rstarch345
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Where ever I can wheel
Here's a e-mail from one of the guys from Ohio 4x4 Trailriders in Columbus dated Aug 22, 2005.
"We are having some issues with part of the Furnace area. A local landowner petitioned the township trustee's to vacate a section of road. If this section of road is vacated it cuts off LEGAL access to a decent portion of the Furnace area and several nice trails.
The petition had to be approved by the County Commissioners, but either intentionally or not, they sat on for over 60 days and therefore it passed them by default. They had called a meeting to meet at the road and discuss the situation in which several of our members took a vacation day to attend, and was also attended by the president of OMTA and another club, but it didn't do any good because the 60 days had already passed.
The township trustee's still have to pass the final resolution to close the road, which we can attend and protest, but we are not confident that will do any good. Therefore we are investigating what other legal actions we can take (ie. hiring a lawyer).
Basically, we are looking for possible support from other clubs in either the form of advice, lawyer recommendations, or funding. If this section of road is successfully vacated, then we are afraid it will lead to the rest of the area following suit.....everything in Vinton Co. is based on township roads.
BTW, we did talk with the landowner who originated the petition and stated we would be willing to work with him to cut off illegal offshoots on his property (his biggest issue is loud bikes and quads going off the trail on his property, tearing stuff up and just making noise)........but he refused to discuss these options. Also, this landowner is currently on charges for shooting (actually hit the bike) at a dualsport bike rider who was on a legal township road and on a street-legal bike. "
This is the latest as of Sep 13, 2005.
“The final township meeting was last night, Sep 6, 2005, and we had members from the local clubs (ie Columubus area) and the OMTA (Ohio Multi-Use Trails Association) there to protest. However the township trustees voted to proceed with the closing.
According to the law we have 10 days to file an appeal, though we are in desperate need to find a lawyer who is both knowledgeable enough in this area and willing to lend his services for a reasonable fee (the two local clubs involved are willing to donate money, but funds are limited).
Please keep in mind that ALL trails in Vinton Co. are based on township roadways. If this trend continues and gains momentum then we will lose the entire area.”
Leave it to the kindergarten mentalities of bike and quad drivers to once again screw the rest of us. It will be nice when legislation is passed to regulate these things.
Keep in mind many of you out there are just as responsible for this type of action happening. You leave trash and beer cans on the trail, you think it's cute to run wheels up trees, create your own short cuts off trails. It eventually catches up and trails get closed.
"We are having some issues with part of the Furnace area. A local landowner petitioned the township trustee's to vacate a section of road. If this section of road is vacated it cuts off LEGAL access to a decent portion of the Furnace area and several nice trails.
The petition had to be approved by the County Commissioners, but either intentionally or not, they sat on for over 60 days and therefore it passed them by default. They had called a meeting to meet at the road and discuss the situation in which several of our members took a vacation day to attend, and was also attended by the president of OMTA and another club, but it didn't do any good because the 60 days had already passed.
The township trustee's still have to pass the final resolution to close the road, which we can attend and protest, but we are not confident that will do any good. Therefore we are investigating what other legal actions we can take (ie. hiring a lawyer).
Basically, we are looking for possible support from other clubs in either the form of advice, lawyer recommendations, or funding. If this section of road is successfully vacated, then we are afraid it will lead to the rest of the area following suit.....everything in Vinton Co. is based on township roads.
BTW, we did talk with the landowner who originated the petition and stated we would be willing to work with him to cut off illegal offshoots on his property (his biggest issue is loud bikes and quads going off the trail on his property, tearing stuff up and just making noise)........but he refused to discuss these options. Also, this landowner is currently on charges for shooting (actually hit the bike) at a dualsport bike rider who was on a legal township road and on a street-legal bike. "
This is the latest as of Sep 13, 2005.
“The final township meeting was last night, Sep 6, 2005, and we had members from the local clubs (ie Columubus area) and the OMTA (Ohio Multi-Use Trails Association) there to protest. However the township trustees voted to proceed with the closing.
According to the law we have 10 days to file an appeal, though we are in desperate need to find a lawyer who is both knowledgeable enough in this area and willing to lend his services for a reasonable fee (the two local clubs involved are willing to donate money, but funds are limited).
Please keep in mind that ALL trails in Vinton Co. are based on township roadways. If this trend continues and gains momentum then we will lose the entire area.”
Leave it to the kindergarten mentalities of bike and quad drivers to once again screw the rest of us. It will be nice when legislation is passed to regulate these things.
Keep in mind many of you out there are just as responsible for this type of action happening. You leave trash and beer cans on the trail, you think it's cute to run wheels up trees, create your own short cuts off trails. It eventually catches up and trails get closed.
