What has come to be called the “golf cart” ordinance that’s being considered by the Bellefontaine City Council failed to clear its second hurdle at Tuesday’s regular meeting, July 14, as members voted to table the measure until their next session.
The proposed ordinance would allow under-speed, under-powered vehicles, which includes golf carts, side-by-sides, mini trucks and other similar vehicles, to use city streets that have speed limits of 35 MPH or less as long as they met certain requirements, including weight limits, certain safety features, head and taillights and other features.
But following a huge negative response from the public after it was passed on the first of three readings at its last meeting, the measure was tabled by the council, by a 4-1 vote, on its second vote at the request of Rules Committee Chair Jenna James.
Council member Mick Lile cast the lone “no” vote to table the measure. Lile also voted “no”, along with Council Member Wes Easton, on the first reading of the ordinance at the June 23 meeting.
Also tabled at Tuesday’s meeting, again at the request of Rules Committee Chair James, was the first reading of ordinance that would amend and restate section 509.11 of the city code that would set limits to sound amplifying devices and loud noises. The vote to table the measure for further consideration was unanimous.
During the citizen comments portion of the meeting, several residents came out strongly against the golf cart ordinance, citing safety concerns and emphasizing the fact that the ordinance would allow these low-speed vehicles – with few restrictions – to operate on city streets that have speed limits of 35 mph or less.
Logan County Health Commissioner Travis Irvan was one of those who spoke out against the ordinance, reminding the council that golf carts and other similar under-powered vehicles lack the basic safety equipment found on regular cars and trucks.
He also reminded council that the measure would allow these vehicles to operate on Main Street both north and south of the Downtown Historic District, sharing this main artery which is in constant use by semi tractor-trailers and other large vehicles.
Allowing such vehicles to share the streets and roadways of Bellefontaine, Irvan said, “creates the potential for serious injury or worse.” Citing the heavy traffic along Main Street, “the consequences (of allowing the use of low-speed, under-speed vehicles) can be devastating.”
When asked after the meeting if golf carts on the city streets would pose a public health concern, Irvin was succinct.
“Yes,” Irvin said flatly. “Golf carts on city streets would present a public health issue.”
Bellefontaine resident Curt Peterson, again citing safety concerns, presented to council a petition containing a number of signatures that urged the Council to drop the issue.
“Golf carts do not belong on the streets of Bellefontaine,” Peterson said.
Howard Traul, who is also a Bellefontaine resident and is the former law director for the city of Bellefontaine, also came out strongly against the ordinance, saying that a very small percentage of residents are the ones clamoring for the use golf carts and that the ordinance was “a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.”
Also during the citizens comments portion of the meeting, Kathy Williamson, who lives in the Maris Park Development on the east side of the city, presented council with pictures of her yard showing the heavy flooding that occurs on her and her neighbors’ properties following rainstorms.
After viewing the photos, Council Member Lile to called this situation “unacceptable.”
Williamson explained that she and others have reached out to the developers in an attempt to remedy the flooding problems.
She said a number of homes in the developments routinely collect water not only in their backyards but also in their basements, going on to say the concrete slabs on which some of the homes sit have showed signs of water damage and deterioration.
The Maris Park resident said that her attempts to address and correct the issues have been stonewalled at every turn and presented a petition to council asking that the city step in and hire an independent engineering firm to study and provide recommendations to correct the situation.
She noted with some irony that she would have never invested $400,000 in her home had she known that flooding of her property would be an ongoing problem.
In presenting the petition to Council, Williamson simply said, “We’re desperate here.”
The only other action taken by the council Tuesday was to pass and adopt an ordinance to allow supplemental funding in the amount of $15,000 for the Joint Recreation District for use at the Myeerah Nature Preserve. The vote to adopt the measure was unanimous.
Council members Nick Davis and Devin Palmer were excused from the meeting, as was Council President Ben Stahler. As the longest tenured council member, Kyle Springs assumed the president’s chair for the meeting.
The Bellefontaine City Council will meet again in regular session at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 28.
