By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Mona City has decided to post signs making all of the
city streets open to ATV traffic, however, Juab County
Commissioners want the old Highway 91, which is now a county
road, to not be included.
"Old 91 should just be driven across and should not be
traveled on," said Robert Steele, commissioner. "It would be
in everybody's best interest to not go on old 91."
In addition, said Wm. Boyd Howarth, commission
chairman, the road into Mona for the freeway is a state
access road and the state mandates the laws for that
street.
Mona Council member, Harry Newell, who was not on the
agenda so could not have the commission act officially, told
commissioners he had just dropped by to find out how they
felt on several issues.
Newell said he had ordered 50 or so signs which he
would post along streets.
"We want to hold ATVs to 15 mph and want it known that
all those driving ATVs should obey the state law," said
Newell. That means that they must have helmets, have the
proper certification and training.
"It is against the rules to post our signs on existing
sign posts?" asked Newell.
Steele advised Newell to make certain the city had an
ordinance dealing with ATV travel inside city limits.
"I don't think you have to post unless you designate
trails," said Steele, "as long as what you expect is spelled
out in your ordinance."
As for enforcement, said Newell, that is not a
problem. The sheriff's office issues tickets to ATV
operators. At this point, the tickets do not do much to
deter lawbreaking because the city does not have the proper
city postings so the judges have been dismissing the
tickets.
'Our young ATV drivers just laugh at us," said
Newell.
Perhaps the old 91 could be posted for travel along
the roadway and not on the roadway, said Newell. As long as
the ATV operators traveled in the barrow pit, it should not
create a traffic hazard.
"It is a safety issue," said Bob Garrett, county road
superintendent.
Even though Mona has just a few city streets, there
are ways around old Highway 91. Just crossing at an
intersection would be enough of a hazard so the young people
should not be encouraged to travel along the highway or on
the highway.
Going west out of the city would not create the same
problem even though the street leads to the Goshen Canyon
Road.
It was also decided that the signs should not be
posted on existing highway signs on old 91, a county-owned
road.
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