Golf carts get green light

The Washington City Council approved the third and final reading of an ordinance Wednesday to allow golf carts on city streets. The vote was 5-1 with councilor Russ Zieglowsky casting the only no vote.

Resident John Grover addressed the council about a query he had regarding the golf cart ordinance. Grover said he drives his golf cart down an alley every morning to pick up a newspaper. He was curious to know if his golf cart would be covered in the ordinance since it has three wheels, and the ordinance specifies that a golf cart has four wheels. City Attorney Craig Arbuckle said the ordinance would not apply to his golf cart.

Grover asked the council if that meant he could continue driving his golf cart down alleys. No one on the council gave an answer, but City Administrator Brent Hinson said he believed the answer was no because state law says golf carts are not street legal unless a municipality passes an ordinance to legalize them. Since the city?s ordinance did not include three-wheeled golf carts, Grover?s golf cart is not street legal.

Grover said he did not understand why the ordinance requires golf carts to add so many safety features such as seat belts, headlights and tail lights. He said a golf cart is safer than a bike and a bike does not need any of those things. Councilor Bob Shepherd said the difference between a bike and a golf cart is that the golf cart is motorized, which is why it must meet higher safety standards. Grover said a lawn mower is motorized and yet those don?t have seat belts or lights. Mayor Sandra Johnson said lawn mowers are not street legal.

Hinson told the councilors that he?s talked to representatives from towns with golf cart ordinances and there isn?t much impact on the town one way or the other.

The council passed the first reading of an ordinance that would lower sewer rates but raise water rates by an

offsetting amount. The rate changes would have virtually no impact on Washington businesses or residents. The sewer rates would be lowered by 14 percent while the water rates would increase by 30 percent. Hinson explained that the reason the city must do this is because the water fund is in a deep deficit, so money must be moved from the sewer fund to the water fund.

The ordinance also states that the city will increase its water, sewer and sanitation charges 3.5 percent every year on July 1 beginning in 2013. This is to pay off the loan the city took out to pay for the sewer plant. Trash stickers are unaffected by the ordinance. The ordinance would require anyone receiving city water to sign an agreement whereby they agree to be annexed into the city limits at a future time when the council deems it prudent.

Councilor Bob Shellmyer asked Hinson if the council could delay the 3.5 utility increase another year to avoid ?sticker shock.? Hinson said that was not a good idea since the increase has already been postponed one year from 2012 to 2013.   

The council voted to increase Hinson?s annual salary from $87,000 to $92,000 as well as increase the city clerk?s (Illa Earnest) and city attorney?s salary by 2.5 percent plus a cost-of-living increase.

Resident Bernard Singleton addressed the council about dangerous dogs in the city. He said he was walking his cocker spaniel in Perdock Court and a nearby pitbull broke free from its leash and bit his dog in the shoulder. Singleton said he would like to see an ordinance to control dangerous breeds of dogs. He recommended Washington adopt an ordinance similar to Brighton?s.

Hinson said that breed-specific bans have not held up in court. The current ordinance on dangerous dogs refers to the dog?s behavior and not its breed.