The third reading and final vote on the “golf cart” ordinance will be before the Bellefontaine City Council at its regular meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m. 

Passage of the ordinance would allow low-speed, under-speed utility vehicles and mini-trucks to operate on the city’s streets that have speed limits of 25 mph or less, with a number of restrictions.  

The restrictions include banning the operation of such vehicles on U.S. Route 68 and State Routes 47 and 540 in the city, prohibit their use on the Downtown Historic District bypass and other high-traffic “collector” streets as designated by the service/safety director.  

If the measure passes at Tuesday’s meeting – the first two required votes both squeezed through with narrow 4-3 margins – the ordinance would then be sent to Mayor David Crissman for either his signature or veto. Should the mayor approve, the law allowing the use of these vehicles on the city’s streets will begin 30 days after Tuesday’s final vote.  

Both Service/Safety Director Wes Dodds and Bellefontaine Police Chief Chris Marlow have come out publicly against passing the measure. 

Also up for a third and final reading Tuesday is an “excessive noise” ordinance, which breezed through its first two readings with unanimous affirmative votes. 

Prior to the final votes on the low-speed vehicle and excessive noise ordinances, the council has an avalanche of measures that are up for a first reading at Tuesday’s meeting.  

One measure is an ordinance approving Brighton Meadows Phase 1 subdivision dedication, a plat containing 7.836 acres in Lake Township on the southeast side of the city.  Another will create the position of an assistant tax superintendent.  

The 10 other ordinances that will be up for a first appearance at council are common measures that often come up near the end of every calendar year. These include setting 2027 and 2028 salaries and wages for elected positions in the city of Bellefontaine, to include the mayor, president of council, council members, clerk of council, law director and auditor.  

Other measures will establish the 2027 compensation for the municipal court judge and municipal court employees, as well as city’s supervisory, service and hourly employees.  

The public is encouraged to attend.