NORTH PORT COMMISSION DOES NOT VISIT ATV ISSUE

NORTH PORT CITY COMMISSIONERS VOTED 4-1 MONDAY NIGHT TO NOT RE-VISIT THE CITY’S RULES ON ALL TERRAIN VEHICLES DESPITE ONE COMMISSIONER’S ATTEMPT TO GET DIALOGUE STARTED.  COMMISSIONER JIM BLUCHER THINKS THE CITY NEEDS TO LOOK AT THE RULES FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF A 12 YEAR OLD PUNTA GORDA BOY ON JANUARY 15^TH, BUT COMMISSIONER DAVID GAROFALO SAID IT’S TOO SOON AFTER THE ACCIDENT.  NORTH PORT POLICE SAY JAMES GRIMES WAS RIDING HIS ATV WITH A PASSENGER WHEN HE CRASHED INTO A TREE EAST OF I-75 NEAR JOE WOOD CIRCLE, A POPULAR AREA FOR OFF-ROADERS.  THE CITY ORDINANCE SAYS THAT ATV’S CANNOT BE RIDDEN WITHIN A HALF MILE OF HOUSES, BUT WITH LARGE AREAS UNDEVELOPED IN THE CITY, THAT LEAVES LARGE AMOUNTS OF LAND FOR RIDERS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.  RESIDENTS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE LOUD NOISE ATV’S MAKE, SAYING THAT PROPERTY VALUES ARE AFFECTED BY THEM.