Letters and Comments for February 8, 2010

Nelson

ATV idea has merit

To the Editor:

David Thiesfeld wrote a letter suggesting we let ATVs on the streets of Union County. Excellent letter. The concept goes far beyond the $20 (I suggest $10) to city/county coffers. ATV/UTV/snowmobile (OHV) people often spend $100-plus per day in communities they visit. Lodging, restaurants, fuel and general shopping. These people have the potential of bringing tourism funds to our community.

Last summer I visited Wallace, Idaho, stayed three days in their only RV park and rode several hundred miles. Only two streets in Wallace are off limits to the OHV world. Over 1,000 miles of roads and trails are accessible from the community. The Wallace ATV Jamboree often draws 400-plus participants. Math? Four hundred participants multiplied by $100 per day multiplied by a six-day event equals a potential of $240,000 spent in the community. Of course, we really don’t need that kind of money spent here. Especially if it happened several times a year.

Unique concept? Not at all. This year, we will again take some of our tourism dollars back to Wallace, and then to places like Marysvale, Utah, for their annual UTV Jamboree. Again, another community that welcomes tourism. Idaho, Montana, North and South Dakota, Arizona and parts of Nevada all welcome this group of people. Back east is the Hatfield/McCoy Trail system and the communities that support it.

I spoke with one of the Sheriff’s Deputies in Wallace and inquired about speeding/accident issues. Minimal. Most of us are law-abiding and responsible.

An easy task to bring this about? No. But it can be done. I for one will be willing to sit at the table and get the discussion going. It will take people from business and local government to make it happen. Perhaps the Union County Chamber of Commerce could take some of the leadership on this. Let’s expand our tourism to extend a hearty welcome to the OHV world.

Bob Nelson

Cove