DEXTER — The Dexter Board of Aldermen heard a request Monday night from a group of individuals asking the city to consider allowing utility-task vehicles to operate inside the city limits.
Speaking on behalf of the group of about 12 was Shelly McClintock.
“I’m here to talk to you about the use of UTVs and the side-by-sides on the streets within the city limits of Dexter,” McClintock said. “I am well aware of the concerns many of you have regarding the use of the side-by-sides on the streets; however, I believe allowing us to use them with specific restrictions will increase the city revenues and provide another form of transportation for your citizens of Dexter due to them being more affordable and easy to own and operate.”
McClintock said the UTVs would provide persons at or near the poverty level to have a mode of transportation to commute to and from work.
“If such an ordinance is to pass, it would likely bring business to the city of Dexter such as dealerships, repair shops, businesses that sell parts and accessories,” McClintock said.
It also is McClintock’s belief the use of the UTVs will remove some of the traffic from the city’s busiest streets and “encourages travelers to use less congested areas” for travel.
The group, McClintock said, put together a list of proposed restrictions regarding the use of UTVs in the city.
Those restrictions include:
• Yearly licensing and registration with the city (which will increase revenue and increase tax funds from purchases and yearly property taxes);
• Must be 21 to operate a UTV within the city;
• Must have a valid driver’s license;
• UTV must carry the minimum state requirements in regard to insurance;
• Must have headlights, brake lights, seat belts, turn signals and horn;
• Must meet minimum speed requirement of 20 mph;
• Must meet a noise requirement;
• May only be used 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset; and
• May not be used on Business 60, One Mile Road or state highways unless crossing over them.
McClintock said other towns in Southeast Missouri, including Bernie, Bloomfield and Van Buren, utilize UTVs within their cities.
“I ride mine to Bernie to see my daughter,” McClintock said. “I gas up down there because I can’t ride into town to gas up.”
McClintock reported she travels on gravel roads to get to Bernie.
“Legally, we want to make sure we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing,” McClintock said.
At the conclusion of McClintock’s presentation, Mayor Jason Banken said, “this is where it starts; we talk about it.”
The discussion continued between the group members and city officials, including Dexter Chief of Police Trevor Pulley.
One man told about how the UTVs, as well as golf carts, can get a permit to operate in East Prairie. A business owner there, he said, reported increases in both his restaurant and gun shop since their use was allowed.
The UTVs, Pulley said, can legally be used for agriculture purposes, going from farm to farm.
“You can cross over (a highway), but you can’t ride on the roads,” said Pulley, who named Highway AD, One Mile Road, Business 60 and Highway 25 as examples.
The use of UTVs in the city is illegal, Pulley said.
“Even if the council passes (an ordinance), you still can’t ride on state highways to get into town,” Pulley said.
According to Pulley, he has seen all-terrain vehicles, as well as side-by-sides, “anything with two to four wheels” in use in Bloomfield and Bernie.
“Are they on the state highways? Yes,” Pulley said. “Are they supposed to be? No.”
Pulley said he also sees “kids in Bloomfield and Bernie driving all the time.”
Van Buren, he said, is a good place to have them since it is a river town.
“Anytime you’ve got camping or a river town … they work very well,” said Pulley.
Safety, Pulley said, is the issue for him.
On any given day, he said, Dexter’s population is higher than Bloomfield, Bernie, Van Buren and East Prairie.
The side-by-sides were not designed for city streets, Pulley said.
“They were designed for off road, farms and other things,” said Pulley.
The more expensive ones, which a lot of people buy, may be equipped with all that is needed to operate, but “if you open it to the general public, they will have older ones that aren’t going to be equipped,” Pulley explained. “They will be everywhere.”
Pulley also expressed concern over the UTVs not being licensed/registered or insured.
Regarding the registration, “who is going to keep track of that,” Pulley asked.
The minimum amount of insurance, Pulley said, would not be enough to cover damages or medical expenses should a UTV be involved in an accident.
The use of UTVs, Pulley said, would cause problems for his department as they have to deal with increased accidents and other issues, necessitating more manpower.
“I can’t imagine how many people” could get hurt through their use in the city, said Pulley, who believes safety outweighs the economic impact for the city.
At the conclusion of the discussion, Banken said, city officials appreciated the information.
“We will definitely take it under advisement and talk it over again,” Banken said.