Presque Isle Citizen Survey Rejects ATV Traffic

Presque Isle citizens submitted responses to a preference survey distributed during August of 2021, showing that a strong majority do not favor ATV or UTV traffic on public roads in Presque Isle.  A total of 911 respondents (56.4%) were opposed, while 703 respondents (43.6%) were in favor.  The survey was developed and paid for by a concerned group of citizens who formed the Last Wilderness Alliance (LWA, https://lastwildernessalliance.org/), a Wisconsin corporation, in June of 2021.  LWA focused immediately on the Town Board’s adoption of a surprise ordinance by a two out of three majority vote in early June authorizing ATV traffic on all public roads in the Town. This action came unexpectedly and with no public consultation or forewarning. 

Concerned that the Presque Isle Town Board never measured public preferences toward ATV/UTV traffic, LWA invited the Town Board in early July to sponsor a citizen survey jointly, with LWA paying all costs. The Board refused, by a two-thirds majority vote. 

LWA immediately proceeded on its own, mailing 2,579 survey documents, or ballots, to all Presque Isle registered voters, property owners and business owners.  Of the 2,579 packets mailed, 1,629 were returned, for a receipt percentage of 63.16%.  Responses were returned directly to an independent auditor, Peterson Metz of Minocqua, Wisconsin, who tabulated all results and produced a summary on September 15, 2021. Public tax records from the Vilas County Tax Lister and the Presque Isle public voter list from the Town Clerk provided the survey mailing information. 

The new corporation now intends to publicize the stark contrast between a decision that satisfies the wishes of two of the three Presque Isle Board members, and the resultant broad public distaste for the newly adopted ATV/UTV traffic ordinance.  LWA members intend to pursue their stated purpose of promoting principles, practices and processes of democratic decision making in the north lakeland region of Wisconsin.