The Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Department says it wants to add another deputy to its force. But, that person wouldn’t be behind the wheel of a squad car.

That new officer would help the Department of Natural Resources patrol the miles of recreational trails and lakes across Eau Claire County.

Patrol Sergeant Carl Duncan, with the Sheriff’s Department, says more ATV’s, more snowmobiles and more boats are hitting local recreation areas. And with that, comes the need for more enforcement.

"Over the past several years, the Sheriff's Office has experienced an increase in the amount of calls for service,” Sgt. Duncan said. "Most of the complaints are trespass complaints or those vehicles being operated on the roadways. Some of them are noise complaints."

And Sgt. Duncan says many of those calls come from places a squad car can’t reach.

"So then by the time we get around to investigating any of those complaints, they're old and no longer taking place."

Eau Claire County Parks and Forest Director, John Staszcuk, says right now there's very little enforcement on ATV trails across Eau Claire County. He says a recreational officer could help your next ride safer.

"They can also get involved in other issues, such as illegal dumping on the county forest and that sort of thing,” Staszcuk said.

Sgt. Duncan says a number of other western Wisconsin counties – including Chippewa, Dunn and Jackson – have recreation officers. He says that shows it’s time for Eau Claire to get in the game.

"The threat of the presence of law enforcement officers in those areas, with those people who are partaking in these activities is a deterrent in and of itself to get them to obey the rules and the laws,” Sgt. Duncan said.

Sgt. Duncan says the DNR would help the county pay to add a new officer, and the equipment he or she will need. Although he says the county would have to include some of the cost in its 2009 budget.

Sgt. Duncan met with the County Parks & Forest Committee Tuesday night to introduce the idea of adding a recreation officer. The committee did not make a decision, but was hesitant to support a recreation officer, due to budget concerns.

Tuesday night county board members say the committee did not take any action on the issue, and say it could get voted on during the budget process, or it could die out in committtee.