West Liberty City Council members may be deciding in the near future about whether to adopt a new Golf Cart and All-Terrain Vehicle ordinance that will allow the legal use of those vehicles on city streets.
The city held a “work session” meeting on Tuesday, April 6, that proceeded their regular meeting, where the council set a public hearing on the issue on Tuesday, May 4, with their regular meeting beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the West Liberty Public Library board room.
Mayor Robert Hartman reported “tweaks” were made to a draft ordinance while there was also input from two residents owning golf cart or UTV vehicles they’d like to use more in the community.
The mayor said they had some good input from those residents, Doug Phillips and Jim Thurston. Phillips said he’s had his golf cart for four years and uses it now on city streets running errands to local stores rather than a regular vehicle. “It’s something quick to get me around town,” he said.
Phillips, who lives on the south side of the city across from the Muscatine County Fairgrounds, pointed out after the meeting there are a lot of riding lawn mowers that run city streets as well as ATV’s already and guessed there may be more utility vehicles and golf carts on the streets should the ordinance get approved.
“It would be nice to be legal,” Phillips said, pointing out although he’s run his golf cart around town for the past four years without incident, noting local police have even waved to him in passing by. He said he wasn’t sure if there were other golf carts in the community but guessed there”might be two or three others.”
Thurston obtained his utility vehicle in October and says he uses it to push snow and take care of chores on his property just north of West Liberty.
One of the city’s concerns was reporting any accidents with the vehicles, noting that would likely take place through the West Liberty Police Department.
The mayor also lobbied for a “trial period” for the ordinance similar to Muscatine County’s year-long trial period for ATV’s and UTV’s which was recently approved.
There was some question about what the fee would cost, but the city said that had not been established yet, council member Kara McFerren estimating the cost to be between $10 and $30 annually. That fee will be discussed at the May 4 meeting of the council.
The vehicles will be required to be licensed, equipped with lights, adequate breakes, tires, a visible permit sticker, a slow moving vehicle emblem on the rear of the vehicle and 6-foot bicycle safety flag. Anyone under the age of 18 must use a seat belt and drivers must abide by all traffic laws as well as provide proof of liability insurance on the vehicle. The ordinance allows use of golf carts, ATV’s and UTV’s from sunrise to sunset daily. They are not allowed to be used at night nor on public sidewalks as well as in inclement weather.
The city also talked about adding UTV’s to the ordinance, although it was questioned whether it was necessary due to the fact no one seemed to know the difference between an ATV or UTV.
A full copy of the ordinance is available at City Hall.