After being tabled on its second reading July 14, the so-called “golf cart” ordinance will be back before Bellefontaine City Council at its regular meeting Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 7:30 p.m.

Ordinance 26-31 would allow under-speed, under-powered vehicles – which includes golf carts, side-by-sides, mini trucks and other similar vehicles – use of city streets that have speed limits of 35 MPH or less, with the exception of the U.S. Route 68 bypass of the Downtown Bellefontaine Historic District.

According to the ordinance, these vehicles must meet certain criteria before they can be driven on city streets, including weight limits, specific safety features, head and taillights and other features. 

The ordinance was tabled by a 4-1 vote at the July 14 meeting and is back on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting. In order to officially bring the matter back before council, a motion and a second must be made followed by a majority of affirmative votes. 

Should this be done, the ordinance will be up for a second reading and vote Tuesday, and if passed at that time, it will be again brought before council for a third reading and final disposition at the Sept. 8 meeting.

Up for a third reading and final vote at this week’s meeting is an ordinance that will “detach” from the city six parcels of land owned by the Logan County Commission, but lie within the city limits.

All six parcels in question adjoin the Logan County Fairgrounds.  With the exceptions of the approximately two-acre tract that contains the entrance to the fairgrounds from south Main Street and a sliver of land that falls along Harding Street, the other parcels are located behind properties along Washington Avenue, as shown on the graphic accompanying this article.

Much of the overgrowth on these parcels behind the Washington Avenue properties, which have lain fallow and untended for a number years, were cleared in recent months in anticipation of the transfer. The detachment ordinance passed both its first and second readings without a dissenting vote.  

One resolution and two ordinances will also be presented to council on their first readings at Tuesday’s meeting. 

The single-reading resolution is a request from Winkle Consulting Solutions, on behalf of Heath S. Allen, Trustee, to allow for public sanitary sewer and water services be extended to an approximately 7.5 acre portion of a 86-acre tract (parcel number 12-079-00-00-051-000) located on the north side of State Route 540 across from the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center.

This property is adjacent to the Bellefontaine city limits and all costs associated with the extension of services will be at the expense of the property owner.

The first of two ordinances up for a initial reading Tuesday will allow for supplemental appropriations for group insurance to various city departments, while the second will authorize the Bellefontaine Police Department to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to provide a seasonal School Resource Officer (SRO) to Mac-A-Cheek Learning Center at a rate of $40/hr for 177 days per year, which mirrors the teachers’ calendar.

Under the ordinance, Mac-A-Cheek is to provide the costs and expenses for the MOU.

The public is encouraged to attend Tuesday’s meeting.