Michiana Trail Riders addressing council for new ordinance

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- A local community club addressed Saint Joseph County Council at Tuesday’s meeting, asking for a new ordinance to be put in place allowing off-road vehicles to be driven on county roads.

The Michiana Trail Riders Coalition is an adventure-based club that gets together to ride off-road vehicles and snowmobiles all around Michiana in almost all local counties, except Saint Joseph.

“We understand the responsibility to utilize this privilege and we at this time would like to petition the commissioners to change the laws regarding ORV and snowmobile use in this county. We would like to offer our assistance in this draft, and we have worked closely with Elkhart and Marshall counties, and we have some experience in this matter,” said Jake Narkawicz, the president of Michiana Trail Riders Coalition while addressing the council.

Recently, some surrounding communities, like Elkhart and Marshall County, have adopted this ordinance, but in Saint Joseph County, motorsport riders must pack up a trailer with their off-road machine and drive outside of Saint Joe County lines to use them legally.

“It is our belief that we should be able to utilize our off-road machines to access many recreational opportunities that our county and bordering counties have to offer. This will in turn bring in revenue,” explained Narkawicz.

Daniel Emery, who has a background in motorsports, explained he was part of the group that helped establish the new ordinance in other counties. He also believes when counties choose to adopt the new rules, it can help them economically.

After the new ordinance was passed in Elkhart in April, the club came together for their first ever ‘Buggy Boogie’. Emery explained they hope to do something similar in Saint Joseph County if the ordinance gets adopted.

“We organized a local ride where we had about 200 attendees and about 87 machines show up. It was a 93-mile ride, and we purposely went through those towns that are allowing us to come in to spend money with all the local merchants,” said Emery.

After bringing it to the council, District F Councilman Randall Figg explained while this is new to the council and they will have to look into it, he said he encourages all community groups to bring things like this to the council.

“That’s what government’s all about, and we don’t know if this is gonna pass or will not pass, but this is great that they actually came to our meetings and asked us. I was very impressed,” said Figg.

Figg went on to explain this process would not be an immediate one, taking at least several months.

“The council would have to pass it, pass an ordinance, then it would go to the commissioners, and they would sign it or veto,” said Figg.