WOODSTOCK – After receiving a letter from Lake Road resident Cathy Gaitis, selectmen decided Tuesday to abandon a proposal to open that road to ATV traffic from early January to the end of March.
The idea was suggested by Fire Chief Geff Inman and Road Foreman Randy Eastman but Gaitis stated in her letter that she feared the ATVs would increase the dangers for pedestrians who use the road daily throughout the year.
She wrote, “I am concerned about ATVs using Lake Road because a lot of people walk along the road every day to go to the store or the post office. I am afraid free access for the machines would mean multiple accidents with pedestrians who use it.”
The proposal was based on trying to eliminate parking along the road, which is now a problem during the ice-fishing season on Lake Christopher.
An alternate plan was put into place so that parking signs will be placed at the town boat landing of the Rowe Hill Road and at the town beach and recreation area on Lakeside Drive.
“(By) encouraging people to use areas for parking,” said Town Manager Vern Maxfield, “people should still have plenty of access to the lake without continuing to park and unload ATVs on Lake Road.”
In other business, selectmen authorized Maxfield to study the feasibility of leasing a backhoe/bucket loader instead of purchasing a new bucket loader without a backhoe.
“This would eliminate the cost of one machine and combine the road work into one unit. It would also allow us to sell the old 1979 loader and save having to maintain two machines,” he said.
Inman announced that his department has raised $2,500 of $6,000 needed to buy an ice rescue sled.
The idea stemmed from a meeting two weeks ago of fire department personnel, who said the sled is needed because there are several large and popular ice fishing lakes in the immediate area. The money is being raised through private donations, not through the town budget.
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