WAYNE BRISKE APPOINTED CHAIRMAN OF THE FLORIDA OHV ADVISORY COMMITTEE

NOHVCC Associate Representative says it's exciting to see the state taking such an active role in increasing OHV riding opportunities

   In 2002 the T. Mark Schmidt Off-Highway Vehicle Safety and Recreation Act was signed into law to promote the development of an OHV recreational system in the state of Florida. The intent of the law is to create new opportunities for OHV users while safeguarding the integrity of Florida's natural resources. The Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Charles Bronson, moved to form an OHV Advisory Committee to oversee OHV trail activities in the state and NOHVCC Associate Representative Wayne Briske was recently appointed as the new chairman of the 11-person board.

   "It's very exciting for me to see the state taking such an active role in establishing new OHV recreation areas," says Briske from his home in Pensacola. "We have been struggling to keep areas from closing, as well as opening up new ones for many years and now that the state recognizes the need to give OHV riders places to recreate, I feel our job will be made easier with this committee in place."

   Wayne has been involved with the NOHVCC for over four years and has been working closely with fellow Sunshine State activist and NOHVCC staff member Jack Terrell during that time. In fact it was Terrell who originally recommended Briske for a position on the committee two years ago (Jack served as chairman from 2002- 2006).

   Briske feels quite prepared for the job ahead after several years of attending the NOHVCC Annual Conferences. "I learned a lot about how they run similar programs successfully in other states by attending the conferences," says Wayne, pictured above with his son Andrew who is also an OHV enthusiast.

   In a quarterly meeting earlier in the year NOHVCC President Dan Kleen came to Florida to give a presentation to the board. Dan gave an outstanding presentation about programs in his home state of Iowa. The board members were impressed and learned a lot about how other states handle the development of OHV riding areas.

   One of the primary tasks of the committee will be to evaluate proposed sites, as well as overseeing safety programs, grants, changes in OHV legislation, titling, and private land cooperation. "Basically, the Board will be making decisions as far as riding OHVs on both state and federal lands," says Wayne. "We also plan on participating with local municipalities such as counties and water management districts as well."

   In his statement on the state's new OHV program, Commissioner Bronson adds, "Safe and responsible riding, along with respect for private and public lands is the ultimate goal for this program. We encourage OHV users to become part of this important and exciting new program."

   To find out more about the state's new OHV program, you can go to the OHV Recreation home page on the Florida Division of Forestry's web page.<http://www.fl-dof.com/forest_recreation/ohv_index.html>

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