BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 29, 2021
In August 2020, without posting it to a public agenda and without public input, a meeting attended by only one town selectman resulted in a permit to allow all terrain vehicles to be operated on five municipal roads in Jackson. The move has upset residents, who worry that their quiet, rural community of 620 people could see an influx of motors and riders. They also feel betrayed by the decision since in 2008 the town said no to a request to open roads to ATV use in a town-wide vote. ATV use is increasing in Maine, rising from 21,447 registered vehicles in 1992 to 78,467 resident and non-resident registered vehicles this year. Machines have gotten larger, too, which has led to more questions, including whether they should be operated in the travel way and whether they will damage the roads and cause erosion.