Wide differences of opinion on ATV access

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer

    SANGERVILLE — The Sangerville Board of Selectmen was scheduled to vote on Tuesday, July 8 to grant or deny a request to expand ATV access on a portion of four roads.
    But no matter which way the vote went, the issue has proved to be quite divisive.

    The request came through a resident-generated petition with 96 signatures that was brought to the board at last month’s meeting. The ATV’ers want to use portions of Flanders Hill, Burroughs, McPhetres, Knowlton Mills and East Sangerville roads in order to get to the existing trail system more easily.
    The issue was thoroughly debated then, and many points were rehashed at a workshop on July 2 which was also attended by Sheriff John Goggin and Game Warden Jeremy Kemp.
    Goggin said that one problem with this particular request was the length of the route. “It’s a safety issue, as far as I’m concerned personally — the safety of the ATV riders and the traveling public,” Goggin said. He also emphasized that he wasn’t opposed to the vehicles, since he owns one himself.
    The sheriff said that he attended a meeting a few weeks ago where a group of ATV’ers wanted to use a four-mile portion of the Monson-Blanchard Road to access businesses in downtown Monson. “It sounded like a good idea, but they were asking to use a very hilly, winding road and blind knolls,” Goggin said. “I voiced my concern that four miles was quite excessive for an ATV on a hot-topped road.”
    But the Monson group then agreed to rethink their proposal, and eventually cut down the request to use only one mile of the road.
    Goggin emphasized that as sheriff, he couldn’t tell the town that they “can or can’t do this (grant access) … But once you put ATVs on a hot-top road or even some gravel roads, you’re going to increase the possibility of somebody dying.”
    But ATV owner Charlie Cleaves said that “the same thing could be said about automobiles. A small percentage of them will have accidents.” Cleaves said there’s no place in town to build private trails anymore. “I don’t believe you’re going to get a big influx of people coming in. It will be people wanting to get out,” Cleaves said.
    Other ATV’ers reiterated Cleaves’ argument that they’re “landlocked” with recreational vehicles they have a significant investment in.
    Larry Daggett, trailmaster for the Piscataquis Predators ATV Club, said he agreed with Goggin on many points. “But we have irresponsible people running the roads right now. If you give them a place to go (legally), you reduce the problem,” Daggett said.
    John Edgerton of Waterville, who also owns property in Sangerville, said he was surprised and upset that landowners on the proposed route weren’t notified. He also read portions of several news articles critical of ATV’s in general, stating that they were dangerous to the riders and the environment. “I’m sorry for the people who are landlocked,” said Edgerton. “And if it were just those few folks who were going to come by once in a while, fine. But we’re opening the doors to everyone.”
    Chris Clukey, a bicycle rider, said that he’s often been “choked by a cloud of dust from ATV riders coming up right behind me … I’m not against ATVs whatsoever. It’s how they’re used.”
    Selectman Melissa Randall said that her main objection toward granting access was that ATV’ers are not required to carry liability insurance like a regular motor vehicle. “For everyone in this room in favor of this, I’ve gotten a telephone call or some sort of communication from someone who is worried about it,” Randall said.
    The next regularly-scheduled Sangerville Board of Selectmen’s meeting is Thursday, July 24.