Mayoral Proclamation

Whereas, The City of Gillett, Wisconsin has recognized the benefit of All Terrain Vehicle use throughout the community, and

Whereas, the demographics of the ATV community have proven to be a high concentration of families enjoying the natural resources of the Gillett area; and

Whereas, the City of Gillett is the point of entry for the Nicolet Recreation Trail; and

Whereas, Nancy, Clayton and Barbara Smith have donated 20 Acres of land in the City of Gillett to the Gillett Rail Runners ATV Club to develop the Gwynne Smith ATV Park; and

Whereas, local organizations and businesses have embraced the annual ATV Adventure Weekend as an educational event that promotes safe, fun,  and competitive ATV use; andWhereas, the Gillett Community intends to become a feature destination for All Terrain Vehicle enthusiasts,

Now, Therefore I hereby proclaim that the City of Gillett, Wisconsin proudly adopts the designation of “ATV Capital of the World", and

Be it also proclaimed that the City of Gillett, Wisconsin will continue to promote the community, and support those ideals and projects that will grow the distinction of our community as the “ATV Capital of the World.”

Proclaimed this 19^th day of May 2007

_____________________________
Thomas H. Lietz, Mayor
City of Gillett, Wisconsin

1. AN ACT to amend 23.33 (4) (b), 23.33 (5) (a), 23.33 (5) (c) and 23.33 (11) (b); and

2. to create 23.33 (1) (im), 23.33 (4) (dm) and 23.33 (11m) of the statutes; relating
3. to: the operation of all−terrain vehicles on highways for the purpose of certain
4. types of access and granting rule−making authority.

For the complete Assembly Bill 59 click here.

Please let your local Wisconsin Representives know that you want them to support this bill.

GILLETT, WI – The City of Gillett, Wisconsin (population 1,303) will proclaim itself “The ATV Capital of the World” on Saturday, May 19, 2007. Located about thirty miles northwest of Green Bay, WI, this rural community is located at the intersection of State Highways 22 and 32, in beautiful Oconto County.

            The day’s festivities will begin at 10:30 a.m. on the sanctioned ATV Route at the corner of Main and Richmond Streets where brand-new “Welcome to Gillett” banners announce the new designation. From there a mini-parade of ATVs will make the four block journey along the route to the headquarters of The ATV Capital of the World, located at Sportsmen’s Lodge and Grill at 145 N. McKenzie Avenue (also State Highway 22). Here the Mayor of Gillett, Tom Lietz, will read the proclamation announcing the community’s new title. Distinguished guests from around the area and the State of Wisconsin will be introduced.

            Immediately following the Proclamation an ATV Poker Run will commence. An ATV Poker Run is an activity where participants ride their machines to previously designated local sponsor businesses that will stamp the card upon presentation. The ATV Poker Run will end at the Sportsmen’s Lodge & Grill at 5:00 p.m. when prizes will be awarded for the best and worst hands and the like.

            The Sportsmen’s Lodge and Grill, located in the former Masonic Temple, will also celebrate its Grand Opening in conjunction with the Proclamation. Owners Gary and Vicki Pemrich have been pivotal in the process leading up to this announcement.

            There are 320 registered ATVs in the Gillett, Wisconsin’s zip code of 54124, equal to about one out of every four people who live in the City of Gillett. There is access to over 130 miles of ATV trails from the city’s downtown Zippel Park, which offers free trailer and truck parking. The Gillett Rail Runners ATV Club and the Gillett Professional Police Association co-sponsor the ATV Adventure Weekend the last weekend in September, and this year’s third annual event is filled with exciting ATV opportunities. There is access to local businesses on city streets that are open to ATV traffic and the Rail Runners ATV Club is developing twenty acres just west of town into a year-round ATV Park.

            All this in an extremely ATV friendly community located at the gateway to the northwoods about an hour from Green Bay and the Fox Cities.

            For further information contact Gary Pemrich at 920.855.6460, Brandon Miller at 920.855.1888 or Wayne Strei at 920.855.2420. Information can also be found at atvcapitaloftheworld.com

On April 4th, 2007 the Oconto County Forestry and Parks Committee met to discuss the expansion of the ATV Season. The expansion would only involve the Nicolet Recreational Trail or the "rail road grade" as many people know it.  At the meeting were representatives of local ATV Clubs, the President of the Oconto County Snowmobile Alliance, and many Oconto County Business people. In the meeting there was much discussion about the positive and negative aspects of opening the ATV Trails for winter use.
Jay Tousey, Village President of Suring and Dan Hoppe, President of the Dusty Trails ATV Club presented the request to extend the ATV season for winter use on the Nicolet Recreational Trail.
The Oconto County Snowmobile Alliance expressed concern about damage and "rutting" of the rail road grade. They are also worried that ATVs would compromise the integrity of the snow base.
The local businesses talked about how the local economy could increase if this were to go into effect.
At the conclusion of the meeting there were no final decisions made. The request by the Forestry and Parks Committee was for the ATV clubs and the snowmobile clubs to sit down and come to a compromise. It was suggested that it would be in the best intrest of the snowmobile clubs to make an effort to come to a compromise as this could go into effect even without their support.
The Oconto County Forestry and Parks Committee will meet again on May 2nd, 2007 to further discuss and review the compromise the snowmobile and ATV clubs came up with.