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Golf carts issue to be studied

NEW ULM — The City Council began a process to make a decision on allowing special-use vehicles within the city limits.

The council approved a motion to create a committee that will look into the plausibility of allowing the vehicles, such as golf carts and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), on city streets.

The committee will consist of the police chief, city manager, city attorney, two councilors and at least two New Ulm citizens. Council President Charles Schmitz and Councilor David Christian volunteered to be on the committee.

A draft of the proposed ordinance was presented by Dennis Born. It was based on State Statute 169.045.

The draft outlined requirements for driving four types of vehicles (golf carts, ATVs, utility task vehicles and mini-trucks), largely taken directly from the statute with some additions from similar ordinances in other cities.

City Attorney Roger Hippert expressed concerns over how complicated an ordinance surrounding these vehicles would be, stating that the current draft was not useable.

Hippert pointed out that one way the ordinance can be troublesome is because there is no state statute defining a golf cart.

Without a statutory definition, someone could craft a vehicle with a 150 horsepower engine in a simple chassis and call it a golf cart, Hippert argued.

“I can tell you as the attorney who has to attempt to enforce the traffic laws in New Ulm, you never need to underestimate people’s creativity,” Hippert said.

He pointed to instances where motorists have attempted to use lumber as bumpers and one instance where a driver tried to replace an SUV’s damaged headlight with tractor lights, claiming it was legal.

Schmitz was more optimistic, pointing out that Owatonna had instituted an ordinance that was little more than the state statute.

“Actually, they do not have a problem, it really works well,” Schmitz said. “So I think we really need to spend some time and dig into it and really see what is out there.”

The matter of special vehicles came up in 2009. A committee was formed then as well. However it recommended against golf carts, citing safety concerns and multiple calls opposing.

In other business:

• The council approved Dr. Ann Vogel’s request to illuminate public spaces with blue lights on March 6 as part of the Building Blue Bridges program. The four “Willkommen” signs, the Goosetown Firehouse, City Hall, Gertie the Goose, the Defenders Monument and New Ulm Medical Center (which plans to light its own entrance) are slated to be illuminated.

•The council authorized a professional design services agreement with ISG to make specifications for replacing internal lights at City Hall. The project will cost $7,000, plus a construction administration service at $110 per hour. Councilor Les Schultz raised concerns over the lack of a cap on the hourly expense. City Manager Brian Gramentz explained that it was a standard part of a contract and would only apply if there were unexpected costs that went beyond the initial scope of the project.

Connor Cummiskey can be emailed at ccummiskey@nujournal.com.

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