PARIS — Oxford County officials say they need to do more research before ruling on a dispute involving a new ATV access trail in Albany Township.

In the meantime, officials hope the two sides can reach a solution on their own.

At issue are the new trail signs authorized by the county that allow ATV drivers to travel on Sawin Hill  and Dresser School roads in the unorganized territory. The roads create a seven-mile loop for riders but do not provide access to another trail.

A group of nearly 20 residents submitted a petition to the Oxford County Commission, which was discussed during Tuesday’s meeting. The petitioners say the signs were put up without their knowledge, and they were unaware that the topic would be discussed during a commissioners’ meeting in early June.

The petitioners said the roads are dangerous with blind curves and hills and are not even wide enough for a vehicle and an ATV to pass one another. Other concerns included damage to the roads, an end to their quiet and peaceful existence and an increase in traffic and speed as other riders discover the new circuit, including snowmobiles in the winter and dirt bikes.

One petitioner and landowner said he happily allows ATVs to use the trails on his property but was against them using the long stretch of public road.

Petitioners at the meeting said no one from the local ATV club had discussed with them the potential change.

Club members said they did speak to a few residents, who appeared supportive of the plan. They added that they would maintain the roads if damaged and disputed the seven-mile loop, saying it would only add about three miles to their ride.

County Administrator Donald Durrah said he needed more information before he could give his recommendation.

Tony Carter, supervisor for the unorganized territories, said he would review the condition of the roads, check the exact mileage of the loop and check the condition of a former trail that had been closed for harvesting wood.

Several petitioners said they believed the trail had reopened and would connect the Albany Township trails with those in other parts of the state.

In other business, commissioners approved a bid from JML Trucking & Excavation of Errol, New Hampshire, to plow Magalloway Township for $34,000 per year for the next three years. Carter did not recommend the lowest bid for “public safety reasons.” JML is 10 miles away, while the lowest bidder from Hanover is 51 miles away, he said.

The county rejected paying a bill of $2,298 from D.A. Wilson and Co. of Bethel for a stump dump for Albany and Mason townships. The bill came without a contract and the service was not included in the budget.

Chairman Timothy Turner of Buckfield said the company would need to negotiate a contract before next year’s budget is developed.

The board approved hiring full-time dispatchers Tina Suttles and Mykayla Dow and Jerrad Coffin as a part-time corrections officer. It also accepted the resignation of Brianna Johnson as a corrections officer.

A liquor license renewal was approved for Bosebuck Mountain Camps at the northern end of Aziscohos Lake in Lynchtown Township.

Commissioners reviewed a change to the nepotism policy and agreed to send it back to the county attorney for further clarification.