Lewis completes its review for ATV trail system

LOWVILLE — Lewis County legislators on Thursday completed their nearly two-year environmental review of a countywide all-terrain vehicle system.

However, they still need to adopt laws regulating trail development and ATV use before trail work can begin in earnest.

"We realize this road has been long and a little bumpy," Legislature Chairman Jack T. Bush, R-Brantingham, said at Thursday's special meeting.

Legislators, by an 8-0 vote, adopted a findings statement as the final step in the state Environmental Quality Review Act process. Legislator L. Kelley Dickinson, R-Harrisville, was absent, while Legislator Richard C. Lucas, R-Barnes Corners, owner of the Montague Inn, abstained.

At their regular meeting Tuesday, lawmakers will be asked to adopt a trail plan, a draft version of which was developed in June 2007, and set public hearings on two proposed laws, County Attorney Richard J. Graham said.

One would detail how all possible trail system elements — private land, county and town roads, county reforestation land and utility and rail corridors — are to fit together, while the other would create a code regulating ATV use and operation in the county, he said.

Those laws and regulations will be based upon findings from the environmental review but will leave some discretion to the county's trail coordinator and conservation foreman on daily maintenance issues, said Andrew J. Leja of Albany law firm Hiscock & Barclay.

The nearly $100,000 environmental review project was conducted by county staff, the Syracuse engineering firm Barton & Loguidice and Mr. Leja's firm.

Joseph Z. Onyon, vice president of the Tug Hill Wheelers ATV Club in Barnes Corners and Region 6 director of the state Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle Association, also praised the efforts of county legislators and Trail Coordinator Robert C. Diehl.

"I would just like to say thank you for the support," Mr. Onyon said.

However, Lowville resident Louis C. Bush III wasn't so supportive, suggesting the project's price tag was high and questioning the timing, given the slow economy and legislators' decision to cut public library funding.

"I just think it's the wrong time for these expenditures," he said.

Legislators on Thursday also voted 9-0 to extend three part-time solid waste laborer positions through March 3.

The three positions were cut in the 2009 budget. However, members of the legislative Solid Waste Committee on Monday suggested that funding could be moved within that department's budget to cover the extra personnel expenses.

The temporary extension of the positions will provide time to review line items with solid waste officials and ensure the plan is feasible, County Manager David H. Pendergast said.