AUBURN - A proposal to grant all-terrain vehicles access to a small stretch of Cayuga County-owned trails received a boost from the county Legislature Public Works Committee Tuesday.

In a 4-2 vote, the committee approved a proposal that would open about five miles of trail within Sterling for one year on a trial basis. In promoting this, local ATV clubs promised they would maintain the trails at their own expense.

Legislators Michael Chapman, R-Cato, and Steven Cuddeback, R-Moravia, dissented.

The proposal will now move to the Ways and Means Committee and then onto the Legislature floor for the next meeting on July 22, where it must be approved by a majority vote.

Public Works Committee Chairman David Axton, R-Mentz, who supported the proposal, said he does not expect any issues with the proposal passing the Ways and Means Committee, especially since three legislators sit on both committees.

The area in question would stretch west along the Hojack Trail from Oswego County to the Cato-Fair Haven Trail, then north along the Cato-Fair Haven Trail into Fair Haven.

Only hikers, pets on leashes, bikers and horses are allowed on the county's 30 miles of trails. Snowmobiles and cross-country skiers are allowed in the winter.

Chapman explained that even though he has ATVs that are used on his own property, they do not come without a cost.

“But they do create unique damage versus the snowmobiles,” he said. “I think that should be taken into consideration.”

Christopher Palermo, R-Sterling, responded by saying that clubs, such as the Oswego Valley ATV Club, will maintain the trails from April to October, leveling them, adding gravel and building bridges and appropriate signage.

The proposal will formally permit clubs to do that work, he said. While the county does not currently allow ATVs on trails, Palermo and county Parks and Trails Director Gary Duckett said the four-wheel vehicles are driving illegally and already doing the damage without proper follow-up maintenance.

Another concern shared by both Chapman and George Fearon, R-Springport, who sat in on the meeting, was the actual definition of an ATV. Both voiced trepidation in opening the door for other motorized vehicles such as dirt bikes to gain trail access.

Fearon suggested tightening language within the resolution to restrict access only to four-wheel ATVs. The resolution currently states the trails will be open to “ATV use.”

Jim Marra, president of the Oswego Valley ATV Club, said he was pleased with the vote.

“It's a step in the right direction,” he said, adding this is more than three years in the making. “Cayuga County will see we can prove ourselves. I think we can.”

Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net