Decision due Dec. 4 on expanded Greenville ATV access

Staff Report

    GREENVILLE — After digesting the results of a well-attended public hearing last month, the Greenville Board of Selectmen is set to make a decision at their Dec. 4 meeting on whether to expand ATV access in the community.
    Town Manager John Simko gave a synopsis of the two proposed changes at the hearing. One would allow ATVs through the downtown intersection and the other would permit them to operate on Lily Bay and Scammon roads to avoid an off-road trail which connects Foss Street and the Moosehead Riders Snowmobile Club.

    Nearly 40 people attended the session, according to the minutes of the board of selectmen’s meeting, with opinion divided on the access issue.
    Presently, ATVs are permitted on Pritham Avenue from Greenville Junction to the entrance to the municipal parking lot near Flatlander’s Restaurant downtown, a half-block from the main intersection.
    Police Chief Jeff Pomerleau said that his department has had few complaints about ATVs. The most common one is that the vehicles move too slowly on Pritham Avenue, thus slowing down all vehicular traffic.
    He has also had complaints about the occasional “hot dogger” who drives recklessly, and also complaints about riders making multiple trips back and forth on the access routes.
    Opponents of expanded access included Danny Goulet, who noted that many walkers and runners and bicyclists who use Scammon Road expressed concerns for their safety should ATVs be allowed on this same road. He also said that the existence of some “holes” in the gravel shoulder along Scammon Road which would make it more hazardous for ATV traffic to co-exist with pedestrian traffic.
    Ralph Johnson stated that while provisions made by the town for ATVs and other recreational activities are commendable, these actions do not take into account the desire by many residents and visitors for “peace and quiet” while in Greenville. He feels these people do not want to deal with ATV traffic on busy roads while they’re here. He also expressed concern over the noise of ATV traffic, and also suggested a route over Pleasant Street be considered instead of Scammon Road.
    Proponents included Amber Lavigne, executive director for the Moosehead Lake Region Chamber of Commerce, who noted that tourism is the region’s largest industry, and that we should all be doing all that we can to make tourism more successful in Greenville and the surrounding areas.  She urged selectmen to support these requests from the Moosehead ATV Club.
    Jon Gray said he supports the proposed ATV access route expansion, and noted that other areas should be considered in the future, such as access to Indian Hill from downtown. He also suggested that the proposed access route on Lily Bay and Scammon roads be done on a one-year trial basis.
    Ken Woodbury, the community development director for the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council, outlined the efforts of the Piscataquis County Tourism Development Authority to develop permanent trails around Moosehead Lake and throughout the county.
    But he described Greenville as a “choke point” for such efforts because access through and across town is difficult due to existing development and swampy ground.  He also notes that he prefers Scammon Road over Pleasant Street due to the hilly terrain, and also suggested that additional signage along the access routes might make the rules easier to follow.
    Howard Gautreau asked if this could be decided by a town meeting vote. Simko clarified that state law vests the authority to create an ATV access route with the municipal officers; and while a straw vote has been used by the selectmen in the past to help them determine the will of the people, there is no requirement to have a town meeting vote to force the selectmen’s decision.
    Wednesday’s Board of Selectmen’s meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the town hall meeting room.