Hill City Mayor Don Voorhees has asked the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department to take another look at whether motorized vehicles can use portions of the Mickelson Trail that lie inside city limits.

"The portion … that is concrete pavement should be exempt from the rule," Voorhees said. "I think we should have local control over that portion."

A GF&P spokesman said Monday that according to state statute, motorized vehicles are banned from all parts of the recreational trail. The issue arose after a local business began offering sightseeing tours on Segways, electrically-powered personal transporters. Their route used small portions of the trail within Hill City and Deadwood.

"The same rules apply in town or out of town," Harley Noem, regional supervisor for parks and recreation for GF&P, said.

In fact, some motorized vehicles are allowed on the Mickelson Trail. Noem said electric wheelchairs can use the trail, despite a previous statement to the contrary. State statute allows snowmobiles to use northern portions of the trail, and trolley tours are periodically conducted for the handicapped.

Also, Voorhees said, private landowners are allowed to drive on the trail to access their property.

Voorhees' issue is with a sidewalk that is part of the Mickelson Trail route through Hill City.

"We're talking about one-half mile of concrete sidewalk that's 8 feet wide, and it basically runs parallel to Railroad Avenue, which is basically the truck route," Voorhees said. "It's not exactly the element of solitude there."

Voorhees said the sidewalk - which runs along the 1880 Train station - was built using federal grant money and is maintained by the city.

"I think we should have local control over that portion," he said. "If my constituents don't want Segways on the trail, they should be able to make that decision. … It seems to me that the general public is not too concerned about the Segways."

Under state law, people who use the Mickelson Trail inside city limits do not have to pay the user fee charged outside city limits.

Voorhees said he asked Noem if GF&P could reconsider their policy regarding in-town trail use. If that isn't possible, Hill City officials could ask local legislators to pursue amending the state statute, he said.

"We all want to be reasonable about this," Voorhees said.

The issue is on the agenda for the Hill City Council's July 14 council meeting, Voorhees said, though he doesn't expect any action.

Rushmore Segway owners Darrin and Yvette Gourde agreed to stop using in-town portions of the Mickelson Trail for their sightseeing tours. They do not rent Segways for use outside of the guided tours.

Noem said he had not heard from Deadwood city officials about trail use there.

Contact Heidi Bell Gease at 394-8419 or heidi.bell@rapidcityjournal.com