The Vilas County law enforcement committee heard reports on a number of issues last week including ATVs on county highways and certain town roads, a snowmobile report on accidents and citations, and communication problems on aging towers.
Recreation officer Deputy Jason Molle responded to committee questions on allowing ATVs to travel on county truck highways and snowmobile trails.
“No ATVs are allowed on any snowmobile trail but they are allowed on all town/city roads year around in Eagle River and the towns of Lincoln, Cloverland, Washington, Conover and Phelps,” Molle said. “They can’t legally operate on the county trunk highways unless approved by the county board.”
The board postponed that vote Tuesday.
Sheriff Joe Fath said his preference “is to develop ATV trails off-highway rather than allowing them on county trunk highways.”
Snowmobile reports
Dep. Molle reported so far this snowmobile season he has received 35 snowmobile complaints and had 220 hours of patrol. There were so far 14 snowmobile accidents that included two through the ice, but no fatalities.
He reported issuing 36 citations and 48 written warnings.
Jail COVID Update
Jail administrator Bill Weiss indicated he currently had 68 guests in-house with the average daily population of 77 compared to the average daily population last year at 72.
“We experience COVID cases and currently have four positive and three probable,” Weiss said. “We have two fully recovered and eight to nine staff that have recovered.”
When asked Weiss said, “We have had both prisoners and some staff that have refused to be vaccinated.”
