City eyes ATVs

Seymour Common Council will discuss the use of all-terrain vehicles on city streets when it meets at 7 p.m. today at City Hall.

The request comes from Seymour resident Bill Toborg, who says he would like to be able to ride his four-wheel ATV without having to load it on a trailer and haul it to the country.

He asked council earlier this month to write an ordinance addressing the issue.

"Indiana code allows the city to write such an ordinance. I'm not infringing on other motorists or trying to cause trouble," Toborg said. "I've talked to a lot of ATV riders and they have the same problem."

Toborg said that by driving an ATV, he saves gas, getting 53 to 60 mpg, and causes less pollution.

He said there are strict guidelines by the state to legally own and operate an ATV, including having a valid driver's license.

"My ATV is registered with the county and meets all requirements," Toborg said.

Councilman Jim Lucas said he was against the idea and was ready to vote no.

"I have huge reservations about this," he said. "People would be cutting through other people's yards and it would be a nightmare for the police to handle, not to mention it becomes a safety issue."

Councilman Andy Hagedorn agreed.

"I can see a bunch of kids out playing on them and getting hurt," he added.

Hagedorn asked Toborg if any other counties had similar ordinances.

"Not that I know of," Toborg said.

Toborg said he didn't think there would be too many problems caused by ATVs.

"I don't think it will be as bad as we all think," he said. "It will keep police a little busy at first, but we can't govern how people behave."

Police Chief Bill Abbott said he was concerned an ATV ordinance would create a lot of problems.

"It would be like opening a can of worms," he said.

Council decided to send the request to the Thoroughfare Committee for more research. That committee will meet at 6:15 p.m. today, before the regular council meeting, to discuss the issue as well as parking in the 400 block of West Brown Street. At the last meeting, council voted to table a decision to make the area 2-hour parking.

Also on council's agenda:

A public hearing for the annexation of property owned by Motel of Seymour LLC at 333 N. Sandy Creek Drive.

Second reading of an ordinance to annex property as requested by Midwest Hospitality LLC for Fairfield Inn.

Second reading of an ordinance to amend city code concerning the regulation of parking. The ordinance restricts parking on the north side of Brown Street between Poplar and Lynn streets. It came as a request from Schneck Medical Center to help improve traffic flow and safety in the area.

And second reading of an ordinance to amend city code concerning fine schedules. The changes create a fee schedule for noise violations as well as increase fees for some ordinance violations, in-cluding parking.

If you go

What: Seymour Common Council meeting

When: 7 p.m. today, although there will be a committee hearing on the ATV request at 6:15 p.m.

Where: Seymour City Hall

Who can go: Meetings are open to the public