Council Split on Golf Carts in the City
Idea Moves Forward In 4-3 Vote in LG
The La Grange City Council voted 4-3 Monday to instruct staff to develop an ordinance allowing golf carts on city streets.
State law allows cities to establish an ordinance governing golf carts on streets. If La Grange passes such an ordinance, state law dictates that golf carts could only be driven on roads with a speed limit of 35 miles an hour, although they may cross such roads. State law also says golf carts may be driven no more than two miles from the location where it is usually parked.
“I have not had so much feedback from a particular item since Hope Hill,” Weishuhn said. “I had a lot of people contact me and not any of them are in favor of it.”
Councilwoman Patsy Zbranek said she also received negative feedback from citizens about the golf cart proposal.
Councilman Quenten Gonzalez said he heard nothing but positive feedback about the idea.
“I’ve heard lots folks, competent people, who say they would love to ride a golf cart from their house to H-E-B,” Gonzalez said.
“I’m with Quenten – I got zero negative feedback from it,” said Councilman Dusty Littrell. “Every single person I talked to was for it. From a safety standpoint, I am safer on that golf cart than I am on my motorcycle if I get hit by a car.”
Furthermore, Littrell questioned why the City would keep golf carts off the streets while children are allowed to ride bicycles on streets. Police Chief David Gilbreath said golf carts would be considered a motor vehicle. He said drivers would have to be licensed. Golf cart drivers would have to abide by the same traffic laws.
“I was asked at the Fair by a gentleman that if we pass this, would he be able to drink beer and drive around on his golf cart,” Gilbreath said. “No you can’t. It’s a motor vehicle. You can’t drink and drive a motor vehicle.”
The City of Smithville allows golf carts on its streets. Smithville also has a golf cart registration program that requires owners to obtain an inspection from the police department and pay a $50 fee, which is good for two years.
“It works well in Smithville, but they don’t have a square like we have and they don’t have streets like we have,” Gilbreath said.
“I think it’s more dangerous,” GIlbreath said. “Before long, the kids will be driving them. We’re going to have them flying all over the streets. I’m not in favor of it.”
Councilman John “Honza” Cernosek said he also opposes the measure.
“I’ve been playing golf for 45 to 50 years, and I’ve seen grown men thrown out of them,” Cernosek said. “I would hate to see a vehicle that is not meant for street travel to be on the street.”
“I would hate to see what a person on a golf cart would look like after they got hit by an 18-wheeler,” Cernosek said. “If there’s only one person killed, that’s way too much.”
Littrell also took offense with previous reporting in the Record that he initially proposed the golf cart ordinance..
“I would like to set the Record straight – I did not propose this ordinance,” Littrell said. “I simply inquired, are we allowed to do it or are we not allowed to do it,” he said. “From that it got blown into me doing my own personal agenda.”
His own words from the previous meeting seem to paint a different picture, however.
The idea to allow golf carts on city streets first came up at the last City Council meeting on Aug. 23. During the police report in that meeting, Gilbreath and City Manager Shawn Raborn discussed state laws concerning golf carts. During that conversation, as recorded in the meeting, Littrell said the following: “I brought this up today because I bought a golf cart over the weekend and I want to be able to drive it. So we’re going to have to vote on it.”
At the meeting this Monday, Gonzalez made a motion to proceed with drafting an ordinance. Littrell seconded the motion. Council members Bonnie Busch and Chris Jernigan joined them in voting in favor. Cernosek, Zbranek and Weishuhn voted against. Councilwoman Katie Gross was absent from the meeting.