FARMINGTON — Franklin County commissioners tabled a request Tuesday from a local all-terrain vehicle club to use part of a Freeman Township road to connect with the Moose Loop Trail.

Before their next meeting on Sept. 20, an agreement based on a plan commissioners developed a couple of years ago with other ATV riders for partial use of the East Madrid Road will be reviewed for the discussion.

Representing the Sandy River Riders All-Terrain Club, William Burden of Strong told commissioners Tuesday that the loop connects the trails of seven clubs from Strong to Kingfield and on to Stratton.

“It’s not a one-day trip,” he said, indicating ATV riders would patronize local stores, restaurants and perhaps motels near the trail.

Commissioner Clyde Barker of Strong brought the request to use 1.7 miles of the Cook Hill Road off Route 145 in Freeman Township to fellow commissioners for the club in August after parts of a trail were damaged.

The portion of Cook Hill Road starts at Tuttle Corner near a branch on the trail to Kingfield, Burden said. It’s a desolate area with no houses and no full-time residents.

The club would try to monitor trails and post access signs to the trail and go-slow warning signs on the county-owned gravel road.

Who’s responsible if the road is damaged? asked Commissioner Gary McGrane. He also asked Burden if the club would be willing to provide bonding for any necessary repairs to the public way, if needed.

Commissioners suggested a $5,000 bond and decided to table the discussion until the next meeting so an agreement can be prepared and Burden can check with the club about bonding.

Commissioner Barker suggested providing temporary approval for use of the road, but McGrane and Chairman Fred Hardy didn’t agree.

In other business, Barker told commissioners a total of 16 people from across the county have expressed interest in serving on a Dispatch Facilities Committee. They will meet next week to confirm their interest, choose 14 members and two alternates, review previously drawn plans for a new dispatch center and discuss what direction to take.

Commissioner Barker, serving as interim chairman of the committee, asked whether a representative from the architectural firm of Smith, Reuter and Lull needed to be present to explain the previous plans which are part of larger, combined spaces prepared by the firm.

This is for a separate Dispatch Center only, he said, of the proposed center located near the Sheriff’s Office off the Fairbanks Road.

The intent is for the committee to prepare a plan and costs to bring before voters in a spring referendum.

Commissioners agreed that the committee should meet and decide on a direction before deciding whether to meet with the architect representative.

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