In May 2015, Cook County commissioners received a request from the Cook County ATV Club to consider allowing Class 1 all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) to travel on two sections of the Gunflint Trail currently closed to Class 1 ATV traffic. Such a change would require an amendment to the Cook County ATV Road Ordinance enacted in 2009, so a committee was established to revisit the ordinance.
The ATV Club request followed a U.S. Forest Service decision to allow ATV travel on some of its roads, including the Pine Mountain Road and South Brule Road. With the use of those forest roads, the ATV Club wrote to the county board that a route to reach mid-Trail services was almost complete. To enable ATVs to reach several businesses, a request was made to allow ATV traffic on a 1.4-mile section of the Gunflint Trail between the Pine Mountain Road and South Brule Road and another 2.6-mile section from the Lima Grade Road to Big Bear Lodge on Northwoods Loop.
Another request followed from a Gunflint Trail resident to extend the section open to ATVs to County Road 92. That county road is currently open to ATVs.
However, at the May 12 county board meeting, commissioners heard from citizens with concerns about allowing this additional use on the high traffic, paved Gunflint Trail. The county board agreed to consider those concerns. The board agreed the entire ordinance should be reviewed before any changes were made and a committee was established.
Committee members are Commissioners Frank Moe and Garry Gamble, County Attorney Molly Hicken, Sheriff Pat Eliasen, Land Commissioner Betty Schultz, County Engineer David Betts, 1854 Treaty Authority Conservation Officer Clay Rumph, Cook County ATV Club secretary Rhonda Silence and Gunflint Trail resident John Bottger.
Several committee meetings were held to research and discuss concerns about safety, economic impact to the Gunflint Trail, environmental impact, esthetic issues, road congestion, and so on. The final meeting included a drive up the Gunflint Trail to physically inspect the areas in question.
At the end of that meeting on Tuesday, June 23, the committee agreed to bring forward a recommendation to amend the ordinance to allow Class 1 ATV travel on the shoulder and farright side of the Gunflint Trail from Pine Mountain Road to South Brule Road and from Lima Grade Road to Northwoods Loop, as well as up to County Road 92.
The full county board will consider the recommendation at the next county board meeting on Tuesday, July 14. If the board agrees to consider amending the ordinance, a public meeting will then be held.
Under Minnesota State Statute, Class 2 ATVs, commonly referred to as sideby side ATVs, are currently allowed to travel the entire Gunflint Trail.
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