Upgrades would be needed to back nine transport option to meet legal requirements

"I'm not worried about the elderly population," Ward 1 Alderman Mark Fitzsimmons shared on golf carts recently at the June 7 Council meeting. "I'm worried about the younger population like this," he said, mimicking a smart phone. Cognitive psychology would potentially support Fitzsimmon's observation, if not restricted to age. Two things at once, is not a human specialty.

That aside, the Stanley Common Council voted with motion by Kevin Hendrickson and Laurie Foster to approve a golf cart ordinance as set up by Stanley Police Chief Lance Weiland. The Chief himself wasn't so enthused.

See GOLF CARTS, Page 10

Signs like this one at Durand facing State Highway 85 at Durand could be coming to Stanley, after the latest hurdle was passed in regard to a prospective low-speed vehicle ordinance in the city of Stanley. No local ordinance has yet been final ized.

Staff photo.

FROM PAGE 3

“In no way am I endorsing this,” Weiland said of the golf cart ordinance under consideration, adding that, “obviously I don’t have a vote.”

Next touching on the fact that the state already had something on the books, Wwildand wnet into details. Contained in the golf cart ordinance as proposed June 7 is the news that golf carts won’t get plated, but instead have a sticker—and that most won’t qualify anyway.

“There’s a gentleman who came to a previous meeting, without saying names, and his wouldn’t qualify,” Weiland told the Council of the ordinance under discussion. Don “Buzzy” Halterman and son Jody had previously stopped in on a council meeting the last time the ordinance came up for discussion. So what’s a “golf cart” per the ordinance outlined June 7?

“A vehicle designed and manufactured for operation on a golf course for sporting or recreational purposes aand that is not capable of exceeding 20 miles per hour,” the ordinance states. To qualify as a low-speed vehicle, meanwhile (and so be eligible to drive on city streets), vehicles must be able to go at least 25 miles per hour.

"99 percent wouldn't qualify," Fitzsimmons shared of how he understood the ordinance as related to golf carts.

In addition, no one less than 16 years of age or who lacks a valid driver’s license would be able to operated a golf cart on city street, while a learner’s permit is expressly denied consideration as a being a “valid driver’s license” for the purposes of the ordinance.

In order to qualify, the golf cart must first be registered with

the Stanley Police Department, with registration costing $25 and renewed. The golf cart will be inspected and must be equipped with four wheels, two functioning front headlamps, functioning front and rear turn signals and stop lamps, meaning two to both the front and rear. In addition, all lighting must be capable of being observed from a distance of 500 feet. Golf carts cannot be used for the purposes of a taxi cab or towing another cart, among other prohibited uses, with a potential $200 fine for those who are found in violation of the golf

cart ordinance. Back nine, or not worth the time?

You decide.