By DAVE SCHULTZ
Bluffton Common Council members considered the idea of allowing utility terrain vehicles on city streets, much the same way golf carts are currently allowed on city streets, but they’ll spend some more time talking about it.
Council member Scott Mentzer said he had looked at 30 different ordinances and is concerned about the definition of UTVs as an ordinance concerning their use is drafted.
“I’d like to see if we can get some feedback from mayors or town managers or police chiefs,” Mentzer told his fellow council members after Mayor John Whicker opened the floor to discussion. His colleague, Rick Elwell, said he would “like to have more public input on it.”
Whicker said he would be able to answer at least part of Mentzer’s request Friday when a periodic Mayor’s Roundtable for area mayors is held. He said he’d bring it up then and get some feedback from his fellow mayors.
Rodger Popplewell, a former law enforcement officer who brought up the idea of UTVs on city streets at a recent council meeting, said he’d like to see the vehicles be limited to no more than 20 miles per hour.
Council member Roger Thornton said he had reviewed the UV ordinances used in Ossian and Decatur. There is a UTV speed limit of 30 mph in Decatur and they most have a factory-installed rollover cage. Decatur also limits the age of passengers in that the must be at least three years of age. “We have some room to get better,” he said.
Police Chief Kyle Randall said the current golf cart ordinance has been in place for a decade and he is aware of only two crashes involving golf carts in the city during that time. He said the No. 1 complaint about golf carts is the lack of enforcement of the rules concerning operators — and that the operator must have a driver’s license, available to individuals 16 and a half years old.
Mentzer wanted to remind all in attendance during Tuesday night’s council meeting is that the discussion is concerned only with UTVs, not all-terrain vehicles. ATVs have handlebars and a different from the sturdier UTVs. “The vehicle must have a steering wheel,” he said.
Council members will bring up the issue as they receive more information and comment.
In other business Tuesday night, the council:
• Approved a transfer within the Police Department’s budget to deal with the rising cost of fuel. Randall noted that at the beginning of the year, before inflation became a serious problem, he had trimmed $10,000 off of the department’s fuel budget. Tuesday night, he requested a $25,000 transfer within the department’s budget and he expected that he will come back for an additional $10,000 transfer before the end of the year.
• After considerable discussion, the council approved a request from a resident of Ridgewood Lane to build a fence on an easement. The vote was 3-2, with Josh Hunt, Elwell, and Janella Stronczek voting in favor and Mentzer and Thornton voting against as there were concerns expressed about precedent. City Attorney Tony Crowell will draw up an encroachment agreement.
daves@news-banner.com
