Morning Sentinel
ATV riders club drops Oakland effort
By JOEL ELLIOTT
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 11/06/2007

OAKLAND -- Dick Eastman, president of the Fairfield-based Messalonskee Trail Riders ATV Club, said on Monday that he was dropping his bid to open more town roads to all-terrain vehicle use.

Town councilors in late October voted down the club's proposal, citing concerns from residents and the Messalonskee School District that mixing ATVs with regular traffic would create dangerous situations on Oakland's streets.

Eastman's proposals would have allowed ATV riders, some as young as 10 years old, to ride through portions of town roads that included school zones. Oakland Police Chief Mike Tracy advised against the plan, citing safety reasons, as did Messalonskee School Superintendent James C. Morse Sr.

Morse wrote in a letter addressed to Oakland Town Council Chairman J. Hobart Pierce that the board should deny the club's request because the plan posed a serious safety concern.

"(S)hould a collision occur, the weight of a school bus compared to the weight of an ATV would place the ATV driver in serious jeopardy," Morse wrote. "(A)lthough our drivers are conscientious in watching out for pedestrians and other vehicles, the small size of an ATV machine would make it very hard to see them on the road."

Morse said that ATV drivers, if given access to nearby roads, likely would damage fields on the school campuses.

Eastman had, in two different proposals, requested ATV access to South Gage Road, Summer Street, Route 11, Libby Hill Road, South Alpine Street, North Alpine Street, Old Waterville Road, Kennedy Memorial Drive, Cascade Mill Road, Fairfield Street, High Street and Pleasant Street, according to Oakland Town Manager Steve Dyer.

Town councilors granted ATV access to portions of Rice Rips Road and the County Road, but rejected the bulk of Eastman's proposal.

"The board was not convinced that the public concerns for safety and potential for accidents was addressed by the ATV club's presentation," Dyer said.

The ATV club president on Monday described Oakland town councilors as being stubborn and close-minded as he explained that his club would end its drive to expand its access to public roads.

"No, we've wasted enough time and money," Eastman said. "Changes are not something that is going to happen in Oakland. The people have more excuses -- they don't even want to try any more ideas."

Joel Elliott -- 861-9252

jelliott@centralmaine.com

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Brian of West Gardiner, ME
Nov 6, 2007 11:11 AM
This shows the stupidity of oakland!report abuse
Duane Bickford of Fairfield, ME
Nov 6, 2007 12:50 PM
I would just like to clarify that although the Messalonskee Trail Riders states that they are Fairfield based,
The town of Fairfield has its own ATV club(Central Maine ATV Club). This club is not affiliated with the Oakland club and was not involved in the proposal to open town roads. We do realize the need to open some town roads for ATV access to Gas, Food and connecting trails systems, but respect the communities decisions they make when dealing with such proposals.report abuse
Bill of Fairfield, ME
Nov 6, 2007 5:49 PM
Brian;
Throwing insults and barbs at another towns politicians and people will not further your cause.I drove a school bus in Oakkand, and I can tell you firsthand that bicycles, snowmobiles and ATV's are not easily seen on the same roads where there are cars and trucks.
The fact that the ATV's are not allowed on some peoples private property, to get off the roads, is only a testament to what has happened in the past.People have had their yards torn up by a few inconsiderate people, and they have ruined it for all the othersreport abuse
John of Camden, ME
Nov 6, 2007 6:47 PM
Any plan to have "ATV riders, some as young as 10 years old, to ride through portions of town roads that included school zones" is a badly devised plan.report abuse

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