Leighton Township officials hope an
old issue about use of golf carts and off-road vehicles (ORVs) at Green Lake has finally been resolved.
The Township Board Thursday evening adopted a resolution allowing golf carts to use all roads with a 25-miles-per-hour speed limit around the lake. The resolution will take effect immediately.
However, ORVs will not be permitted to use 145th Avenue at Kalamazoo on the south end of the lake because it is a county road where the township does not have jurisdiction. So an ordinance adopted by the board permits ORVs on all other roads around the lake, but the issue will be revisited periodically.
Supervisor Steve Deer said, “I personally look at golf carts and ORVs as the same.”
Citizen Steve Shoemaker, reacting to the prohibition of ORVs on 145th Avenue, said, “What an arcane law! So I can ride my vehicle until I approach 145th Avenue and then have to borrow a golf cart to go get an ice cream cone at Maria’s?”
Deer quipped, “That’s an expensive ice cream cone.”
He then explained the rules permitting ORVs everywhere else around Green Lake would be extended in November if no problems were found.
Melanie Heffner, one of the Green Lake area residents making the request for golf cart and ORV use, said, “We haven’t had a single incident reported to the police in the 15 years I’ve lived here… I feel as though we’re very good at policing ourselves. This is something we can do and do safely.”