Advocates for golf cart use in the City of Wayland were dealt a setback Tuesday night when the City Council voted 4-2 against drawing up an ordinance.
Council members Rick Mathis, Steve Stepek, Abe Garcia and Mayor Pro Tem Joe Kramer opposed a motion to have City Manager Josh Eggleston craft an ordinance permitting and regulating use of golf carts in city streets and thoroughfares. Mayor Tim Bala and Councilwoman Tracy Bivins voted in support and Councilman Norman Taylor was absent.
The action was taken in front of yet another sizeable audience, more than two dozen citizens who showed up to urge the council to move the idea forward.
However, council did agree to allow Eggleston and newly-elected Allegan County Commissioner Scott Beltman of Monterey Township to come up with an ordinance that would apply the county’s off-road vehicle (ORV) ordinance to city regulations. Beltman was the ringleader of the recent effort to pass an ORV measure county-wide.
Some backers of golf carts in the city said it would be good for downtown business, providing an avenue for older citizens to access local businesses and services.
Former Mayor Burrell Stein asked the council to take up the ORV ordinance and urged city officials to “provide citizens with as many options to get to work, handle tasks (like shopping) and recreation.”
Amy DeShaw, one of the prime advocates of golf carts, said support from the Downtown Development Authority is unanimous and DDA Director Hololy McPherson and DDA Board President Robin Beckwith backed up her claim with personal statements.
McPherson said, “My job is to see that (local) businesses thrive in the downtown area,” and she maintained just about everybody she has talked to supports it.
Dan Caywood took issue with Kramer’s comments last month about accidents, insisting that golf carts weren’t even sold to the public until 2001.
Beltman told the council Leighton and Hopkins Townships intend to open up ORV use on roads that lead into Wayland, which would make golf cart use easier.
River Knoll of Hopkins said she doesn’t see a major safety problem in speed zones of 25 miles per hour.
But Councilman Rick Mathis said, “I’d rather not see golf carts in the city. It’s a safety issue.”
Kramer maintained, “A golf cart doesn’t stand a chance when it runs into anything,” and he said he’s particularly concerned about the safety of cart users when they are struck from behind.
Arny Rodriguez, owner of Aqua In Vino, responded, “We’re fighting for our downtown, Joe!”
Garcia said he’s wrestled with the issue for more than a month and finally has come down on the side of safety.
“I couldn’t live with this if there’s a fatality,” he said. “I don’t feel comfortable with this.”
Stepek noted there is no way for any golf cart user to gain access to Wayland from outside the city, so this ordinance would primarily apply to residents inside the city.
In the end, the nays carried the day.
In other business Tuesday night, the council:
• Approved the appointment of Megan Mickelson to the Planning Commission, succeeding Stepek who moved into a council seat. She also was named alternate to the DDA.
• Approved the Michigan State Police closing off Oak Street on Saturday, Sept. 17, to accommodate some exhibitions of equipment and services, which may include landing of a helicopter on the vacant lot across the street from the post.
• Agreed to switching Internet services from IT Right to Vista. IT Right recently was bought out and city officials haven’t been pleased with the service.
• Heard the announcement from Mayor Bala that the annual Halloween trick-or-treating will be from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31.
COVER PHOTO: City Manager Josh Eggleston holds up a makeshift drawing of proposed areas in the city where golf carts would be permitted while Mayor Pro Tem Joe Kramer looks on.
My…. common sense prevailed. I wonder how many present were Wayland citizens vs out of towners?