Charles City Council holds first reading of golf cart ordinance

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

The Charles City Council held the first reading of an ordinance that would establish a new city code for the operation of golf carts during its regular meeting on Monday, July 17.

In response to new state regulations that allow golf carts to be registered as utility vehicles (UTVs), Police Chief Hugh Anderson has been working on revising the city code to regulate their use within the city.

Based largely on code adopted by Clear Lake, the ordinance would require that golf carts in the city abide by all the usual traffic codes, be adorned with a slow-moving vehicle tag and flag, cannot be operated on streets with a speed limit above 25 mph, cannot be driven on a trail, and must be operated by a licensed and insured driver over the age of 18.

The council approved the first reading of the ordinance and applauded Chief Anderson on his work.

“You’ve done a great job putting this together,” said council member Keith Starr.

The Charles City Police Department is also planning to hold its annual National Night Out event on Aug. 1, with the City Council approving a request for street closures around central park that evening to facilitate the event.

In other business, the council approved the re-appointment of Rick Noah and Jeff Titus to the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission following the end of their terms, appointed McKenna Lloyd and Larry Michehl to replace Mary Ann Townsend and Michael Barrigan on the Historic Preservation Commission, and appointed Doug Kamm as a city representative on the North Cedar Airport Authority, the group that owns and runs the Northeast Iowa Regional Airport, in place of outgoing longtime member and Chair Jeff Sisson.

The council also approved an easement that will allow Dave Davidson to install an ADA ramp along the Kelly St. side of Dean Jewelers to facilitate his planned ice cream shop.

Finally, the council approved the fifth pay request for the Clearwell Project. Work is continuing on the expansion for the water treatment plant, with SEH Engineering recommending approval of a payment of $775,162 for work done on installation, concrete and waterproofing.

In department reports, City Administrator Steve Diers noted that Monday was the deadline for the Thriving Community Application. Diers has been working with Charles City Area Development Corp. Executive Director Tim Fox and CCADC member and housing task force co-chair Emily Garden on getting the application ready that could make Charles City eligible for $1 million in tax credits to attract a developer to build a new apartment complex in the city.