It’s not uncommon to see people making their way around Annandale in golf carts, and on Monday, June 1, the city council approved an ordinance regulating their use in city limits.
The city did not have any of its own regulations regarding golf carts in place prior to the meeting, and City Administrator Kelly Hinnenkamp explained to the council that the issue came to the city’s attention when a resident requested that such an ordinance be adopted.
"The whole intent of this ordinance is to create regulations so that there can be safe use of the golf carts, and so our police department can manage it and better enforce it in case there are (those who aren’t supposed to be using them)," she said.
At a previous meeting Police Chief Jeff Herr had said there were not many problems with golf cart use in the city, but those that did arise typically involved young people acting irresponsibly.
Under the new ordinance, drivers must be at least 16 years old and have a valid driver’s license, and must have liability insurance coverage.
Carts cannot be operated between sunset and sunrise unless equipped with lights, or when visibility is restricted by fog or other conditions to less than 500 feet on roadways.
Carts can be operated on roadways and roadway shoulders, but not on sidewalks, and must be equipped with a slow-moving vehicle sign.
Operators must obtain a permit from the city for cart use, at which point the driver’s license and insurance information will be confirmed. The permit includes a $5 fee for tabs, and must be renewed annually.
"We pulled quite a few different ordinances and tried to find one that fit what we were trying to accomplish for safety," said Hinnenkamp, explaining that this ordinance was based on one from Madison. "This seemed to fit pretty good."
Resident John Bishop attended the hearing on the matter and posed a few questions, including what restrictions are placed on ATVs and snowmobiles.
Police officer Nancy Engfer explained that those vehicles are covered under state law.
There was also some question about the Southbrook neighborhood. It was clarified that the sidewalks there are actually classified as cart paths and those paths are open to golf carts.
Other items
In other business, the council:
■ Appointed Dale Machovsky to the position of interim fire chief. Current chief Brian Haag will be stepping down from the post at the turn of the year.
"It was a really tough decision," said City Administrator Kelly Hinnenkamp, adding that the personnel committee did not settle on the finalist until earlier the same day. "It took a lot longer than we anticipated, but we used a great process, we think. We got a lot of input. Both candidates were excellent candidates, and that’s what made it such a difficult decision. (Machovsky) is very enthusiastic and excited about it, and he’ll be a good chief."
Machovsky will work under Brian Haag for six months until the end of the year, and his pay will be equal to that of the assistant chief, which is $1,200 per year.
"Tough process, but that’s always a good thing," said Mayor Dwight "Dewey" Gunnarson. "Having really good candidates go for one job, that tells you that you have a strong department."
■ Discussed but did not take action on construction of a picnic shelter at the Southbrook park.
Council member Corey Czycalla, who is also president of the Lions Club, explained that the Lions have been looking for a park improvement project and would like to build the 20-by-30-foot shelter on a concrete pad sometime in June before the full summer heat arrives.
Details regarding the actual structure and cost had not yet been determined at the meeting, but the council will likely meet again this month to approve the project and also to discuss action related to the Aurora Solar Project (see a separate article in that matter in this edition).
■ Approved the purchase of a new mower for the public works department at a price of $6,706 from M&M Sales and Service.
The mower it will replace was purchased in 2003 and had been scheduled for replacement in 2009, but at the time the decision was made to wait on purchasing a new mower. In 2010 the mower needed about $5,000 in repairs, at which point the city planned on keeping it until 2016.
Public Works Director Joe Haller said the mower is now showing the same symptoms it had in 2010.
"It just makes sense to let it go and get a new one," he said, adding that it wasn’t worth investing in significant repairs just before its scheduled replacement.
If the city is able to sell its old snowplow there should be about $10,000 available in the street equipment fund at the end of the year. If the snowplow doesn’t sell there will be a negative fund balance until 2016.
■ Received a brief update on plans to review the Main Street canopy district. Gunnarson said research is being done and the city plans on hiring an architect to serve as a consultant.
"We’re not discussing any changes as of yet, but it’s coming shortly," he said.
The intent is to consult with the architect about possibilities to make a change that better reflects the city’s identity.
"Who is Annandale? What do we want the town to feel like? What do we want it to be? One thing I am confident of is the old west pioneer theme is not it anymore," said Gunnarson.
Issues with maintenance of the canopies and outdated regulations for their care started the discussion on the matter earlier this year.
■ Briefly discussed complaints about food trucks coming to town during the all-city garage sale, which some felt inappropriately took business away from the city’s eating establishments.
Hinnenkamp said the trucks were not required to obtain transient merchant license because they were part of a chamber of commerce event. The matter may be discussed further at a future chamber meeting.
■ Approved a variance and minor subdivision request from Charles Yanish that will allow the property at 121 Myrtle Avenue, the Yanish Motors building, to be split into two lots. The Annandale Vet Clinic plans to purchase the lot without the building on it for future expansion, though there are no expansion plans at present.
■ Approved an amended liquor license ordinance that allows the council, at its discretion, to refund up to 50 percent of the license fee upon the sale or closure of a business. The change was implemented in response to a request for such a refund earlier this year.
The annual renewal date was also changed from the last day of March to the last day of July.
■ Approved an amended curfew ordinance for minors, making the curfew times from 12:01 to 6 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
■ Appointed two new part-time police officers to help bolster the police department’s ranks. Aaron Imig and Trevor Weinmann will start at $16.48 per hour.
■ Will hold a joint meeting with the Annandale School Board at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16. The location is likely city hall, but that had not yet been finalized during the council meeting.
"The main topic on the agenda is going to be the rec park," said Hinnenkamp.