Marysville City Council has a pair of new faces and a new leader. Before Monday night’s council meeting, the first of the year, newly elected council member Donald Boerger was sworn in. Above, Boerger, right, is shown addressing community members, city staff and others, after the ceremony. New council member Aaron Carpenter, who was sworn in last week, also took part in his first meeting Monday. As the meeting began, the group elected member Henk Berbee as mayor and council president. Mark Reams was appointed vice mayor and council vice president. (Journal-Tribune photo by Mac Cordell)
Marysville is now a golf cart community.
By a 5-2 vote, City Council Monday approved legislation allowing low speed vehicles, including golf carts, in the city of Marysville.
The two dissenting votes came from council members Alan Seymour and Deb Groat, who both sit on the public safety committee and sponsored the legislation so it could come forward for discussion.
Seymour said he believes golf carts are more appropriate for resort style communities and do not bring “significant value to the quality of life” for a community like Marysville. In fact, he said he believes the golf carts will be an additional “burden” on the city police department.
The legislation allows golf carts and other low speed vehicles on nearly all the city streets with speed limit 25 miles per hour or less.
The legislation does prohibit golf carts on some 25-mile-per-hour streets, including:
– Maple Street from Elwood Avenue to Third Street.
– Delaware Avenue from Cherry Street to Charles Lane.
– Collins Avenue from Milford Avenue to Palm Drive.
– Ninth Street from Milford Avenue to Plum Street.
– Fifth Street from Grove Street to Coleman’s Crossing Boulevard.
– Main Street from First Street to Eighth Street.
City officials have said that while the speed is not an issue, the traffic load on the prohibited streets would make it dangerous for the golf carts.
The carts are allowed to cross streets with traffic going up to 35 miles per hour.
Officials have said golf carters will be able to access their specific neighborhoods as well as a good portion of the city.
During Public safety committee meetings and scheduled public hearings, several residents expressed frustration that they would not be allowed on all public streets. They said they want to be able to access the entire town from their home by golf cart. Additionally, residents will not be allowed to transport most elementary school aged kids because of state regulations.
Under state law, only licensed drivers may drive a golf cart or other low-speed vehicle and only on a street for which the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less. The vehicle must be inspected and registered and must have certain safety equipment, including properly working brake lights, head lights, tail lights, turn signals and a windshield.
Many communities have legislation allowing the carts, but adding specific regulations about when and where they can be used and regulating specific details about the cart safety.