It was illegal to operate golf carts on Town of Chesterton public
rights-of-way for exactly 76 days.
As of 7:30 p.m. Monday, it became legal again.
At its meeting Monday night, the Town Council voted 4-0 to approve on first
reading an ordinance making golf carts street-legal, 4-0 to suspend the
rules, then 4-0 to approve that ordinance on final reading. Member Jeff
Trout, R-2nd, was not in attendance.
The ordinance was the council’s response to a new state law, which took
effect on July 1, banning golf carts from operating on municipal
rights-of-way in the absence of a local ordinance specifically permitting
their operation.
The ordinance--whose jurisdiction ends at the town’s corporate boundaries,
meaning a golf cart operator may not legally drive from the Town of
Chesterton into unincorporated Porter County--is not without conditions:
*Golf cart operators must be in possession of a driver’s license under IC
9-24.
*Golf cart operators must obey all traffic regulations applicable to motor
vehicles.
*Golf carts must display a slow-moving vehicle sign or red or amber flashing
lights attached to the rear.
*Golf carts are not permitted to operate on Ind. 49 or at any grade-crossing
of Ind. 49, nor are they permitted to operate on sidewalks.
*The operation of golf carts on public rights-of-way is limited to daylight
hours, unless the golf cart is equipped with headlamps, tail lamps, and stop
lamps.
Violations of the ordinance are subject to a fine of $100.
Police Chief George Nelson told the council that he has no reservations
about the new ordinance and added that he first asked Associate Town
Attorney Chuck Parkinson to research the matter after the new state law went
into effect in July.
Salary Ordinance
Amendment
In other business, members voted 4-0 to approve on first reading an
amendment to the 2009 Salary Ordinance, 4-0 to suspend the rules, then 4-0
to approve that amendment on final reading.
That amendment reinstates the $500 per week stipend of Interim Utility
Superintendent Mark O’Dell, with the unexpected resignation of newly hired
Superintendent James Shank less than two weeks after Shank’s official first
day on the job, Aug. 16.
The amendment makes the stipend retroactive to Aug. 16.
O’Dell was appointed interim superintendent after the unexpected resignation
early this year of Steve Yagelski.
Vacation Leave
Members also voted 4-0 to approve on first reading an ordinance officially
codifying the terms of vacation leave for town employees, 4-0 to suspend the
rules, then 4-0 to approve the ordinance on final reading.
Under that ordinance, town employees during continuous years of full-time
employment are entitled to vacation leave as follows:
*After the first anniversary of continuous full-time employment, 40 hours.
*After the second anniversary, 80 hours.
*After the fifth anniversary, 120 hours.
*After the 15th anniversary, 160 hours.
*After the 20th anniversary, 200 hours.
The official accrued vacation period begins on Jan. 1 of each calendar year.
Department heads also follow this schedule, except that they receive a
minimum 120 hours of vacation annually. Department heads must complete a
full year of employment before being eligible for the initial 120 hours,
unless otherwise determined by the council at the time of hiring or by
official council action during the first year of employment.