PARIS — Rerouting trails and increasing enforcement were floated as possible solutions Thursday at a hearing to address concerns over ATV use of a public road.

At a June meeting, the Board of Selectmen authorized the use of sections of Parsons Road, Brett Hill Road and Elm Hill Road for use by ATVs. Under state law, ATVs are prohibited from using public roads unless approved by municipal officers. In those cases, the vehicles must keep to the extreme right and obey a speed limit of 10 miles per hour.

Some Parsons Road residents have since complained to selectmen that the decision was made too hastily, and have raised issues regarding ATV use of the road. Jeff Parsons said that he has seen large groups of ATVs creating noise issues as well as a negative impact from the vehicles going through wetlands and other off-trail areas. Parsons said he is also concerned with the safety of riders, since the road has several rises where it is not possible to see the road ahead.

Mark Stearns, treasurer of the X-Tra Mile ATV Club, said the club has worked to address any environmental problems by promoting safe, on-trail riding. He said ATV riding decreases during the winter, and the two groups should be able to work out a solution.

Chris Kennison, trail master of the Oxford Trail Riders, said he did not think closing Parsons Road to ATVs is the ideal solution. He said that during the slower months, the clubs may be able to reroute the trails to avoid the properties whose owners have complained about ATV use.

Jim Hakala, a Parsons Road resident, suggested having the trail bypass Parsons Road and use a longer portion of East Oxford Road to reach the next trail portion. Stearns said the club would be wary of such an option, due to the greater use and faster traffic of East Oxford Road. Hakala said one possibility would be to slow the traffic speed limit on the road from 45 mph to 35 mph.

Town Manager Philip Tarr and Chief David Verrier of the Paris Police Department said the town will also work to notify landowners of similar issues in the future.

“I think you’re going to see the town take a greater role in the notification process,” Tarr said. “I think that’s a given.”

Robert Ripley, who owns land on the Parsons Road, said he thought the trails should be rerouted with public access to the road left open as a backup option in the event of a private landowner barring trail use. He also said there should be increased enforcement to cut down on misuse of the road by some riders.

Tarr said there were a number of options for enforcement, such as having the Maine Warden Service or Paris Police Department monitor the area. He said other possibilities included a town ordinance to specify a person to patrol the area or having members of the ATV clubs enforce proper use of the road.

The working group will hold its next meeting at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 13 at the fire station. Selectmen will also revisit the issue at their Oct. 25 meeting.

mlangeveld@sunjournal.com

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