The Woodward News

Local News

March 16, 2010

County tells neighbors to 'work it out'

Michelle Seeber Woodward News

Woodward, Okla. — A resident in the Windover Addition southwest of Woodward was told by the county commission on Monday that her complaints about 4-wheeler use in her area was a law enforcement matter, not a county concern.

County commissioners also told the resident to work out the issue with her neighbors.

The issue came before the commission after resident Laverne Kammerzell  initiated a petition bearing three signatures to have two signs put up banning 4-wheelers in her area.

Kammerzell said the vehicles “are dangerous for children (due) to the high speeds at which they travel.”

Kammerzell  also said there had been near accidents involving 4-wheelers at the addition and that signs prohibiting 4-wheelers used to be in place and had been effective. But the signs were removed.

Approximately seven other residents from the area who were at the hearing also voiced their opinions, most of them against having the signs put back up.

Resident Sheri Rice was one who opposed Kammerzell’s complaints.

“I personally don’t have a problem with 4-wheelers,” Rice told commissioners. “We all know what the law is. We don’t need a sign at all. I feel like this is more of a neighborhood issue than a county issue. We want to keep our property values up, and if 4-wheelers aren’t allowed out there” fewer people will want to move into the area.

“It’s the neighborhood versus one neighbor,” said County Commission Chairman Vernie Matt. “I think you all need to get together and work this out.”

The commissioners decided not to act on Kammerzell's petition as advised by Assistant District Attorney A. J. Laubhan, who told the commissioners it was a law enforcement issue.

Laubhan said the county commission didn't need to take any action because driving 4-wheelers on the street is already against the law.

As was confirmed by Sheriff Gary Stanley, who passed out copies of the Oklahoma statute, which states “all terrain vehicles and utility vehicles shall not be operated on the streets and highways of this state.”

In other business, the Woodward County Commission accepted a Justice Assistance Grant in the amount of $10,000, which will go toward payment for a new pickup for the sheriff’s department.

The commissioners also accepted a low bid from McKay Ford of Woodward in the amount of $26,668 for the new four-wheel drive, four door half-ton pickup with a V-8 engine.

Sheriff Gary Stanley said his office tries to replace 1 or 2 vehicles each year due to high mileage so they won’t all have to be placed at the same time. The sheriff’s office has 10 vehicles in its fleet.

In other business, commissioners OK’d payment of March contract funds and monthly expenditures for Northwest Crisis Services in the amount of $1,200.

They also approved allocation of the alcoholic beverage tax for March in the amount of $8,803.

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