. He said state statute allows arm signals in lieu of turn signals, the same as for mopeds and older motorcycles — which are currently legal on Lincoln Street. Former Mayor Chris Frederickson, who was in office when the original ordinance was enacted, addressed the council and said connecting the city's trail network to hotels and businesses was part of a broader recreational tourism strategy. Council meetings are available to view by visiting www.hodagtv.com. The panel's next regular meeting is May 26 at 6 p.m. A full report  on the UTV discussion will appear in our next print edition.