When is an ATV not an ATV? When it's over 600 pounds! At least, that's the definition by which trail signs on Carlton County's Soo Line Trails currently abide. But all that's about to change.
Carlton County Land Commissioner Milo Rasmussen explained to county commissioners at their adjourned session on Monday that when County Ordinance No.14 dealing with ATV Rules and Safety Regulations was drafted in 1988, the statutory definition of an ATV limited its dry weight to 600 pounds, and the signs reflect that definition.
Since that time, however, a couple of things have happened, Rasmussen said. All terrain vehicles have evolved into much larger and heavier vehicles, some seating passengers two across and sporting roll bars and even cabs. In accordance, the Minnesota statute regarding use of ATVs has been amended to create two classes of ATVs, with the maximum weight for Class 1 set at 900 pounds and the maximum weight for Class 2 ATVs at 1,500 pounds. The maximum engine displacement remains at 800 cc.
Rasmussen went on to say that neighboring Pine County has already amended its ordinance to reflect these changes and he urged the Carlton County Board to do the same. In order to do so, an amendment will have to be made to the county ordinance, and a public hearing on the proposed change must first be held before doing so. The board agreed to schedule a public hearing on the matter for Monday, Feb. 26.
County Auditor Paul Gassert also brought it to the attention of the board that the current ordinance does not contain any language that would prohibit drivers of ATVs from having open bottles aboard, and commissioners agreed this is something that should be addressed in any change to the safety ordinance as well.
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In further business to come before the county board, commissioners gave the go ahead for the development of an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team in Carlton County. Pam Brumfield of Carlton County Health and Human Services explained ACT is a treatment model using a team of six to seven professionals to deliver rehabilitation and treatment services to individuals in the county with the most severe impairment from serious mental illness. Brumfield explained that the service might amount to something as simple as making sure the clients continue to get their medications or something as complex as psychiatric services and chemical dependency recovery.
Brumfield explained that family members and clients can call the team and expect to get a response from them without being passed on to any other agency or provider. Clients are able to be seen by members of the team up to several times a day as needed for as long as needed.
She said Carlton County Health and Human Services plans to team up with the Human Development Center and the Fond du Lac Reservation to put together the ACT team, which anticipates being able to provide more effective services to as many as 50 people in the community currently utilizing a high level of mental health services. Costs for the team will be included in a billing rate to Medical Assistance, with the county responsible for providing a 20 percent match (approximately $125,000), some $65,000 of which Brumfield expects to be paid through a new, ongoing mental health grant and some $50,000 through shifting of current resources and annual mental health grant funding.
To expedite the process, the board gave its approval to moving forward with recruiting and hiring a licensed independent clinical social worker to staff the program.
The board endorsed the reappointment of Elaine Lindell to the Recycling and Solid Waste Advisory Committee and approved a request from Sean Timonen to exchange 80 acres of privately owned land with Carlton County for 40 acres of tax-forfeited land in Eagle Township. Rasmussen explained the land currently owned by Timonen is rich in peat and will be a worthwhile acquisition for the county.
Pine Journal Publisher/ reporter Wendy Johnson can be contacted at: wjohnson@pinejournal.com .
