Two ordinances that were shot down by the Bellefontaine City Council earlier this year – the so-called “golf cart” ordinance and the “unreasonable noise” measure – are making reappearances as both ordinances will again be up for a first reading at council’s regular meeting Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 7:30 p.m.

The “golf cart” ordinance includes the rules on the operation of low-speed, under-speed, utility vehicles and mini-trucks within the city limits.

In a change from the original ordinance that was voted down this past summer, this proposed ordinance would limit operation of these vehicles to city streets that have speed limits of 25 MPH or less. The ordinance would also ban the use of these vehicles on U.S. Route 68, State Route 47, and State Route 540 within the city limits, including the U.S. Route 68 bypass, and what the ordinance calls “collector streets” as determined by the service/safety director.

The “golf cart” ordinance is over 2,000 words in length and establishes – in detail – the definitions for what can be considered a “low-speed vehicle, under-speed or utility vehicle or a mini-truck” and how these vehicles must be equipped.  

Also making a comeback before the council is a noise ordinance that defines unreasonable noise to include any sound, according to the ordinance, “that exceeds the customary and normal noise levels associated with a particular location, time, or activity and that disturbs the peace, quiet, comfort, or repose of others.”

This ordinance is also quite detailed at almost 1,000 words and goes into depth regarding what constitutes “unreasonable noise”. A similar measure was permanently tabled by the council in July.

The Bellefontaine City Council will also be following the lead of scores of other municipalities in Ohio by considering a one-vote resolution to place a 12-month moratorium on the construction or establishment of data centers in the city.  

More than 20 municipalities in Ohio have already banned data centers outright. Another 130-plus local governments in Ohio have placed moratoriums on data center construction, measures  which are similar to the resolution that the council will consider Tuesday.

Two other resolutions will also be before council at the meeting.

The first will allow the mayor and service/safety director to apply for funds from the Ohio Public Works Commission for the Township Road 179 Storm Replacement Project, the resolution recognizing this project as a priority need for those who live in the Whispering Pines and Maris Park developments.

Another resolution will remove a $675 tax lien the city has on the property located at 1329 S. Main St.

The public is encouraged to attend.