Debate Still Surrounds ATV’s In Franklin County

Off-road vehicles became legal on Franklin County roads on Sep. 1 but some residents are fighting back against the ordinance.

The Franklin County Observer reported that Franklin County Commissioners had adjourned their meeting on Sep. 3 before Wayne Monroe had a chance to address the commissioners.

He was able to present commissioners with copies of a petition that was signed by 34 residents on Reservoir, Spaeth, and Keeler Roads who are against off-road vehicles.

Monroe also included information from the state of Indiana showing 327 deaths of ORV riders in 2011 and over a thousand emergency room visits for other injuries, according to the Observer.

The speed limit on Reservoir Road is 30mph, but he cited traffic typically moves between 40 and 50 mph.

Monroe fears that someone may be killed on one of those roads due to the amount of traffic as well as the disregard for the speed limit.

Commissioners have previously stated that they expected petitions to be filed against ATV’s on certain county roads and would disallow them on the roads where the majority of landowners voted against the off-road vehicles.